The Grange advance., 1874-05-06
State Railroad Commissioners.

State Railroad onnissio1ors.
1t will be our duty, until some kind
of a satisfactory settlement is reached,
from time to time to give, here little
and there little, of such facts as they
arise as will eventually lead to a full
and comprehensive understanding of the
whole subject of fares and transporta-
ton.
The present status of the question in
our State may be readily summed up.
The last legislative assembly contained
fair sprinkling Of Changers and Anti
Monopolists, sufficiently numerous to
force the transportation question for
ward for consideration. Almost every
member had something to say aud said
it. The display Of logic and eloquence
was admirable, but either through
tlmidity, or deeming excessive caution
the better part Of valor, the Legislative
body never got ready to act upon any
bill by which that body assumed the
power and responsibility of settling the
matter, but passed law requiring the
government to appoint three Commis-
sioners to stand between the people and
the roads and fix matters up in the best
manner they can.
The Commissioners have good sala-
ries, and what duties they are enabled
to perform may be learned from the fol-
lowing, clipt from the st. Paul Pioneer
of May Sd:
Two of the Board of Railroad Commis-
sioners, Governor Marshall and J. J. Ran
dali, have just returned from a hasty trip
over the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad.
The purpose of the Commissioners was to
post themselves regarding the general con-
dition of the road, and to get such main
facts as will aid them in making up their
future judgment regarding the issues exist
ing between the roads and the people. The
Commissioners found the road in very good
condition. Some new iron is needed here
and there, and this the owners hope to fur
nish during the summer. They found but
little complaint on the part Of shippers re-
garding the freights charged by the road.
The commissioners sscertained that owing
to the sparseness Of the settlements along
the line, the road is realizing no profit
from its traffic, the directors having to fur
nish money from their own pockets to keep
up the interest on their bonds. Beyond
the equalization of the tariff, some articles
Of which were rated too high, and others
possibly lower than they would bear, the
commissioners will probably determine
upon little alteration of rates for this road,
and this result will probably be reached
with regard to most roads in the State
not more than one or two being found to
pay any returns even upon present rates.
No attention has yet been paid to the
question Of how far the lands donated to
the roads will, or should affect the ques.
tion Of rates, but is perhaps not too much
to predict that any expectation on the part
of the people of a radical modification OF
rates, will not be realized. Many of the
roads, it is held, are tottering on the verge
Of failure even at present prices, and this
being the case it is believed the Commits.
sioners will not deem it just to railroads te
make any radical changes. The people
have some rights and the roads have some
rights, which efforts at mutual concession
it is hoped will harmonic, but it may be
taken for granted, we think, that whateve,
else is done, no special relief will come tt
the people as the result of the
labors of the Commission appointed by tht
last Legislature. OF course it is some hat
early in the day to make positive predic.
ton Of this kind, but it is not too much t,
say that grain must look beyond Minnesot.
for any substantial relief from present
charges for transportation.
The truth is they can do only wha
they were expected to do; which is tt
bear upon their shoulders the sins D
omission by the legislature. Their po
sition is false one, and We would not b,
surprised if any day they should resig'
and throw the odiun back upon tina
body Of men from whom the people hat
right to expect better things.
In Memoriam.
We have just received the sad intelli
gence that Bro. David A. Morrill, Of Evenin!
Star Grange, Dakota County, died on tn
oath Of April, after one weeks illness
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