The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-25
me statc Press d che Railroad Low.

The State Press ON the Railroad law.
Prior to the law Of 1874, the roads did
charge all the way stations in the State
nearly or quite one-third more than they
charged St. Paul and Minneapolis. The
law of 1874 put stop to that. We new
er asked that the rates be reduced below
what was just and right; but we did ask,
in common with the people Of the whole
State, that charges should be made uni
form and just. And it seems to us that
mans sense Of justice must be nightly
blunted by selfishncss that can take any
other view Of the matter.
The Morse law simply leaves the State
without any law at all, and the old rob-
cries can be carried on as before. If the
Morse law does anything it really
sanctions the unjust which
caused such an uprising Of the people two
years ago.
The idea that the people will quietly
submit to such outrages as may be per-
petrated under the Morse law, is to sup
pose that they are vast crowd of idiots.
The Radical.
| We take it that the Legislature has the
right to fix by law what are reasonable
freight and passenger rates. and to the
enforcement Of these reasonable laws, the
common law can be applied by the
Courts. Now the great staple product of
this State is grain, from which the State
derives its wealth, and it is duo to the in
terests of the entire State that this pro-
duct be got to market as cheaply and as
speedily as possible. On this very arti-
Gle the greatest extortion is practiced.
Legislation, therefore, to protect this pro-
duct in its transmission to market would
be emincntly wise and proper. Casting
aside passenger rates, or freight rates, on
mixed commodities, and allow them to
regulate themselves, we believe it would
be well for the farmers to bend all their
exertions towards the passage of a law
next winter that will fix limit to the
charges for transportation Of grain. To
accomplish this end it is not necessary to
wage senseless and ruinous war on the
roads generally.-Western Times.
The Legislative bill making Lyon and
Lincoln counties q judicial district has
been passed we understand, and the
Morse railroad bill, giving one State com.
missioner to be elected by the State, in
stead of three. We have copy of the
bill. and cannot see in it much restriction
Of railroads. 1t leaves all suits to be
brought by the individuals damaged, and
; does not define what is extortion in rstes
-l-PraiTie Schooner.
Prior to the law of 1874, at one time
the railroad company charged Rochester
IL cents bushel for shipping wheat te
Winona, $50 miles) while at the same
time it only charged Waseca cents 0
bushel, QO5 miles.) Under the Morse
law the company can do the same thing
again. There is not . county along thu
t whole line of the road that the company
| cannot entirely ruin. What is true O
this portion Of the State is true of tn
whole State.-Woseca Radical.
, The new railroad law is not very vel
thought Of by the State press; in fact
8 there are few papers in the State that d.
). mot denounce the law as . sham, convey
ing no meaning whatever. The railroad
ought to make their own rules in regar,
to freights and passenger tariffs. But tn
Legislature ought by rights to fix Law
business in the State from making unjus
determinations in carrying freights. :
Chicago County Post.
. Examination shows that it is cunn;ngl
+ drawn to appear to be restrictive, while
, really leaves the roads Is independent a
they were before any attempt was mad
. to control them. Why thu Railroad Com
!, missioner, whose duties will amount I
Z only those Of , clerk. should be made a
! elective officer, or why t4.5O0 should b
! required IS compensation for the dutie
!, he is to discharge, is one Of those thing
!. "no fellah can and out. "-FdribauA II
i publican.
= And now comes the reporter Of tn
i st. Paul Press and gives an account 9
e his interview with tho managers Of tn
: several railroads Of the State, whereby
!. appears, that they propose 10 put Up the
rates to the old figures.