Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 37, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1905 — PASS RAILROAD RATE BILL [ARTICLE]

PASS RAILROAD RATE BILL

Townsend-Esch Measure Adopted in House by Vote of 328 to 17. By a vote of 326 to 17 the House of Representatives Thursday passed the Townsend-Esch bill providing for railroad rate legislation. Of the 17 members who voted against the bill 11 were Republicans nnd 6 Democrats. The Democrats who voted against the bill were Goulden, Harrison, Rider, and Seudder of New Y’ork, Schull of Pennsylvania, and McDermott of New Jersey. The Republicans who voted against it were Adams and Gaston of Pennsylvania, Dwight of New York, Gardner of New Jersey, Hill of Connecticut, Huff of Pennsylvania, McCall of Massachusetts, Horton nnd Sibley of Pennsylvania, Southwick and Vreeland of New York. The Democratic .measure offered as a substitute for the Townsend-Esch bill was defeated by a vote of 151 to 186, five Democrats voting against It. They were Gaines of Tennessee, Livernalsh of California, Rider and Seudder of New York, and Wynne of California, The most Important provisions of the Townsend-Esch bill are: Interstate commerce commission enlarged from five to seven members, empowered to deelaie any existing passenger or freight rates unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory, and to fix a just and reasonable rate, which becomes operative thirty days after notice. Within sixty days the carrier may appeal to a “court of transportation.” When the rate substituted is a joint rate and carriers fail to agree on apportionment. commission may declare it part of the original order. Fine of $5,00 a day is imposed for each day of violation of rulings. Court of transportation to be composed of five United States Circuit judges. In every suit brought iu the court of transportation to enforce orders tlie findings of fact reported by the commission shall be received as prima facie evidence, goth the court of transportation and the commission empowered to compel attendance of witnesses. Appeals may lie tnken to Supreme Court within thirty days from the date of entry of the decree of the court of transportation.