The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-04
MANN OFFERS A BILL.
1t Makes Sweeping Changes in Inter-
state Commerce Law.

Washington, Jan. "A bill making
sweeping changes in the interstate
commerce laws for the regulation OF
railroads was introduced in the
house today by Representative Mann.
chairman of the committee on inter-
state and foreign commerce The bill
is not in accord with the one prepared
by the committee acting under the d.
rection of President Taft and known
as the administration railroad bill,
but was prepared by Chairman Mann
during the summer vacation of con-
greSS. The measure does not provide
for a special court to hear interstate
commerce cases as has been reported
President Taft would recommend. 1t
proposes, however, to create in the
department of commerce and labor
the bureau of transportation" where
a shipper may file complaint against
a railroad. If, after an investigation
the commissioner of the bu-
tile in the complaint he must
report the facts to the attorney gen.
eral of the United States and if the
attorney general is satisfied there is
a cause of action he is required to file
petition with the interstate COM
merce commission and prosecute the
case at government expense The
shipper may, if he prefers still. file
his complaint direct with the COM
mission and prosecute it at his own
The bill makes it the duty of COM
mon carriers to establish just and
reasonable classif1cations and regula-
lions and authorizes the interstate
commerce commission to prescribe
what they shall be.
Long and Short Haul.
The long and short haul clause of the
interstate commerce act would be
amended to provide that the charge for
a short haul shall In no case be greater
1I1r Co. lon snvrd
the charge for a through rate shall be
no greater than the aggregate of the To-
cal rate. False or padded claims for
damages by shippers are prohibited as
rebates are.
The provisions of the law give power
to the commission not only to fix rates
upon complaint but also to adjust and
prescribe classifications, regulations and
practices generally. The commission IS
also given the power to establish
through rates and joint rates, and the
shipper to select the entire route over
Every shipment of property on which
q rebate is paid is made a separate Of
Tense and the ElkinS law is amended to
that extent.
may exchange transportation for adj
vertising of their time tables in news
papers.
A common carrier is prohibited from
owning or acquiring ownership of stock
in any competing carrier. The bill also
makes it unlawful for railroad COM
pany to issue any stock or bonds ex-
cept for the acquisition of property,
the construction of its lines, the i'm
provement of it's service or the dis
charge of its obligations, and after fill
ing with the commissioner of Transport
tation statement setting forth the full
details of the issue. The bill REQUIRES
stock to be sold for not less than par
and bonds for not less than the reason
able market value, and provides a pen
atty of twenty thousand dollars fine
and imprisonment for five years for the
illegal issuance of stocks and bonds
The bill also makes it unlawful for
any railroad to acquire by purchase,
lease or otherwise. the ownership Of
any connecting line and forbids any
form of ownership to acquire control
Of two competing lines Of transporta-
ton unless permitted by the Interstate
commerce commission.
The bill was referred to the commit
tee of which Mr.. Mann is chairman.