The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1910-06-15
Railroad Measure, Both Mangled and Strength
ened, Presented to Upper House by EIkins.
LONG AND SHORT HAUL RULE OF HOUSE TAKEN
Interstate Commerce Commission Is Given Ten Months in
Which to Pass on New Rates, However, Result of
Weeks Work by Conferees and Four Months
by Statesmen to Vote Today

/ parties IN proceedings IN the commerc.
court ny intervening. or on motion or
otherwise. was retained
Under the senate amendment adopt-
ed. railroads will be required To desig-
nate an agent IN Washington 10 re-
ceive service in any proceedings
against u The conference report
leaves out the house provision extend
Ing existing law to water transporta-
tlon between the Hawaiian islands
and also over the district az Alaska.
The honse provisions requiring rail
roads tn provide reasonable facilities
for operating through routes and for
the eAchang" aud return OF rolling
stock " retained
Classification.
The report retains the house pro-
vision requiring railroads 10 estab
lish and enforce reasonable classifl-
cation of Property for transportation
and regulations as To classiflcations.
rates. tickets. receipts and bills of
lading The provision placing tele-
phone. telegraph and cable companies
under the jurisdiction OF the commits
sion is that adopted by the house, with
further provision agreed upon In
conference that messages be classi-
lied into day. night. repeated, unre-
peated. letter, commercial. press, gov
ernment ana such other classes az arc
Just and reasonable and authorizing
different rates for different classes OF
messages. In respect To the use OF
the telephone. telegraph and cable
franks. II Is provided that they shalt
not be pro,doIted when used by Of
fieers. agents. employees aud their fam
lilies.
The house provision for the physl-
cal valuations of railroads was strick-
en- out. but the amendment authoriz-
ing the owner of u lateral branch line
To require "A main line of railroad to
make proper connection was retained.
Long and Short
To the house provision on the sub
ject of long and short hanls. which IL
designated to prohibit railroads from
charging "A higher rate for short haul
than for "A long distance was added
the following:
Whenever a carrier by railroad shall
in competition with a water route or
iIt fIttN On the carriage
of any species OF freight to or from
competitive points, IL shall not be per
mltted 10 increase such rates unless
after hearing by the commission, IL
shall De found that such proposed In
crease rest upon changed conditions
other than the elimination OF water
competition. This provision was ad-
ded In lieu of far more radical provis-
ions introduced by Senators Simmons
and Barton and adopted by the SEN
ate
senate amendment submitted by
Mr.. Shiyely of Indiana. authorizing
shippers To sue railroads for damages
resulting from misquotation of rates
was eliminated The house amendment
To prescribe "A penalty for attempting
Ia obtain advantage In the matter of
rates through false representations was
retained. The conferees also accept
ed the house provision striking out the
specific language OF the present law
as 10 tn. objects about which com
plants may be filed. and authorizing
the commission to make investga-
tions on its own motion TO the same
extent as though complaint had been
ion authorizing the suspension Of an
increased rate for 10 months aud put
ting the burden Of proof upon the rail-
road as to the reasonableness OF such
Increase. the conferees added "a pro-
vision:
The commission shall give Ia the
hearing and decision of such question.
preference over all questions pending
before IL, and decide the same "a
speedily as possible"
Senator Paynter's anon lment re-
qulring the issuance OF Nayihlls in
dicating the old and the increased rates
and 10 require railroads 10 reimburse
shippers for the amount OF the In
crease In the event the commission
declared II unjust, was stricken out
The house provision authorizing tho
commission to make through routes
between suburban or lnternrhan anu
steam railroads was retained Rail
roads and their agents will be prohlb-
tied, through the retention OF sen
ate amendment from disclosing nfor-
nation concerning shippers business,
except under due process of conrt
The eonferees struck out the senate
provision requiring the commission TO
make an analysis of classification and
tariffs every six months, Senator
0verman's amendment In reference To
interlocutory injunetions that restrain
the action of the officers was accepted
by the conferees. Both the house and
the senate provided that the new law
shall take effect so days after passage.
The conferees. however inserted
III.
the right of the commission TO sus-
pend proposed rate increases and Sec
ton i6, which authorizes the commits
sion to appoint committee 10 study
stocks and bonds, shall take effect