The Following are the Rules of Procedure Adopted by the Board of Railroad Commissioners in Matters Coming Before It.

Complaints.

Complaints to the Board against railroad companies should be made in writing, and the cause of complaint should be stated clearly. Upon receipt of a complaint (unless in the judgment of the Board immediate action is required) a copy is sent to the railroad company, which must answer within ten days, unless longer time is allowed by the Board. A copy of the answer is sent to the complainant, and, if not satisfactory, issue is joined, a hearing held and a decision rendered.

Change of Name.

See sections 2411-2417, Code of Civil Procedure.

Increase of Capital Stock.

(Section 46, Stock Corporation Law.)

Application must be made by verified petition. A date for hearing, not earlier than ten days after the receipt of the petition, will be fixed. Accompanying the petition there must be:

First. Three certificates of the proceedings of the meeting of the stockholders, two to be endorsed (if the application is approved) and one to be filed in this office.

Second. A sworn statement, in detail, of the financial condition of the company, giving the amount of capital stock authorized and amount issued; outstanding indebtedness; and other pertinent information, and a sworn statement, in detail, of the cost of road and equipment.

Third. A sworn statement, in detail, of the purposes to which the proposed increase of stock is proposed to be devoted, and, if for further construction and equipment, a verified estimate, in detail, of the cost thereof, made by a person competent to make the same.

Reduction of Capital Stock.

(Section 46, Stock Corporation Law.)

Application must be made by verified petition. A date for hearing will be fixed. The Board requires:

First. Three certificates of the proceedings of the meeting of the stockholders, two to be endorsed and one to be filed in this office.

Second. A sworn statement from the proper officer of the company that the reduced capital is sufficient for the proper purposes of the corporation and is in excess of its debts and liabilities, the aggregate amount of such debts and liabilities to be stated.

Consent to the Issue of Mortgage.

(Subdivision 10, Section 4, Railroad Law.)

Application must be made by verified petition, stating what the lien is to be. A date for hearing, not earlier than ten days after the receipt of the petition, will be fixed. Accompanying the petition there must be:

First. Proof of consent of the stockholders under the statute. Second. A sworn statement, in detail, of the financial condition of the company, giving the amount of the capital stock authorized and amount issued, and amount of mortgage bonds authorized and amount outstanding, and amount of other indebtedness of the company, as well as other pertinent information; also a sworn statement, in detail, of the cost of road and equipment.

Third. A sworn statement, in detail, of the purposes to which the proceeds of the proposed mortgage are to be devoted, and, if for further construction and equipment, a verified estimate, in detal, of the cost thereof, made by a person competent to make the same. A copy of the mortgage must be filed with the Board:

Filing of Maps of Railroads.

(Section 6, Railroad Law.)

Section 6 of the Railroad Law shows in detail what is required.

Sign Boards at Crossings.

(Section 33, Railroad Law.)

Application must be made by verified petition, which shall state the application in detail, following the provisions of the section. A date for hearing will be fixed. Accompanying the petition there must be a print or drawing in detail of the sign or signs of which approval is asked.

Discontinuance of Railroad Stations.

(Section 34, Railroad Law.)

Application must be made by verified petition. The Board will in each case prescribe rules for proof in applications under this section.

Accommodation of Connecting Railroads.

(Section 35, Railroad Law.)

Application must be made by verified petition. The Board will in each case prescribe rules for proof in applications under this section.

Railroads Crossing Each Other at Grade.

(Section 36, Railroad Law. See Section 68, Railroad Law.) Application must be made by verified petition. The Board requires:

First. As to the precedence of trains: The Board will in each case prescribe rules for proof in applications under this provision.

Second. In applications for approval of an interlocking switch and signal apparatus at such crossings, a hearing will be given at which a blue print or sketch of the proposed system must be submitted to the Board, which shall show distant signals at least 1,500 feet from the crossing (except where impracticable), home signals and throw-off switches (except where impracticable), all interlocking and operated from a tower.

Safety Devices.

(Section 50, Railroad Law.)

Application must be made by verified petition. Applications under this section will be considered under rules made for each case.

Cooking Stoves Used in Dining Cars.

(Section 51, Railroad Law.)

Application must be made by verified petition. In applications under this section for approval of cooking stoves in dining cars, the Board must see the stove proposed to be used, or a blue print or sketch of it.