D.—2b

5

Court shall have power, if it think fit, to direct and prosecute, in such mode and by such persons as it may appoint, all such inquiries as the Court may think needful to enable it to form a just judgment in the matter of such petition ; and on such hearing, the report of said Commission shall be primd facie evidence of the matters therein stated; and if it be made to appear to such Court, on such hearing or on report of any such person or persons, that the lawful order or requirement of said Commission drawn in question has been violated or disobeyed it shall be lawful for such Court to issue a writ of injunction or other proper process, mandatory or otherwise, to restrain such common carrier from further continuing such violation or disobedience of such order or requirement of said Commission, and enjoining obedience to the same; and in case of any disobedience of any such writ of injunction or other proper process, mandatory or otherwise, it shall be lawful for such Court to issue writs of attachment, or any other process of said Court incident or applicable to writs of injunction or other proper process, mandatory or otherwise, against such common carrier, and if a corporation against one or more of the directors, officers, or agents of the same, or against any owner, lessee, trustee, receiver, or other person failing to obey such writ of injunction or other proper process, mandatory or otherwise ; and said Court may, if it shall think fit, make an order directing such common carrier or person so disobeying such writ of injunction or other proper process, mandatory or otherwise, to pay such sum of money not exceeding for each carrier or person in default the sum of five hundred dollars for every day after a day to be named in the order that such carrier or other person shall fail to obey such injunction or other proper process, mandatory or otherwise ; and such moneys shall be payable as the Court shall direct, either to the party complaining, or into Court, to abide the ultimate decision of the Court, or into the Treasury ; and payment thereof may, without prejudice to any other mode of recovering the same, bo enforced by attachment or order iii the nature of a writ of execution, in like manner as if the same had been recovered by a final decree in <personam in such Court. When the subject in dispute shall be of the value of two thousand dollars or more, either party to such proceeding before said Court may appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States, under the same regulations now provided by law in respect of security for such appeal; but such appeal shall not operate to stay or supersede the order of the Court or the execution of any writ or process thereon; and such Court may, in every such matter, order the payment of such costs and counsel-fees as shall be deemed reasonable. Whenever any such petition shall be filed or presented by the Commission, it shall be the duty of the district attorney, under the direction of the Attorney-General of the United States, to prosecute the same ; and the costs and expenses of such prosecution shall be paid out of the appropriation for the expenses of the Courts of the United States. Yot the purposes of this Act, excepting its penal provisions, the Circuit Courts of the United States shall be deemed to be always in session. Sec. 17. That the Commission may conduct its proceedings in such manner as will best conduce to the proper dispatch of business and to the ends of justice. A majority of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but no Commissioner shall participate in any hearing or proceeding in which he has any pecuniary interest. Said Commission may, from time to time, make or amend such general rules or orders as may be requisite for the order and regulation of proceedings before it, including forms of notices and the service thereof, which shall conform, as nearly as may be, to those in use in the Courts of the United States. Any party may appear before said Commission and be heard, in person or by attorney. Every vote and ofiicial act of the Commission shall be entered of record, and its proceedings shall be public upon the request of either party interested. Said Commission shall have an official seal, which shall be judicially noticed. Either of the members of the Commission may administer oaths and affirmations. Sec. 18. That each Commissioner shall receive an annual salary of seven thousand five hundred dollars, payable in the same manner as the salaries of judges of the Courts of the United States. The Commission shall appoint a secretary, who shall receive an annual salary of three thousand five hundred dollars, payable in like manner. The Commission shall have authority to employ and fix the compensation of such other employes as it may find necessary to the proper performance of its duties, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior. The Commission shall be furnished by the Secretary of the Interior 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 employes 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 itemised vouchers therefor, approved by the Chairman of the Commission and the Secretary of the Interior. Sec. 19. That the principal office of the Commission shall bo in the City of Washington, where its general sessions shall be held ; but whenever the convenience of the public or of the parties may be promoted or delay or expense prevented thereby, the Commission may hold special sessions in any part of the United States. It may, 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 carrier subject to the provisions of this Act. Sec. 20. That the Commission is hereby authorised to require 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 information. Such annual reports shall show, in detail, the amount of capital stock issued, the amounts paid therefor, and the manner of payment for the same ; the dividends paid, the surplus fund, if any, and the number of stockholders; the funded and floating debts and the interest paid thereon ; the cost and value of the carrier's property, franchises, and equipment; the number of employes, and the salaries paid each class ; the amounts expended for improvements each year, how expended, and the character of such improvements ; the earnings and