SEC. 424. The second paragraph of section 16 of the Interstate Commerce Act is hereby amended by inserting "(2)" at the beginning of such paragraph, and by striking out the last sentence thereof and inserting in lieu thereof the following as a new paragraph:

"(3) All actions at law by carriers subject to this Act for recovery of their charges, or any part thereof, shall be begun within three years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after. All complaints for the recovery of damages shall be filed with the Commission within two years from the time the cause of action accrues, and not after, unless the carrier, after the expiration of such two years or within ninety days before such expiration, begins an action for recovery of charges in respect of the same service, in which case such period of two years shall be extended to and including ninety days from the time such action by the carrier is begun. In either case the cause of action in respect of a shipment of property shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to accrue upon delivery or tender of delivery thereof by the carrier, and not after. A petition for the enforcement of an order for the payment of money shall be filed in the district court or State court within one year from the date of the order, and not after."

SEC. 425. The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth paragraphs of section 16 of the Interstate Commerce Act are hereby amended by inserting "(4)" at the beginning of the third paragraph, “(5)" at the beginning of the fourth paragraph, “(6)” at the beginning of the fifth paragraph, and "(7)" at the beginning of the sixth paragraph.

SEC. 426. The seventh paragraph of section 16 of the Interstate Commerce Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"(8) Any carrier, any officer, representative, or agent of a carrier, or any receiver, trustee, lessee, or agent of either of them, who knowingly fails or neglects to obey any order made under the provisions of sections 3, 13, or 15 of this Act shall forfeit to the United States the sum of $5,000 for each offense. Every distinct violation shall be a separate offense, and in case of a continuing violation each day shall be deemed a separate offense."

SEC. 427. The eighth and ninth paragraphs of section 16 of the Interstate Commerce Act are hereby amended by inserting "(9)" at the beginning of the eighth paragraph and "(10)" at the beginning of the ninth paragraph.

SEC. 428. The tenth paragraph of section 16 of the Interstate Commerce Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "(11) The Commission may employ such attorneys as it finds necessary for proper legal aid and service of the Commission or its members in the conduct of their work, or for proper representation of the public interests in investigations made by it or cases or proceedings pending before it, whether at the Commission's own instance or upon complaint, or to appear for or represent the Commission in any case in court; and the expenses of such employment shall be paid out of the appropriation for the Commission."

SEC. 429. The eleventh and twelfth paragraphs of section 16 of the Interstate Commerce Act are hereby amended by inserting "(12)" at the beginning of the eleventh paragraph and "(13)" at the beginning of the twelfth paragraph.

SEC. 430. Section 17 of the Interstate Commerce Act is hereby amended by inserting "(1)" after the section number at the beginning of the first paragraph.

SEC. 431. The second paragraph of section 17 of the Interstate Commerce Act is hereby amended to read as follows:

"(2) The Commission is hereby authorized by its order to divide the members thereof into as many divisions (each to consist of not less than three members) as it may deem necessary, which may be changed from time to time. Such divisions shall be denominated, respectively, division one, division two, and so forth. Any Commissioner may be assigned to and may serve upon such division or divisions as the Commission may direct, and the senior in service of the Commissioners constituting any of said divisions shall act as chairman thereof. In case of vacancy in any division, or of absence or inability to serve thereon of any Commissioner thereto assigned, the chairman of the Commission or any Commissioner designated by him for that purpose, may temporarily serve on said division until the Commission shall otherwise order."

SEC. 432. The third and fourth paragraphs of section 17 of the Interstate Commerce Act are hereby amended by inserting "(3)" at the beginning of the third paragraph, and "(4)" at the beginning of the fourth paragraph.

The fifth and sixth paragraphs of such section are hereby repealed.

The seventh paragraph of such section is hereby amended by inserting "(5)" at the beginning of such paragraph.

SEC. 433. Section 18 of the Interstate Commerce Act is hereby amended by inserting "(1)" after the section number at the beginning of the first paragraph, and "(2)" at the beginning of the second paragraph.

Section 19a of the Interstate Commerce Act is hereby amended by inserting “(a)" after the section number at the beginning of the first paragraph, "(b)" at the beginning of the second paragraph, "(c)" at the beginning of the seventh paragraph, "(d)" at the beginning of the eighth paragraph, "(e)" at the beginning of the ninth paragraph, “(f)” at the beginning of the tenth paragraph, "(g)" at the beginning of the eleventh paragraph, “(h)" at the beginning of the twelfth paragraph, "(i)" at the beginning of the thirteenth paragraph, “(j)" at the beginning of the fourteenth paragraph, “(k)" at the beginning of the fifteenth paragraph, and “(1)” at the beginning of the sixteenth paragraph.

SEC. 434. Section 20 of the Interstate Commerce Act is hereby amended by inserting "(1)" after the section number at the beginning of the first paragraph, “(2)” at the beginning of the second paragraph, “(3)" at the beginning of the third paragraph, and "(4)" at the beginning of the fourth paragraph.

SEC. 435. The fifth paragraph of section 20 of the Interstate Commerce Act is hereby amended to read as follows: "(5) The Commission may, in its discretion, prescribe the forms of any and all accounts, records, and memoranda to be kept by carriers subject to the provisions of this Act, including the accounts, records, and memoranda of the movement of traffic, as well as of the receipts and expenditures of moneys. The Commission shall, as soon as practicable, prescribe, for carriers subject to this Act, the classes of property for which depreciation charges may properly be included under operating expenses, and the percentages of deprecia

tion which shall be charged with respect to each of such classes of property, classifying the carriers as it may deem proper for this purpose. The Commission may, when it deems necessary, modify the classes and percentages so prescribed. The carriers subject to this Act shall not charge to operating expenses any depreciation charges on classes of property other than those prescribed by the Commission, or charge with respect to any class of property a percentage of depreciation other than that prescribed therefor by the Commission. No such carrier shall in any case include in any form under its operating or other expenses any depreciation or other charge or expenditure included elsewhere as a depreciation charge or otherwise under its operating or other expenses. The Commission shall at all times have access to all accounts, records, and memoranda, including all documents, papers, and correspondence now or hereafter existing, and kept or required to be kept by carriers subject to this Act, and the provisions of this section respecting the preservation and destruction of books, papers, and documents shall apply thereto, and it shall be unlawful for such carriers to keep any other accounts, records, or memoranda than those prescribed or approved by the Commission, and it may employ special agents or examiners, who shall have authority under the order of the Commission to inspect and examine any and all accounts, records, and memoranda, including all documents, papers, and correspondence now or hereafter existing, and kept or required to be kept by such carriers. This provision shall apply to receivers of carriers and operating trustees. The provisions of this section shall also apply to all accounts, records, and memoranda, including all documents, papers, and correspondence now or hereafter existing, kept during the period of Federal control, and placed by the President in the custody of carriers subject to this Act."

SEC. 436. The sixth paragraph of section 20 of the Interstate Commerce Act is hereby amended by inserting “(6)” at the beginning of such paragraph.

The seventh paragraph of section 20 of the Interstate Commerce Act is hereby amended by striking out "Par. 7," at the beginning of such paragraph and inserting “(7)” in lieu thereof.

The eighth to twelfth paragraphs, inclusive, of section 20 of the Interstate Commerce Act are hereby amended by inserting "(8)" at the beginning of the eighth paragraph, "(9)" at the beginning of the ninth paragraph, "(10)" at the beginning of the tenth paragraph, "(11)" at the beginning of the eleventh paragraph, and “(12)" at the beginning of the twelfth paragraph.

SEC. 437. The eleventh paragraph of section 20 of the Interstate Commerce Act is hereby amended by inserting immediately before the first proviso thereof the following:

"Provided, That if the loss, damage, or injury occurs while the property is in the custody of a carrier by water the liability of such carrier shall be determined by and under the laws and regulations applicable to transportation by water, and the liability of the initial carrier shall be the same as that of such carrier by water."

SEC. 438. The third proviso of the eleventh paragraph of section 20 of the Interstate Commerce Act (not counting the proviso added by section 437 of this Act) is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Provided further, That it shall be unlawful for any such common carrier to provide by rule, contract, regulation, or otherwise a shorter period for giving notice of claims than ninety days, for the filing of claims than four months, and for the institution of suits than two years, such period for institution of suits to be computed from the day when notice in writing is given by the carrier to the claimant that the carrier has disallowed the claim or any part or parts thereof specified in the notice."

SEC. 439. The Interstate Commerce Act is further amended by inserting therein a new section between section 20 and section 21, to be designated section 20a, and to read as follows:

"SEC. 20a. (1) That as used in this section the term 'carrier' means a common carrier by railroad (except a street, suburban, or interurban electric railway which is not operated as a part of a general steam railroad system of transportation) which is subject to this Act, or any corporation organized for the purpose of engaging in transportation by railroad subject to this Act.