The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-01-14

The State OF W1SGO1k6AA 14VWNvSA SA~OAAAo | II
tseif acrrieyed by these Improvements end i
las Therefore recently exhibited in the Su- =
irene Court of the United States its bill OF =
COMPLAINT against the city of Duluth and the u
Northern Pacific Railroad Company in which
he decree of that tribunal is prayed that the
defendants be perpetually enjoined from r
keeping open OF maintaining the canal and a
also REQUIRED to fill it up. 9
The interest of the State Of Minnesota in
the subject Of this suit is SO paramount that
I have determined, at the request OF the
l,om1non Council OF the City Of Duluth, to
act under the authority conferred upon the
Governor by Joint resolution, approved jan
uary esd. 1873, and to take such necessary
steps as will protect the interests OF the
State in the premises.
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.
In 1871 the Legislature enacted stat
ute entitled "an act to regulate the carry
ing of freight and passengers on all rail-
roads in this State.'' This law was cr'lce
in it's conception harsh towards the peo-
pie in some of its provisions which were
honestly intended fo- their benefit, unjust
to some of the weaker railroad companies,
| IN that it did not consider that the ques- |
ii N of rates is Justly subject to considera-
| tions respectinc the strength of the road
| to which they are applied. 1t was also
from similar causes a work of invidious
tavoritism in some respects towards the
strong companies, for it gave them, under
certain conditions and in regard to certain
classes of freight a greater compensation
than those companies had themselves pre-
sc,ihed. The law broke down at once I'M
der its own Inherent imperfections, and its
sole value consists in the fact that 1t was
the first assertion of the right of our Leg
stature to protect the people against ex-
cpssive tolls and unjust Determinations,
and that. under it, these questions OF right
were submitted to the courts, whose oecis-
ions established the existence o! these
rights over the companies, who we're De-
PENDANTS.
In 1874 another act was passed, after
much deliberation and Discussion, estab-
fishing Board OF Railroad Commissioners,
and requiring them to make schedule OF
reasonable maximum rates Tor each com
pany by August 1874. 1t prohibited un-
lust determinations, and prescribed equal
lty Of charges for equal distances. AUX
iliary to these general principles which
! the statute was designed to establish II
r contained other important provisions
which it is not necessary here to recapltu
: late.
. . appointed as Commissioners ex-Gov-
> e-nor VIM L. Marshall, Gen. A. }. Edger-
\ ton and Hon. John J. Randall, with the
fullest sense OF my own responsibility and
with the view of securing the services OF
: citizens of undoubted standing who would
perform the duties of their Office with ju-
\ dicial impartialty. These gentlemen ad-
dressed themselves q IT'D great industry to
!. the administration of this statute, and the
I result of their labors together with sncl
!. recon- as their experience has
ii suggested are presented in their report,
= They state that in the establishment 0
Il rates they proceeded solely upon their con
q victions of what would be reasonable, afte
J considering the views Of the companies
~ and the shippers, designing to effect mate
- rial savings 20 the people and at the sam
! thine not to opp- essiyeiy reduce the rev
enues Of The roads. They aimed also to d.
away with the evils of determinations
which they consider the most importan
t ievance q. all. Three-fourt' OF III
Of carrying business OF our roads consists G
A. the transportation : lumber and grain
l. and il ia as TO these that reductions hav
E. been mainly effected. They state tbs
N there has been . general Id substantn
We compliance with the Law Oh the part
=; the companies and that no well iounde
p p com plant has been made OF its vlolahol
a. They make several special reconnel
OF dations upon points where they thin
,st amendments will he necessary.
to Statutes are generally vindicated
NJ condemned BY their results. This statu
lat has resulted in the substantial abohnt
. OF local determinations. The tables Wink
-. accompany this report demonstrate tia
;ns pon passenger fares, il Il
he average earnings estimated
ID the Commissioner sre correct, reductio
aid will in one year amount to e69. 345.
ore the same process OF approximation IN
| estimate that the saving in one year ire
NOT August /, 1874, upon the two articles
on grain and lumter will ke $3.50, 600.
oil Upon the general question OF the rlg
- Of the State to prevent abuses and to g
MT a remedy for their commission, my o.
his views arc so we'll known through irequs
expression that it is not necessary tor
to reiterate them. regard IL as practlc
nth IL settled that this right exists. i
the view is warranted by the decisions
OF nearly ell the courts which have lass
lsA ,pon the question, and Now awaits d
3 =, confirmation by the supreme Court Of
;red u nited. States y hose decisionssupon pr
the ciples which underlie this subject b
peo- placed that cour. upon line OF logi
orts consequences which, it would seem, M
this lead it TO affirm the views Of the subol
tne nate tribunals.
ren- The RICH. then existing the question
IN merely how shall ii he exercis d. I
question il Is for the people themselves
Y To determine. Il is not matter OF r.
IN Of feeling. II cannot be circumscribed
ty of party lines II is A9u~stien Of justice
anal solving which i; is your duty, doing
base wong. to see that the people suffer
~rong.
. -, CONCLUSION.
the AsI close this paper some eonside1as
canal press almost irresistably Tor expression
cur The formal and special details Of leg
'utlet tive ard executive duty are generally
:; A enough and easily performed II
the by the performance Of such tasks
soua public men receive their acqutfance
I1n;. pass from the scene Of trial to the 81
al in Of imperishable esteem. These acts
rer. the almost invol apfary Pc, formance O
uron functions of the body polite and. tnt
J, 90, visal. arr unheeded While being done
dyke forgotten when accomplished They
inne- ,c...lv ta,e ror,.si incidents OF the \
IL and existence Of national life.
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