The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-03-11

The 'sSub accepts the resp0nsiDlHty ana
charges it to his inexperience.
THE. NEW RAILROAD LAW.
We regret to have to announce that
the Legislature has repealed the railroad
law of last winter, and has given the
State nothing in its place except mere
Pigment Of law. We are just where we
we're prior to the enactment of the law Of
1871. The railroads are completely mas
tiers Of the situation.
The new law provides:
Railroad Commissioner.
Sec. 9. That his salary shall be
$4,000 and his Secretary shall have
$1,000 per year.
Sec. 3. The railroad commissioner shall en-
ouire into any neglect or violation Of the laws |
Of this State ~ any railroad corporation doing !
business therein, or by the officers, agents or |
EMPLOYEES of any such company, and shall
also from time to time carefully examine and
inspect the condition of each railroad in this |
State, and of its equipment and the manner OF
its conduct and management, with relation to
also examine into aDd ascertain the pecuniary
condition and the manner OF financial manage
ment of each and every railroad company
doing business in this State.
But as there are no sslaws of this State
for the regulation of railroads his duties
will be very light in this respect.
And the Private Secretary Of the
Governor could make the inquiries
referred to, and thus save the State 81, 200
per annum.
Sec. f. Provides for his report.
| Sec. 5. Provides that the railroad COM
panies shall make an annual report. They
might just as we'll make it directly TO the
! Governor.
Sec. 6. The Commissioner may exam
inc the railroad company books, papers
and officials to see if they told the truth
in their said reports.
Sec. 7. No railroad company shall charge,
demand or receive from any person, company
! or corporation, for the transportation OF per-
| sons or property, greater sum than it shall ut
the same time charge, demand or receive from
any other person, company or corporation for
. like service from the same place and upon
all concessions Of rates, drawbacks and con-
tracts for special rates, shall be open to all
persons companies Or corporations alike under
| similar cicumStances
This is provision against drawbacks"
but it is SO guarded as to amount to little.
It means that A shall have the same rates
as B. ssunder similar circumstance"
That is. if A ships 1000 bushels Of grain
and B ships 1000 bushels Of grain they
shall be charged alike per bushel, but if
A ships 1000 bushels and B 100000 bush
els, then they are not ''under similar cir
cumstances," and B can send his grain for
one half the price per bushel that A pays.
The act Of last winter did not contain
these words ssunder similar circumstance
es,'' but it made the prohibition positive.
tSee Stat. 1874, p. l43, sec. 81
Sec. g. No railroad company shall charge.
demand or receive from any person, company
. or corporation an unreasonable price for the
trans uortation of persons or property or or the
, handling or storing OF any freight. or tor the
afforded by it in the transaction OF its business
as railroad corporation
, An unreasonable price! What is an
unreasonable price! Who is to deter.
! mine it! The courts. And if private
citizen would discover what is All unrea
E sonable price ne must sue powerful cor
poration at the risk Of losing all he has
in the world in costs and expenses. Thu
e law Of 1874 provided that the Railroad
, Commissioners should direct the attorney
general or the county attorney to brinl
d the suit. But al this is now swept away
' Sec. 9. It shall be the duty Of any railros'
e corporation, schsn ac1fAsn their posrer to 40
o and uron reasonable notice, to furnish suitabl
e cars to any and all persons who may appl
;, therefor tur the transportation Of any and =
Y usual kinds OF freight. and to receive an
: transport such freight with all reasonable dis
% patch, and to provide and keep suitable facil
d ties Tor receiving aud handling the same u an
ID deDot ON the line Of its road
~ This amounts to nothing. They vi
Re furnish the cars if it suits them to do SO
and if it does not then it will not b
e. within their power to do So"
le Sec 10. Any railroad corporation who sha
h violate any Of the provisions Of this act, a.
extortios o. ssjsst disevi1instios, shall forte
r for every onense TO the pers0n. company
r. corporation aggrieved thereby, three tunes u
acti,ai damage sustained or overchaTgcs p
!. by the MD party aggrieved, together With u
II costs Of suit, TO be recovered IN c1vh Acsae
at therefor.
I'll So that IS to the other provisions
Ia the act, there is no penalty at Ill.
IN Section IL provides for appeals to u
r. District and Supreme Courts.
Section IL repeals the act Of last VI
ter.
oil The pcople asked for bread and Z
Or LEGISLATURE has given them stone.