The Oskaloosa herald., 1910-01-06
MANN MANN PRESENTS
RAILWAY BILL
Makes Sweeping Changes in
Commerce Law.
TAKES CARE or SHIPPER
FILTERS from Taft's Measure-omits
Special Court Feature and Gre
ates a Bureau of Trans.
portation."

Washington. Jan. 5.--A bill making
sweeping changes in the interstate
commerce laws for the regulation of
railroads was introduced in the house
by Representative James r. Mann of
Illinois, chairman OF the committee
on interstate and foreign comerce. It
is not in accordance with the one pre-
pared by the committee under the d.
rection of President Taft and known
as the administration railroad bill, !"
but was prepared by Mr.. Mann during
the summer vacation of congress.
Tne measure does not provide for a
special court to hear interstate COM
merce cases, plan favored by Presi.
dent Taft. II proposes. however, to
create in the department OF commerce
and labor the bureau of transporta-
ton" where shipper may file com
plant against a railroad. If, after
an investigation, the commissioner of
the bureau finds that there is justice
In the complaint he must report the
facts to the attorney general of the
United States and If the attorney gen.
eral Is satisfied that there is cause
for action he is required to file a petit
ton with the Interstate comerce COM
mission and prosecute the case at the
expense of the government. The ship
per may, II he prefers, still file his
complaint direct with the commission
and prosecute it at his own expense,
as the present law provides.
Long and Short Haul Rates.
Under the bill 1t is the duty of com
mon carriers TO establish just and rea-
sonable classifications and regula-
tons. The interstate commerce COM
mission is authorized to prescribe
what they shall be.
The long and short haul clause Of
the interstate commerce act would
be amended so as to provide that
charge for a short haul should in no
case he greater than tbs charge for n
Tong haul. and the charge for a
through rate shall be no greater than
the aggregate of the local rate. False
or padded claims for damages by a
shipper are prohibited as rebates are.
The provision of the law in regard
to filing complaints and authorizing
the commission to adjust complaints
and fix rates are very much enlarged.
The bill gives power to the commits
sion, not only to fix rates on COM
plant, but also TO adjust and pre-
scribe classifications, regulations and
practices generally. The commission
may suspend the taking effect of any
proposed rate or change in classified
ton until full hearing could be had
on the subject.
The commission is also given the
power to establish through rates and
joint rates, and the shipper to select
the entire route over which a ship
ment shall be transported.
Closer Line on Rebates.
Railroads are required TO furnish
rates on written application. Every
shipment of property on which re-
bate is paid is made separate Of.
Tense; the Elkins law is amended to
that extent. The railroads, under the
Mann bill. may exchange transporta-
ton for advertising of their time
tables in newspapers.
A common carrier is prohibited
from owning or acquiring ownership
OF stock in any competing carrier.
The bill also makes 1t unlawful for
a railroad company TO issue any stock
or bonds except for the acquisition of
property, the construction of its lines,
the Improvement OF Its service or the
discharge of its obligations, and after
filing with the commissioner of trans
portation 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 reasonable market
value II provides penalty Of
$4,000 fine and Imprisonment for FIVE
years for the Illegal issuance of stocks
and bonds.
The bill also makes IL 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 Till was referred to the commit.
tee of which Mr.. Mann is chairman.
L.. II