chattels from one State or Territory or the District of Columbia into another State or Territory or the District of Columbia, knowing the same to have been stolen, shall constitute a separate offense and subject the offender to the penalties above described for unlawful taking, and prosecutions there for may be instituted in any district into which such freight, express, baggage, goods, or chattels shall have been removed or into which they shall have been brought by such offender. The words' station house,' 'platform," depot," wagon,' 'automobile.'' truck,'' or other vehicle,' as used in this section shall include any station house, platform, depot, wagon, automobile, truck, or other vehicle of any person, firm, association, or corporation having in his or its custody therein or thereon any freight, express, goods, chattels, shipments, or baggage moving as or which are a part of or which constitute an interstate or foreign shipment.

"SEC. 2. That nothing in this Act shall be held to take away or impair the jurisdiction of the courts of the several States under the laws thereof; and a judgment of conviction or acquittal on the merits under the laws of any State shall be a bar to any prosecution hereunder for the same act or acts.

"SEC. 3. That to establish the interstate or foreign commerce character of any shipment in any prosecution under this Art the waybill of such shipment shall be prima facie evidence of the place from which and to which such shipment was made."

Approved, January 28, 1925.

[S. J. Res. 107]

Joint Resolution Directing the Interstate Commerce Commission to take action relative to adjustments in the rate structure of common carriers subject to the Interstate Commerce Act, and the fixing of rates and charges.

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of Americo in Congress assembled, That it is hereby declared to be the true policy in rate making to be pursued by the Interstate Commerce Commission in adjusting freight rates, that the conditions which at any given time prevail in our several industries should be considered in so far as it is legally possible to do so, to the end that commodities may freely move.

That the Interstate Commerce Commission is authorized and directed to make a thorough investigation of the rate structure of common carriers subject to the interstate commerce act, in order to determine to what extent and in what manner existing rates and charges may be unjust, unreasonable, unjustly discriminatory, or unduly preferential, thereby imposing undue burdens, or giving undue advantage as between the various localities and parts of the country, the various classes of traffic, and the various classes and kinds of commodities, and to make, in accordance with law, such changes, adjustments, and redistribution of rates and charges as may be found necessary to correct any defects so found to exist. In making any such change, adjustment, or redistribution the commission shall give due regard, among other factors, to the general and comparative levels in market value of the various classes and kinds of commodities as indicated over a reasonable period of years to a natural and proper development of the country as a whole, and to the maintenance of an adequate system of transportation. In the progress of such investigation the commission shall, from time to time, and as expeditiously as possible, make such decisions and orders as it may find to be necessary or appropriate upon the record then made in order to place the rates upon designated classes of traffic upon a just and reasonable basis with relation to other rates. Such investigation shall be conducted with due regard to other investigations or proceedings affecting rate adjustments which may be pending before the commission.

In view of the existing depression in agriculture, the commission is hereby directed to effect with the least practicable delay such lawful changes in the rate structure of the country as will promote the freedom of movement by common carriers of the products of agriculture affected by that depression, including livestock, at the lowest possible lawful rates compatible with the maintenance of adequate transportation service: Provided, That no investigation or proceeding resulting from the adoption of this resolution shall be permitted to delay the decision of cases now pending before the commission involving rates on products of agriculture, and that such cases shall be decided in accordance with this resolution.

Approved, January 30, 1925.

[PUBLIC-No. 256-69TH CONGRESS]

[S. 3440]

An Act To regulate the interstate transportation of black bass, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That when used in this Act the word "person" includes company, partnership, corporation, association, and common carrier.

SEC. 2. It shall be unlawful for any person to deliver to any common carrier for transportation, or for any common carrier or for any person knowingly to transport or carry, by any means whatsoever, from any State, Territory, or the District of Columbia, to or through any other State, Territory, or the District of Columbia, or to or through any foreign country, any large-mouth black bass (Micropterus salmoides) or any small-mouth black bass (Micropterus dolomieu) which has either been caught, sold, purchased, or possessed in violation of the law of the State, Territory, or the District of Columbia wherein the delivery of such black bass for transportation is made or the transaction or the carrying thereof begins.

SEC. 3. Any person violating the provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by fine not exceeding $200, or imprisonment for a term of not more than three months, or by both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.

SEC. 4. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent the several States and Territories from making or enforcing laws or regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, or from making or enforcing laws or regulations which shall give further protection to large and small mouth black bass.

SEC. 5. Nothing in this Act shall be construed to prevent the shipment in interstate commerce of live fish and eggs for breeding or stocking purposes.

SEC. 6. This Act shall become effective immediately upon its passage and approval.

Approved, May 20, 1926.

[H. R. 9463]

An Act To provide for the prompt disposition of disputes between carriers and their employees, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1. When used in this Act and for the purposes of this

Act:

First. The term " carrier " includes any express company, sleepingcar company, and any carrier by railroad, subject to the Interstate Commerce Act, including all floating equipment such as boats, barges, tugs, bridges and ferries; and other transportation facilities used by or operated in connection with any such carrier by railroad, and any receiver or any other individual or body, judicial or otherwise, when in the possession of the business of employers or carriers covered by this Act: Provided, however, That the term "carrier " shall not include any street, interurban, or suburban electric railway unless such a railway is operating as a part of a general steam railroad system of transportation, but shall not exclude any part of the general steam railroad system of transportation now or hereafter operated by any other motive power;

Second. The term "Adjustment Board" means one of the boards of adjustment provided for in this Act;

Third. The term "Board of Mediation " means the Board of Mediation created by this Act;

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Fourth. The term commerce means commerce among the several States or between any State, Territory, or the District of Columbia and any foreign nation, or between any Territory or the District of Columbia and any State, or between any Territory and any other Territory, or between any Territory and the District of Columbia, or within any Territory or the District of Columbia, or between points in the same State but through any other State or any Territory or the District of Columbia or any foreign nation.

Fifth. The term "employee" as used herein includes every person in the service of a carrier (subject to its continuing authority to supervise and direct the manner of rendition of his service) who performs any work defined as that of an employee or subordinate official in the orders of the Interstate Commerce Commission now in effect, and as the same may be amended or interpreted by orders hereafter entered by the commission pursuant to the authority which is hereby conferred upon it to enter orders amending or interpreting such existing orders: Provided, however, That no occupational classification made by order of the Interstate Commerce Commission shall be construed to define the crafts according to which railway employees may be organized by their voluntary action, nor shall the jurisdiction or powers of such employee organizations be regarded as in any way limited or defined by the provisions of this Act or by the orders of the commission.

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Sixth. The term "district court" includes the Supreme Court of the District of Columbia; and the term "circuit court of appeals includes the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia. This Act may be cited as the Railway Labor Act.

GENERAL DUTIES

SEC. 2. First. It shall be the duty of all carriers, their officers, agents, and employees to exert every reasonable effort to make and maintain agreements concerning rates of pay, rules, and working conditions, and to settle all disputes, whether arising out of the application of such agreements or otherwise, in order to avoid any interruption to commerce or to the operation of any carrier growing out of any dispute between the carrier and the employees thereof.

Second. All disputes between a carrier and its employees shall be considered, and, if possible, decided, with all expedition, in conference between representatives designated and authorized so to confer, respectively, by the carriers and by the employees thereof interested in the dispute.

Third. Representatives, for the purposes of this Act, shall be designated by the respective parties in such manner as may be provided in their corporate organization or unincorporated association, or by other means of collective action, without interference, influence, or coercion exercised by either party over the self-organization or designation of representatives by the other.

Fourth. In case of a dispute between a carrier and its employees, arising out of grievances or out of the interpretation or application of agreements concerning rates of pay, rules, or working conditions, it shall be the duty of the designated representative or representatives of such carrier and of such employees, within ten days after the receipt of notice of a desire on the part of either party to confer in respect to such dispute, to specify a time and place at which such conference shall be held: Provided, (1) That the place so specified shall be situated upon the railroad line of the carrier involved unless otherwise mutually agreed upon; and (2) that the time so specified shall allow the designated conferees reasonable opportunity to reach such place of conference, but shall not exceed twenty days from the receipt of such notice: And provided further, That nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to supersede the provisions of any agreement (as to conferences) then in effect between the parties.

Fifth. Disputes concerning changes in rates of pay, rules, or working conditions shall be dealt with as provided in section 6 and in other provisions of this Act relating thereto.

BOARDS OF ADJUSTMENT GRIEVANCES INTERPRETATION OF AGREEMENTS

SEC. 3. First. Boards of adjustment shall be created by agreement between any carrier or group of carriers, or the carriers as a whole, and its or their employees.

The agreement

(a) Shall be in writing;

(b) Shall state the group or groups of employees covered by such adjustment board;

(c) Shall provide that disputes between an employee or group of employees and a carrier, growing out of grievances or out of the interpretation or application of agreements concerning rates of pay, rules, or working conditions, shall be handled in the usual manner up to and including the chief operating officer of the carrier designated to handle such disputes; but, failing to reach an adjustment