The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1882-12-22

curing valuable information Oh these
important topics.
RAILWAY REFORM IN MIN
NESOTA.
The present Is not only an auspic-
ious time for doing something In the
way of civil service reform but the
matter of railway.reform legislation
In Minnesota will command the at
tention of our Lawmakers at their
coming session. Minnesota has II
Railroad Commissioner, and much
has been done toward subjecting
railroad transportation to proper
limitations, but there are existing
determinations which lie beyond the
power of a Commissioner to adjust
without the aid OF proper legislation
and the moral support of good whole
some laws. And for this reaso 1t is
not too much to expect that the Gen
eral Assembly will this winter enact
some sort Of core whereby extortion
and discrimination in charges will be
placed under restraint. Information
comes through different channels
that the roads Of the Northwest do
not pay, but when one stops to con-
slider that new lines r striving to
gain ncccss to tho very points where
from one to three roads are already
operating. the assertion at once dons
a color of ~insincerity and untruthful-
ness. As a rule, capitalists will not
place millions Of money into al enter
prise that does not pay, nor will they
lend their wealth to the construction
of u line of railway into a territory
that is already well supplied, unless
there be ample evidence that the
traffic will repay the outlay. Human
nature is the same the world over so
far as the getting of money goes. and
the history OF railroads pretty clearly
demonstrates that they are u paying
investment.
The late Northwestern railroad
war has had the effect of throwing
the Omaha road into the hands of
Vanderbilt. and its virtual control
under the management of the North.
western. Hughitt. the Vice.Presi-
dent Of the Northwestern, has been
elected President Of the Omaha cice
Porter resigned, hut 1t will, ostensib-
ly at least, be operated as heretofore
AS an independent line. But of
course the independence Of the road
has been nuilified, as the interests of
one are identical with the other. and
il is more than probable that the only
reason for non. consolidation ut this
time Was from fear of arousing public
Indignation and Legislative action.
The State of Illinois is probably the
pioneer State in railway reforms
the commonwealth in the Union
that has done all within the power
of State legislation to prevent extor.
ton and discrimination in railway
charges, and if her code has fulfilled
its mission 30 well, why cannot Min
nesota profit by the experience and
give our people the relief demanded.
There is no reason in the world why
freight should be transported by rail
from st. Paul to Sioux City for two
thirds of what the shippers of NAH
kato would have to pay, when Man
kato is nearly a hundred miles nearer
the point designated. Neither Is
there any cogent reason why our
merchants and shippers should pay
from 10 to 20 per cent. more on
freight to o r from Chicago than do
those of st. Paul, when the distance
is about the same. These are wrongs
which should be righted; and in such
a manner rs to do no injustice to the
great railways that now traverse our
prairies.
In speaking upon the question of
railway reforms in Illinois, the Chi
cago Inter Ocean says it took several
years to perfect the legislation de-
signed to regulate charges for freight
and passenger. but the system in its
lreformatory features Is yery simnle-
1t rests upon the principle of equal
charges for equal services, whether
there be competition or not. The
duties of the commissions are, first, to
agree upon an elaborate tariff of
freight and passenger rates, meeting
every conceivable a s that may arise,
such rates to be prima facia evidence
of a proper compensation for the
service rendered and second, to en-
force them. through the courts IL
necessary. Of course, if in any In
stance the railroad company a
prove that the presumption Of the
schedule is wrong, the court would
allow a higher rate to lie exacted.
but practically the schedules are bind
ing ; and gradually the railroads have
reached the conclusion that observ-
ance of the law and of the rates
Hereunder, all in perfectly good faith,
is the best policy for them.
A recent decision Of the Supreme
Court of Illinois goes so far as to vest
in the State supervision OF rates on
shipments or passenger travel begin
ming in the State. although extending
To other States This doctrine may
be sustained ny the Supreme Court
Of the United States or 1t may not ;
no one can tell. It's establishment
would lie a highly important matter.
in the absence of any National sys.
TEN Of supervision. Ii 1t he sus-
tained it will he u matter Of relative
unimportance what action Congress
may take upon the railroad question.
The decision of the Supreme Court
of the United States upon that doc.
trine is anticipated with deep inter.
est.
1t is possible and really to he hoped
that Congress may take hold Of this
perplexed question Of transportation,
but the shortness Of the present ses.
sion and the amount of work already
up for disposition, Is quite sufficient