The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-10-08
MIR. COx,S RECORD.

The great Napoleon, when his atten-
ton was called TO any new man, was in
the habit of asking: "What has he
done?''
The best test of mans future is his
past. To ascertain how Mr.. Cox will
act in Congress, let us see how he did
act during last winter in the Legisla-
ture.
On the second day Of the session he
introduced a proposed amendment to
the Constitution, embracing substan-
TALLY the provisions of the Pennsylva-
MIA constitutional amendment. It pro.
vided lst., that all railroads ''should
forever remain public highways" This
was to meet the point that they were
private property and not subject to
public control. I'd. That every rail.
road corporation in this State should
maintain an Office therein where trans
fers of stock shall be made This was
to enable the State to supervise the
business transactions of the company.
to see who owned its stock, its land,
ETC., etc. This is absolutely essential
to the safety of the State and the col.
lection Of the taxes due from the roads.
Sd. Provided for payment to parties
whose land has been taken for railroads;
a very necessary measure. 4th. That
"the Legislature shall always have the
power and authority to regulate or
control the rates of fare and tariffs Of
charges upon or over every line Of
railroad in this State" Surely there
can be no objection to the reafirmance
of this right in the Constitution. A
corrupt Legislature may some day be
bought to grant this right to
regulate fares and charges ex.
clusively to the railroad compa-
MES, and then the question of
"vested rights" would be raised against
the people. 5th. To prevent the con-
solidation of competing or parallel lines
ofrailroad. 9Th. To prevent the off,
GERS of railroad from carrying on
business over said road, such as buying
and shipping wheat, obtaining thereby
undue advantage over other buyers
and shippers. It'll. To prevent the
issue of free passes to any State, judi
cial or legislative officer during his
term Of Office. 9Th. To prevent dis
ordinations, rebates, etc. 9th. Max
ing charges of transportation the same
per mile.
This bill went to the Senate Com
mittee on Railroads. 4 majority Of
that committee were friends Of the rail-
roads, and after holding the bill for a
month, it, with the other railroad bills,
was only brought back into the Senate
by the force of special resolution, and
then it came with an adverse recon-
mendation and substitute reported in
place Of it from that committee. 1t
was not until March I'd, that action was
had upon it. Then the committees
substitute was taken up, but even that
could not be passed. It was indefinite
postponed by the following vote:
Ayes:-18, viz: Is REPUBLICANS.
2 elected rs Democrats, l elected IS an
Anti-Monopolist.
Nays:-l3, viz: 5 elected as Anti
Menopolists. 8 elected as Republicans.
Thus Mr.. Cox's effort to place Min
nesota's Constitution on the same basis
as that of Pennsylvania, was over-rid-
den BY the Republican party.
Mr.. Cox also introduced bill S. F.
No. 81, "a joint resolution requesting
our Senators in Congress to urge the
cancellation of certain lands granted to
the State Of Minnesota in aid Of the
construction Of certain railroads, and
for the relief Of the settlers thereon.