Commissioners -salaries. secretary,employ ees. time, make or amend such general rules or orders as may be req site for the order and regulation of proceedings before it, includi forms of notices and the service thereof, which shall conform, nearly as may be, to those in use in the courts of the United State Any party may appear before said Commission and be heard, in pe son or by attorney. Every vote and official act of the Commissi shall be entered of record, and its proceedings shall be public up the request of either party interested. Said Commission shall ha an official seal, which shall be judicially noticed. Either of th members of the Commission may administer oaths and affirmation Sec. 18. That each Commissioner shall receive an annual salar of $7,500, payable in the same manner as the salaries of judges o Commission the courts of the United States. The Commission shall appoint secretary, who shall receive an annual salary of $3,500, payable in like manner. The Commission shall have authority to employ and fix the compensation of such other employees as it may find neces sary to the proper performance of its duties, subject to the approval Commission-of fces, expenses, of the Secretary of the Interior. The Commission shall be furnished by the Secretary of the Inte witness fees, etc. rior with suitable offices and all necessary office supplies. Witnesses summoned before the Commission shall be paid the same fees and mileage that are paid witnesses in the courts of the United States. All of the expenses of the Commission, including all necessary expenses for transportation incurred by the Commissioners, or by their employees under their orders, in making any investigation in any other places than in the City of Washington, shall be allowed and paid, on the presentation of itemized vouchers therefor approved by the chairman of the Commission and the Secretary of the Interior. general and spe- the City of Washington, where its general sessions shall be held; Sec. 19. That the principal office of the Commission shall be in but whenever the convenience of the public or of the parties may may hold special sessions in any part of the United States. It may, be promoted or delay or expense prevented thereby, the Commission by one or more of the Commissioners, prosecute any inquiry necessary to its duties, in any part of the United States, into any matter or question of fact pertaining to the business of any common Commissioncial sessions. Annual reports from common carrier subject to the provisions of this Act. Sec. 20. That the Commission is hereby authorized to require carriers and what annual reports from all common carriers subject to the provisions of this Act, to fix the time and prescribe the manner in which such reports shall be made, and to require from such carriers specific answers to all questions upon which the Commission may need formation. Such annual reports shall show in detail the am erty, franchises, and equipment; the number of employees and the salaries paid each class; the amounts expended for improvements each year, how expended, and the character of such improvements; the earnings and receipts from each branch of business and from all sources; the operating and other expenses; the balances of profit and loss; and a complete exhibit of the financial operations of the carrier each year, including an annual balance sheet. Such reports shall also contain such information in relation to rates or regulations concerning fares or freights, or agreements, arrangements, or contracts with other common carriers, as the Commission may require; and the said Commission may, within its discretion, for the purpose of enabling it the better to carry out the purposes of this Act, prescribe (if in the opinion of the Commission it is prac- of accounts. ticable to prescribe such uniformity and methods of keeping accounts) a period of time within which all common carriers subject to the provisions of this Act shall have, as near as may be, a uniform system of accounts, and the manner in which such accounts 'shall be kept. Uniform system Report by Com mission to Secre rior. Sec. 21. That the Commission shall, on or before the first day of December in each year, make a report to the Secretary of the Inte- tary of the Interior, which shall be by him transmitted to Congress, and copies of which shall be distributed as are the other reports issued from the Interior Department. This report shall contain such information and data collected by the Commission as may be considered of value in the determination of questions connected with the regulation of commerce, together with such recommendations as to additional legislation relating thereto as the Commission may deem necessary. rates. Sec. 22. That nothing in this Act shall apply to the carriage, Free or reduced storage, or handling of property free or at reduced rates for the United States, State, or municipal governments, or for charitable purposes, or to or from fairs and expositions for exhibition thereat, or the issuance of mileage, excursion, or commutation passenger tickets; nothing in this Act shall be construed to prohibit any common carrier tion tickets. from giving reduced rates to ministers of religion; nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent railroads from giving free carriage to their own officers and employees, or to prevent the principal officers of any railroad company or companies from exchanging passes or tickets with other railroad companies for their officers and employees; and nothing in this Act contained shall in any way abridge transportation. or alter the remedies now existing at effect. When Act takes Sec. 24. That the provisions of sections eleven and eighteen of this Act, relating to the appointment and organization of the Commission herein provided for, shall take effect immediately, and the remaining provisions of this Act shall take effect sixty days after its passage. THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION Hon. THOMAS M. COOLEY, of Michigan, Chairman. Hon. WILLIAM R. MORRISON, OF ILLINOIS. Hon. AUGUSTUS SCHOONMAKER, OF NEW YORK. Hon. ALDACE F. WALKER, OF VERMONT. Hon. WALTER L. BRAGG, EDWARD A. MOSELEY, Esq., Secretary. PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMISSION. (April 5, 1887.) RULE AS TO APPLICATIONS FOR THE Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield Railway, ACTION OF THE COMMISSION. John S. Lazarus, general freight agent of the applied by letter for "the privilege of charging less on grain and other traffic received from from our local stations." Commission promulgated the follow-connecting lines at junctions than we make ing rule: THE Applications made for the official action of the Commission shall be made by petition, which shall set forth the facts on which they are founded, and be verified by the oath of the applicants or some authorized agent or attorney. A. D. Smith, general passenger agent of the Pittsburg & Lake Erie Railroad, presented a petition asking that the long and short haul provision be waived for the present as regards the transportation of passengers between Pittsburg and New York. R. A. Anderson, superintendent of the WestRe SUSPENSION OF THE FOURTH SEC-ern & Atlantic Railroad Company, extending TION OF THE ACT. (The "long and short haul" section.) from Atlanta to Chattanooga, petitioned to be relieved from the operation of the fourth section, and to be allowed to charge less for a longer than for a shorter haul to, from and through Atlanta, Rome and Chattanooga and intermediate points, in order that said company might meet water competition at Rome, Chattanooga, Montgomery and Augusta. The Commission considered the petition presented by the Southern Railway & Steamship Association, asking relief from the operations of the long and short haul clause. (April 6, 1887.) SHIP ASSOCIATION. Congressman Butterworth, accompanied by Captain J. T. Stockdale, of the Pittsburg & Re SOUTHERN RAILWAY & STEAMCincinnati Steamboat Company; Captain Hanshell, of the Big Sandy & Louisville Mail Line, and Captain R. W. Wise, of the Memphis & Cincinnati Packet Company, appeared before the Commission as representatives of the "river interests." George R. Blanchard, chairman of the Central Traffic Association, addressed the Commission briefly in behalf of the Michigan railroads, setting forth the circumstances which led to the establishment of lower through rates (from Milwaukee across the lake, and thence across the State of Michigan), than could be given for local traffic by reason of the all rail competition by way of Chicago. These roads asked permission to maintain local rates, irrespective of the through rates, until such time as the Commission shall be able to take the peculiar circumstances and situation into consideration. 15 The operation of the fourth section of the Act suspended, in its application to certain railroads and connecting steamship lines, for a period not greater than ninety days, until the Commission can make a complete examination of the matters alleged in the petition. PETITION for relief from the operation of the fourth (the long and short haul) section of the Act. The questions presented are stated in the ruling of the Commission. By the Commission: Application having been made to the Interstate Commerce Commission under section 4 1 ested in opposing any such applications may This announcement respecting times and of the Act of Congress entitled "An Act to transportation of property between stations on Regulate Commerce," by the Southern Rail- their respective lines where more is charged for way & Steamship Association, an organization a shorter than for a longer haul, which shall composed of the following railroad companies, be greater than the rates in force and charged lines and systems and steamship lines operated and received by said carriers, respectively, on in connection therewith, to wit: Alabama the 31st day of March, 1887, schedules of Great Southern Railroad; Atlantic & West which have been filed with the Commission. Point Railroad Company; Central Railroad of It is made a further condition of this order, Georgia; Cincinnati, New Orleans & Texas That a printed copy hereof shall be forthwith Pacific Railroad Company; East Tennessee, publicly posted and kept with the schedule of Virginia & Georgia Railroad Company; Geor- rates, fares and charges at every station upon gia Railroad Company; Georgia Pacific Rail- the lines of said common carriers where such way Company; Louisville & Nashville Railroad schedule is by law required to be posted and Company System; Nashville, Chattanooga & kept for the use of the public. St. Louis Railway Company; Norfolk & West- And it is further ordered, That the Commisern Railroad Company; Port Royal & Augusta sion convene at Atlanta on April 26, 1887, and Railway Company; Richmond & Danville thereafter at Mobile on April 29, at New OrRailroad Company; Rome Railroad Company; leans on May 2, and at Memphis on May 4, Savannah, Griffin & North Alabama Railroad for the consideration of the subject matter of Company; Seaboard & Roanoke Railroad Com- said petition; at which places and times said pany; South Carolina Railway Company; South common carriers or any of them may appear & North Alabama Railway Line; Western and present application for said relief, with eviRailroad of Alabama; Western & Atlantic Rail- dence in support thereof, which applications in road Company; Atlantic Coast Line System; each case must show the precise relief desired, Baltimore, Chesapeake & Richmond Steamboat the facts upon which the same is claimed, and Company; Boston & Savannah Steamship the extent to which relief from the operation Company; Clyde's steam lines; Merchants & of said section of said Act is asked for. And Miners Transportation Company; New York at the same places and times any persons inter& Charleston Steamship Company; Ocean Steamship Company; Old Dominion Steamship Company,-common carriers subject to the provisions of said Act,-for authority to charge less for longer than for shorter distances in certain cases; that is to say, for the transportation of property from and to Boston, Providence, New York City, etc. *** and points southerly therefrom, and certain of said railroad companies, lines and systems having also severally made application for like authority so far as said points are reached by them respectively; and said common carriers having presented as a reason for granting their said application the existence of water and other competition, claiming that the same cannot be met, except by maintaining the rates heretofore established to and from the said points, which are alleged to be too low to enable said common carriers to carry on business if applied to said local intermediate points; and further, claiming that great disturbance of business will occur if present traffic arrangements and rates are immediately changed; and it appearing to the Commission after investigation of the said petition and the facts presented in support thereof, to be a proper case for a temporary order authorizing existing rates to be maintained for the time being, until the Commission can make a complete examination of the matters alleged in said petition as reasons for relieving said common carriers from the operation of said section of said Act; It is ordered, That the said application be and the same hereby is granted temporarily; subject to modification or revocation by the Commission at any time, upon hearing, or otherwise; and the said common carriers are hereby temporarily relieved from the operation of the fourth section of said Act, to the extent specified in the recitals of this order, and for a period not greater than ninety days from this date; subject, however, to the restriction that none of the said common carriers, while this order remains in force, shall in any case charge or receive compensation for the (April 5-7, 1887.) Re SOUTHERN PACIFIC R. R. CO. Applications to the Commission for spe- THE following telegrams were received and San Francisco, April 4. The question is also before us of making, in |