The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-01-19
STATE RAILWAYS.
Gen. Bakers Annual Report.

v 4 II
Gen. Bakers Annual Report.
II under Gov. Marshall's reign the
Office of Railroad Commissioner sank
to an mimportant and uninfuential
station In the management of State
railway affairs. the present commits.
sioner. Gen. Baker, has raised the
standard and placed the office among
the most important In our common
wealth, as is testified by his annual
report.
1t would please us to here give the
Generals report in full. but its great
length precludes such qualification,
hence shall have to be content with
selections of few of the most i'm.
pOrtant points.
The commissioner gives list of
recommendation of which a sum
mary Is given below:
lie recommends the establishment
Of board Of railway commissioners
for the consideration of such grave
questions us are, in their nature. too
important tn be left to the judgment
Of any one man ; that his excellency,
the Governor, and AuitOr of State,
eX-Oilicio. together with the railroad
commissioner, shall constitute, for
the present. such commission that
any recommendation. in writing. by
such commission, or q majority Of
them, shall he deemed prima facie a
fair determination OF the matter to
which 1t relates. by the companies
operating railways, by the courts of
the State. and any other party inter-
ested.
That the Legislature under certain
conditions. shall prescribe rules by
which maximum rates he established.
That telegraph and telephone com.
panies be placed under the surveil.
lance Of the railroad commissioner, as
In Ohio lik nnnr as rail.
road companies and that such com.
panies be taxed on a basis of gross
income, instead of property valuation.
That street car companies he re-
quired to report all their business
and condition, rs in Massachusetts,
and New York. except rs to taxes,
which shall he local.
That railway sleeping car com
panies, now not reporting and wholly
untaxed, he required to report to the
commissioner, and to pay taxes on n
basis of gross earnings.
That railway companies, in the
matter OF furnishing cars tn shippers,
shall not favor elevator companies to
the exclusion Of other persons, but
shall perform all their duties as com.
mon carriers without discrimination.
That the public convenience re-
Qnires a new compilation OF all laws
relating to railways, the same to he
issued under the supervision Of the
commissioner, the Edgerton compila.
ton being now out of date.
That elevator companies be requir.
ed to report the amount and quality
of grain. received and shipped, to this
office, for statistical purposes.
That all stock yards and transit
companies be required TO report their
receipts and shipments of stock, to
this office, for statistical purposes.
That in general, more power be
conferred upon the commissioners
Office for the enforcement of all laws
and regulations affecting railways.
That the use Of Intoxicating drinks
by railway employees be prohibited by
law, rs in Michigan this is a rolice
regulation.
That all public records touching
railway matters be henceforth kept
in the Office Of the railroad commits
sioner.
That more stringent penalties be
provided compelling railway com.
panies to report te this Office with
greater prOmptness.
That adequate provision be made
by which this Office can examine into
and fix responsibility for accidents
resulting In personal injury or lose of
life.
That railway companies shall so
keep their books rs to correctly show
the amount of business done and ex.
penditures made on that portion Of
their lines operated in the State.
That the commissioner be author.
lied to prepare an official railway map
OF the State, to accompany the annual
report.
That railway companies he required
to give greater publicity to tariff
rates and that no important or VIC
lent changes in rates shall be made
without due notice to the public
through the office Of the railroad com.
| missioner.
That more adequate protection
against snow blockades be provided.
That certain existing provisions Of
law which work Il hardship in trials
for personal injury, be remedied.
That no consolidation of railway
corporations shall take place by an.
thOrity of law until such proposed
consolidation shall have been submit.
ted to and received the approval of
the board Of railway commissioners.
That il "pooling" is to exist in our
State it should be regulated by law,
SO that local interests may not be
burdened with alleged losses ut com.
petitive points.
That railway companies shall not
have the exclusive power to deter
mine the size and location Of eleva.
tors or other grain houses, and shall
place no restriction upon shippers;
and, in contest between an individ-
ual AMI a company ON this matter the
railway commissioners shall decide.
(AnOther recommendation deals
with the reorganization of the cleri.
Cal force OF the commissioner Office.)
THE PROPOSED BOARD OF COMMITS.
SIONERs.
In regard to the first recommends.
ton, Gen. Baker says that the pro.
posed board should consist of the
Governor and Auditor Of State, ex.
officio, together with the railroad
commissioners, by whom matters OF
grave importance may be considered,
and to whom appeals could be taken
under greviOus circumstances. Such
tribunal will add nothing to the
cost Of Office, but will give more
weight to authority and more general
satisfaction In the disposal of grave
and important questions. The power
with which such a commission should
be entrusted is left to the wisdom of
the Legislature. Shou d the sugges.
ton be adoIked. but little of the time
of the two additional officers need be
consumed In the duties they would be
called upon to perform, as the details
Of all work would lie carried OH in the
commissioners office. In the pro.
gress of our rapidly growing railway