RAILROADS. 



305 



these powers by the National government had been 

 zealously advocated for many years by a large and in- 

 fluential class of citizens who held that under the pro- 

 vision of the Constitution investing Congress with 

 power to regulate the commerce between the States, 

 Congress possessed the right to regulate the traffic of 

 railroads, or other agencies of transportation, between 

 the States. This proposition was, however, strenu- 

 ously opposed by those who held contrary views as to 

 the proper functions of the National government. 



As far back as December, 1872, the Senate of the 

 United States, upon the recommendation contained 

 in Pres. Grant's message, appointed a committee to 

 consider the question of transportation routes to the 

 seaboard and to report to Congress with a view to " its 

 better guidance in legislating on this important sub- 

 ject." In the preamble to the resolution authorizing 

 the appointment of this committee it was recited that 

 " the productions of our country have increased much 

 more rapidly than the means of transportation, and the 

 growth of population and products will in the near 

 future demand additional facilities, and cheaper ones, 

 to reach tide-water." The committee began its investi- 

 gation in September, 1873. and pursued its inquiries in 

 various parts of the country until the close of the year. 

 A great mass of testimony was elicited upon all subjects 

 examined, particularly those affecting the question of 

 railroad transportation ; but nothing tangible resulted 

 from its deliberations or conclusions, at least so far as 

 concerned the assumption of any controlling powers by 

 Congress. The question of Congressional regulations 

 of interstate commerce, however, continued to be dis- 

 cussed and agitated with more or less vigor, particu- 

 larly during the three years immediately preceding the 

 final passage of the Interstate Commerce Act. 



As a result of the active interest that was being ex- 

 hibited throughout the country upon this subject, par- 

 ticularly in the West, the U. S. Senate in March, 1885, 

 appointed acomuiittee " to investigate and report upon 

 the suljject of the regulation of the transportation by 

 railroad and water routes in connection or in competi- 

 tion with said railroads of freights and passengers 

 between the several States." From its chairman, 

 Senator Shelby M. Cullom, of Illinois, the committee 

 became popularly known as the Cullom Committee: 

 and the bill presented by it subsequent to its extended 

 investigations is known as the Cullom Interstate 

 Commerce Bill. This bill was reported from a con- 

 ference committee of both Houses Dec. 15, ]H8f>, 

 and was passed and became operative April 5, 1H87. 

 A brief synopsis of the bill is appended : By section 

 1 the railroads and other transportation companies are 



required to have just and reasonable rates ; section 2 

 forbids discriminations by special rates, rebates, draw- 

 backs, etc. ; section 3 foroids undue preferences to 

 individuals or localities, and requires that carriers shall 

 provide facilities for interchange of traffic ; section 4 

 requires a uniform rate for all distances, but in special 

 cases the commission may suspend this rule ; section 5 

 forbids pooling of freights and division of earnings 

 between carriers ; section 6 requires schedules of rates, 

 charges, and fares to be printed and copies kept at 

 every station for public use, and forbids any increase in 

 the rates so published without due notice ; section 7 

 forbids acts interfering with and contracts preventive 

 of continuous carriage of freight ; section 8 makes the 

 common carrier liable to the person injured for any 

 damages sustained through any act done or permitted 

 by the carrier contrary to this law ; section 9 gives the 

 person damaged the right to make complaint to the 

 commission or to bring action in his own behalf, but 

 forbids him the right to pursue both remedies, and in 

 any such action brought the court is empowered to 

 compel officers of companies to attend, testify, and pro- 

 duce books and papers ; section 10 imposes a penalty 

 for disobedience or infraction of the act ; section 1 1 

 creates the Interstate Commerce Commission, and 

 makes rules for its guidance ; section 12 authorizes the 

 commission to inquire into the management of the 

 business of all common carriers, and to require attend- 

 ance of witnesses and production of books, contracts, 

 and documents relating to any matter under investiga- 

 tion ; section 13 and those following make provision 

 for the investigation of complaints, etc. 



Pres. Cleveland appointedacommissionof thehighest 

 character. Hon. Thomas M. Cooley, who had been 

 chief-justice of Michigan, being chairman. The com- 

 mission entered upon its important duties in a cautious 

 and judicial spirit, which has been highly approved by 

 all parties concerned in the questions submitted to it. 

 Its labors have proved highly beneficial to the country, 

 and will undoubtedly result in wise regulations, both by 

 the National and State governments and by the railroad 

 companies themselves. 



The chief aim of the commission has been to secure 

 on behalf of the people fixed and uniform charges for 

 railroad service. The railroad corporations now admit 

 that their own interest, and the interest of all who 

 have invested in this species of property, will bo sub- 

 served by effecting this. 



RAILROAD OPERATION AND EARNINGS. 

 Table IV. shows the length of line operated, rev- 



TABLE IV. Railroad Operation and Earnings in the United States. 



