The Grange advance., 1874-08-19
IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.

Illinois in Council at Dubuq ue-.
The Objects Sought to be Accom-
plished.
The Railroad Commissioners of Min
nesota, Illinois and Wisconsin and the
Executive Committee of Iowa, having
the same functions as railroad commits
sioners, met at the Julien House, Du-
buque. yesterday. The following are
the names Of the gentlemen who consti-
tutc the Boards Of Commissioners for
the States named: Iowa's Executive
Committee is composed ofthe Governor,
Secretary Of State, Auditor and Treas
urer. nois-Judge Jas. Steele, John
NJ. Pearson and n. H. Brown. Wis
consin-George H. Paul, j. W. Hoyt
and j. II. Osborn. Minnesota Il.
Marshall, A. j. Edgerton, J. j. Ran
dali. These Boards Of Commissioners,
consisting of three men, are appointed
in each State by the Governor. and by
the above it will be seen that the neigh.
boring States are represented by the
full boards Of each. The powers vested
by the Legislature in these boards is
similar in all the States. though Mime
sofa grants more authority to the Com
missioners than does either of the other
States. In that State the board fixes
the tariffs, the law requiring the board
to make schedule Of reasonable maxi
mum rates Of charges for transporting
of freight and passengers. In the other
States the legislature fixes the tariff and
the board is authorized to see it en-
forced. The Commissioners have author
ity to prosecute railroads, subpoena wit
nesses in railroad cases, etc.
The four states of Iowa. Illinois. Wis.
consin, and Minnesota, are traversed
and connected Iy the same railroads,
therefore it is desirable to make the re-
quirements similar in all these States.
1t creates confusion to have one set of
laws bearing on one end of railroad
and different set in effect at the other
end. As these four States are 50 inter-
woven by the same roads. the Railroad
Commissioners Of each State decided to
meet and consult together as to the
best method of systematizins the rail.
road laws, and their own duty. This
meeting il only preliminary, in which
the Commissioners hope by free discus
sion of railroad matters, to determine
the best method to be pursued in order
to solve and settle the whole ::atter.
Among the questions that will be dis
cussed and the objects sought to be &C.
coaplished are the following:
First-Uniformity of the fiscal years
of the railroads in these four States, so
that the roads will all make their an
nual reports at the same time.
Second-The adoption of the same
forms Of report by all the railroads, in
order to simplify the work of compar.
ing statistics in the different States.
This is an important point.
Third-To obtain uniform classifi-
cation Of freights in these States. The
fact that freight is classified differently
by different roads creates confusion
that can be avoided by adopting uni
form classifications.
Fourth-To accomplish similar legis.
lation in these four States on railroad
matters.
At half-past two the Iowa reprcsen.
tatives had not arrived, so the meeting
was organized by selecting Mr.. Randall
chairman, and Mr.. Hoyt secretary,
Mr., Peterson stated the object of the
meeting, after which, at Judge Stcele's
suggestion, the commissioners entered
into an examination of the railroad laws
of the four States.