United States, into any matter or question of fact pertaining to the business of any common carrier subject to the provisions of this Act.

Seventh By the 20th section of the Act the Commission is authorized:

(a) To require annual reports from all common carriers subject to the provisions of this Act.

(b) To fix the time and prescribe the manner in which such reports shall be made.

(c) To require from such carriers specific answers to all questions upon which the Commission may need information.

(d) Such annual reports shall show in detail :

(1) The amount of the capital stock issued. (2) The amounts paid therefor.

(3) The manner of payment for the same. (4) The dividends paid.

(5) The surplus fund, if any.

The number of stockholders.

(7) The funded and floating debts, and the interest paid thereon.

(8) The cost and value of the carrier's property, franchises, and equipment.

(9) The number of employees and the salaries paid each class.

(10) The amounts expended for improvements each year, how expended, and the character of such improvements.

(11) The earnings and receipts from each branch of business and from all sources. (12) The operating and other expenses. (13) The balances of profit and loss.

(14) And a complete exhibit of the financial operations of the carrier each year, including an annual balance-sheet.

(15) 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.

(e) 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 practicable 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. (Sec. 20.)

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Rules of, and Practice before, Commission. First That the Commission may conduct its proceedings in such manner as will best conduce to the proper despatch of business, and to the ends of justice. (Sec. 17.)

Second: 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. (Sec. 17.)

Third 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. (Sec. 17.)

Fourth Any party may appear before said Commission and be heard, in person or by attorney. (Sec. 17.)

Fifth Every vote and official act of the Commission shall be entered of record, and its proceedings shall be public upon the request of either party interested. (Sec. 17.)

Sixth Said Commission shall have an official seal, which shall be judicially noticed. (Sec. 17.)

Seventh: Either of the members of the Commission may administer oaths and affirmations. (Sec. 17.)

Method of Procedure before Commission.

The method of procedure before the Commission is laid down in the 13th and subsequent sections of the Act, with great detail, and we proceed to unfold each distinct step in the progress of an investigation before that body, from the presentation of the petition to the final judgment of the Circuit Court-where that be

comes necessary.

Who May Make Complaint.

First: Any person, firm, corporation, or association, or any mercantile, agricultural, or manufacturing society, or any body politic or municipal organization complaining of any thing done or omitted to be done by any common carrier subject to the provisions of this Act in contravention of the provisions thereof. (Sec. 13).

Second: Said Commission shall in like manner investigate any complaint forwarded by the Railroad Commissioner or Railroad Commission of any State or territory, at the request of such Commissioner or Commission. (Sec. 13.)

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Third Said Commission may institute any enquiry on its own motion in the same manner and to the same effect as though complaint had been made. (Sec. 13.)

Proceedings-How Begun.

The application to the Commission is made by petition of the complainant. (Sec. 13.)

Contents of Petition.

The petition shall briefly state the facts, and be delivered to the Commission. (Sec. 13.)

Answer of Carrier.

A statement of the charges thus made shall be forwarded by the Commission to such carrier. There is no time designated in the Act within which this must be done, but the use of the word "whereupon" indicates that it shall be delivered to the common carrier immediately. (Sec. 13.)

After the petition shall have been forwarded by the Commission to the carrier, such carrier shall be called upon "to satisfy the complaint or answer the same in writing within a reasonable time, to be specified by the Commission." (Sec. 13.)