New-York tribune., 1910-01-05
NEW RAILW Az BILL
M4NN SUBMITS ONE.
Radical Interstate Commerce
Changes IRE Proposed.

Washington. Jan. "A bill making
sweeping changes in the interstate COM
merce laws for the regulation of railroads
was introduced in the House to-day by
Representative Mann, of Illinois, chairman
of the Committee on Interstate and For
eign Commerce. The bfllf is not in accord
with the one prepared by the committee
acting under the direction of President
Taft and known the administration
railroad BILL but was prepared by Mr..
Mann during the summer vacation of Con-
gress
The measure does not, provide for a spe-
cial court to hear interstate commerce
cases. as it has been reported President
Taft would recommend. II proposes, how
ever to create in the Department of Com
merce and Labor a bureau TO be called the
Bureau of Transportation. where shipper
may file complaint against railroad. Ii
after an Investigation the commissioner of
the Bureau of Transportation 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 a cause OF
action he is required TO file petition with
the Interstate Commerce Commission and
prosecute the case atasthe expense of the
government. The shipper may if he pre-
fere, still file his complaint direct with
the commission and prosecute it at his own
expense, as the present law provides.
COMMISSION MAY PRESCRIBE
The bill makes it the duty of common
carriers to establish just and reasonable
classifcatons and regulations. and author
ICES the Interstate Commerce Commission
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 the charge for a
short haul shall in no case be greater than
the charge for a long haul. and the charge
for through rate shall be no greater than
the aggregate of the local rates. False or
padded claims for damages by a shipper
are prohibited. as rebates are
The provisions of the law in regard 10
filing complaints and authorizing the COM
mission to adjust complaints and fix rates
are much enlarged. and they give power TO
the commission not only to fix rates upon
complaint but also to adjust and prescribe
ciassifications regulations and practices
generally. The commission may suspend
the taking effect of any proposed rate or
change in classification until a full hear
ing can be had on the subject The COM
lish through rates and joint rates. and the
shipper 10 select the entire route over
which a shipment shall be transported
Railroads are required to furnish rates on
written application. Every shipment of
property on which a rebate is paid is made
a separate offence. and the E.lkins law is
amended to that extent. The railroads. un-
der the Mann bill. may exchange transpor-
tation for advertisement of their time
tables in newspapers.
THE OWNERSHIP OF STOCK.
A common carrier is prohibited from
owning acquiring ownership of stock in
any competing carrier. The bill also makes
it unlawful for railroad company to issue
any stock or bonds except for the acquisi-
ton of property. the construction of it's
lines. the Improvement of its service or the
discharge of its obligations and after filing
with the Commissioner of Transportation
a statement setting forth the full details
of the issue. The bill requires stoak to be
sold for not less than par and bonds for
not less than the reasonable market value
and provides a penalty of $4,000 fine and
Imprisonment for five years for the Illegal
issuance of stocks and bonds
The bill also makes it unlawful for any
otherwise the ownership of any connecting
line and fOrbids any form of ownership to
acquire control of two competing lines OF
transportation unless permitted by the In
terstate Commerce Commission
The bill was referred TO the committee of
which Mr.. Mann is chairman