No. 23. LOCAL SHIPMENTS. All shipments moving locally by rail, between points in South Carolina, are subject to the rates, rules and regulations as adopted by the Railroad Commission of South Carolina, unless there is issued at the time of shipment at the place the shipment originates, or at the nearest agency station thereto, through interstate bill of lading to the final point of destination of the shipment, or such a bill of lading as may be exchanged for a ship's bill of lading at a place of export. No. 24. JOINT RATES. Joint freight rates are those ordered put in, or authorized, by the Railroad Commission of South Carolina, which shall only apply on shipments moving between two points in the State of South Carolina, over two or more steam railroad routes, not under the same management or control. In no case shall the joint rates between points in South Carolina exceed the sum of the lowest mileage rates applying on each line over which shipment moves, less 20 per cent. No. 25. RATES FROM COMPETING POINTS. Where there are two or more steam railroad lines between any two points in South Carolina, having through connections, the lowest freight rate established between such points shall be charged by the other lines accepting the freight for transportation between said points. Rates for intermediate stations shall not be affected by this rule. No. 26. SHORT LINE MILEAGE RATES TO BE USED. In figuring joint freight rates between points in South Carolina, all rail lines shall use the lowest mileage rates, less 20 per cent., using the short line mileage in all cases where a point may be reached by two or more routes. No. 27. WEIGHT OF SHIPMENTS. Actual gross weights must be charged for in all cases, except that when the actual weights of the articles named in Rule 14 of the Southern Classification No. 34 cannot be ascertained at point of shipment, or at destination or in transit, the table of estimated weights therein given may apply, and when an article is classified to be accepted at an estimated weight, such estimated weight will govern. No. 28. MINIMUM CHARGES. The railroads are authorized to charge twenty-five (25c.) cents on any single shipment over one line; over two lines, forty (40c.); cents, and over three or more lines, sixty (60c.) cents, although by the tariff the rate may be less than that amount. No. 29. DISTANCES FOR CHANGING RATES. Ten miles has been fixed as the usual limit for a change of freight rates in South Carolina, but the railroads may, if they so desire, for intermediate distances, adopt rates also intermediate between those given in the tables. Stations not over two miles beyond the upper limits of ten-mile group may be included in such group. The Commission reserves the right, however, to correct the charge in extreme cases which work hardships, although the same may not violate the letter of its rules. No. 30. NO CHANGE OF RATES WITHOUT APPROVAL No freight rates in this State shall be changed without the approval of this Commission.. 14 The rates fixed or authorized by this Commission are to be regarded as maximum rates, which the railroads shall not exceed, except when specifically authorized by tule or written consent of this Commission. The railroads may adopt lower rates with the consent of the Commission, but if they do so for one shipper or person, they must, for like service, apply the same reduction of rates for all other persons, and if they fix less freight rates from one station, they shall make a corresponding reduction of the same per cent. at all stations along the line of road, so as not to discriminate against any person or locality. No. 31. BILLS LADING AND FREIGHT RECEIPTS. 2 All, freight bills and receipts of all railroads in this State must show name of consignor, consignee, weight, class, rate, and charges. No. 32. FREIGHT RATE BY PASSENGER TRAIN. The rate of freight by regular passenger train shall not exceed the rate allowed by ordinary freight trains for first-class freight with 50 per cent. added thereto, and no railroad company shall, by reason of any contract with any express or other company, decline or refuse to transport any article proper for transportation on the train for which it is offered. No. 33. NO DISCRIMINATION ALLOWED. There shall be no discrimination by any railroad company chartered by this State in favor or against any railroad company with which it may connect, but each road shall deal with all its connections at any one point on the same terms, and shall afford the like usual customary facilities for the interchange of freight between all of its connections at the same point, any contract, combination, joint ownership or management to the contrary notwithstanding. No. 34. NO REBATE PERMITTED. No rebate, bonus, drawback or other advantage in any form shall be allowed, directly or indirectly, upon shipments made or service rendered to any person, but the rates shall be the same to all. No. 35. NOTICE OF ARRIVAL OF FREIGHT. All railroads shall give prompt notice by mail or otherwise to consignees of the arrival of goods, together with the weight and amount of freight charges due thereon; and when goods or freight of any kind in carload quantities arrive, said notice must contain letters or initials of the car, number of the car, net weight of shipment, and amount of freight charges due on same. No. 36. ROUTINE SHIPMENTS. The right of the shipper to direct by what road or roads in this State his shipments shall be transported must be observed by the carriers. No railroad shall decline or refuse to transport any article proper for transportation. No. 37. NOTICE TO BE GIVEN BEFORE CHANGE OF RATES. Before any rate shall be fixed, established or changed by the Railroad Commission, the railroad company to be affected thereby shall have at least thirty (30) days' notice of the time and place when and where the matter of fixing or changing such rate will be considered by the Commission in session; and said railroad company shall be entitled to be heard at such time and place, to the end that justice may be done. No. 38. WHEN RATES ARE EFFECTIVE. All authorities for rates issued by the Commission may be made effective at once, or as soon after date of issuance as possible, but in no case later than ten days after the date of the Commission's authority, unless otherwise specified. No. 39. CONFLICT BETWEEN RATES. Whenever there is a conflict between class and commodity rates, or between mileage rates and commodity rates, for the transportation of freight, between any two points in South Carolina, the lowest rate in effect shall be charged. No. 40. DELAYS IN TRANSPORTATION. No railroad shall, for any cause, subject any article of freight to unreasonable delay in receiving, delivering or forwarding the same. No. 41. KEEPING OPEN DEPOTS. All freight depots must be kept open each day (Sundays and legal holidays excepted) for the receiving and delivering of freight during such hours as will afford reasonable accommodation to the public. No. 42. LOCATION AND CHANGES OF DEPOTS. No changes of depots (freight or passenger) or flag stations, from present location, or the suspension of the receiving or forwarding of freight from stations now in use for such purpose, will be permitted without the consent of this Commission. No. 43. REPAIRS AND IMPROVEMENTS. Whenever in the judgment of the Railroad Commissioners it shall appear that repairs are necessary upon any railroad in this State, or that any addition to the rolling stock, or that any enlargement of, or improvement in, the stations or station houses, or any changes in the mode of operating the road and conducting its business, is reasonable and expedient, in order to promote the security, convenience and accommodation of the public, they shall give information in writing to the railroad company of the improvements and changes which they adjudge to be proper, and if said company shall fail, within sixty (60) days, to adopt the suggestion of said Commissioners, they will take such legal proceedings as they may deem expedient. No. 44. RAILROADS REQUIRED TO FURNISH INFORMATION. Every railroad corporation operating in this State shall at all times, on request, furnish the Railroad Commissioners any information required by them concerning the condition, management and operation of its railroads. No. 45. TON AND CARLOAD DEFINED. A ton is 2,000 pounds. Where rates are fixed for articles of freight in less than carloads the aggregate amount shall not exceed the carload rates for such articles. No. 46. CARLOAD MINIMUM IN SOUTH CAROLINA. Carload minimum for all carload shipments within the State of South Carolina, regardless of the length of the car, shall be the minimum weight specifically named in the Southern Classification as approved by this Commission, or as specified in the South Carolina Exception Sheet. The minimum carload will not be increased because a car over 36 feet in length is furnished. No. 47. POSTING OF RATES. Railroads in this State are required to keep "posted" in all their stations copies of rate schedules with tables showing distances between all stations, applying on their respective roads. It shall be |