THE NEW RAILROAD LAW. 303 



on gentlemen intimately connected with farming pursuits, 

 and of approved honor Messrs. J. M. Pearson, H. D. Cooke, 

 and David A. Brown. 



THE NEW RAILROAD LAW. 



Meanwhile, the Legislature was debating the various meas 

 ures submitted, and eventually passed a law which is here 

 given : 



An Act to prevent extortion and unjust discrimination in the rates 

 charged for the transportation of passengers and freights on rail 

 roads in this State, and to repeal an act entitled, &quot;An Act to pre 

 vent unjust discriminations and extortions in the rates to be charged 

 by the different railroads in this State for the transportation of 

 freights on said roads,&quot; approved April 7th, A. D. 1871. 

 Section 1. Be it enacted, by the people of the State of Illinois, 

 represented in the General Assembly. If any railroad corporation, 

 organized or doing business in this State, under any act of incor 

 poration, or general law of this State, now in force, or which may 

 hereafter be enacted, or any railroad corporation organized, or which 

 may hereafter be organized under the laws of any other State, and 

 doing business in this State, shall charge, collect, demand, or receive 

 more than a fair and reasonable rate of toll or compensation, for the 

 transportation of passengers or freight, of any description, or for the 

 use and transportation of any railroad car upon its track, or any of 

 the branches thereof, or upon any railroad within this State, which 

 it has the right, license, or permission to use, operate, or control, the 

 the same shall be deemed guilty of extortion, and upon conviction 

 thereof shall be dealt with as hereinafter provided. 



Sec. 2. If any railroad corporation aforesaid shall make any unjust 

 discrimination in its rates or charges of toll or compensation for the 

 transportation of passengers or freight of any description, or for the 

 use and transportation of any railroad car upon its said road, or upon 

 any branches thereof, or upon any railroads connected therewith, 

 which it has the right, license, or permission to operate, control, or 

 use, within this State, the same shall fee deemed guilty of having 

 violated the provisions of this act, and upon conviction thereof shall 

 be dealt with as hereinafter provided. 



