Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1875-03-18

The County has 10 Omcial Paper
A. A. HARDWOOD, Editor = Proprie,o,
AUSTIN. MINI.
THURSDAY MORNING. MARCH IS. 1875
Tho Morso Rnilro,ad Lay.


Among the important features Of late
legislation is the law for the control Of
Railroads in this State. I. differs from
that Of last year, in two very important
particulars. Whereas that provided for
the creation of commission composed Of
three members, this one provides but for
y single commissioner. The old law
made it the duty Of the commissioners
among other things, to fix upon sched-
ulc Of rates for the transportation OF
freight and passengers, for the guidance
and control Of each road in the State. The
new law prohibits railroad companies
from charging unreasonable prices for
any service whatever. The practical IF:
feet Of the new law is 10 restore railroad
companies to the same footing which they
occupied before the law of last year was
enacted. Then they were under obliga-
ton to carry ut reasonable rates, and late
legislation imposes upon them no. sddi-
tlonal burden. The story plainly told is
this. The railroads had contest with
the representatives of the people, and
came of victorious. The question ''whut
are reasonable rates. is vexatious one,
aud if left wholly to the railroads, will
never be answered satisfactorily to the
people. tits true that the courts are open,
aud that theoretically everv man who is
aggrieved by the railroads has remedy
In civil damages, but practically there is
no relief for any one, because the onus Of
proof rests upon the plaintiff who can in
no case recover anything except what he
las paid in excess Of reasonable rates.
The law provides for the assessment of no
damages az an indemnify against future
wrong, which afford any adequate pro.
lection, hence the punishment Of yester-
days extortion affords no guarantee that
tomorrow may not witness Its repetition.
1t is possible-perhaps probable, that the
commissioners were too arbitrary in some
cases, but that they inflicted IN injury
upon the railroads considered as 4 whole
but few will contend. In no case, We be-
lieve, did they fix the passenger rate at
less than four cents per mile. Can that be
unjust to the roads? II it is, upon what
theory do they expect to save themselves
from loss wien they sell Thousand mile"
tickets for thirty dollars apieces Three
cents per mile demanded by the compan.
ics is not as good as four cents prescribed
by the commissioners. In other words if
the price fixed. by the commissioners is
too small, how can the roads live upon a
rate which is twenty-five per cent less
We arc not satisfied with the trial made
Of tho late law, nor do VIC think the peo-
pie Of the State arc satisfied. We would
pursue no unjust course toward railroads,
nor do we think the people will, but be-
fore any radical change was made there
should have been abundant evidence that
change WAS required Ivy the mutual in
tcrcsts Of the parties concerned We do
not think any such evidence existed Nor
do the people think 80. 1t now remains
Tor the Legislature to enact that any charge
tor railroad service which is, in excess Of
reasonable rates shall be an indictablc
otfcnsc, and punishable as a crime. We
see no way to prevent the practice Of ex-
sortion under the present law.