Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-02-28

| dudllOl 1OuI years.
Adding a new section to article z of the
constitution making the official year end
Jan. l, and providing for biennial cleo
tions.
| Amending sections 3, and of article
6 of the constitution relating to the ju-
dietary, shortening the terms of judges
from seven to six years and increasing
that of the clerk from three to four years.
HOUSE BILLS PASSED.
To provide for change in the boundary
between Todd and Wadena counties.
| Creating board of fuel commissioners.
HOUSE BILL LOST.
To regulate the inspection and handling
of grain. Yeas, SO, nays, "a.
THE JOURNAL.
Upon motion of Mr.. Jas. Smith, Jr., the
public printer was authorized to complete
the printing of the Journal after the adj
journment.
| Recess until 2:45.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
When called to order for the afternoon
session at As, there were a good many
vacant seats upon the floor of the chamber,
but the gallery was fairly will filed, quite
number of ladies being among the spec
tators.
Speaker Fletcher announced the special
order, the railroad bills, eleven in number,
with Mr.. Rahilly's bill regu-
letting freight and passenger
rates, heading the list.
Mr.. Rahilly, stating that pooling of in
terests having been made as to a bill,
moved to lay the bill on the table.
Mr.. Jas. Smith, Jr., moved to indefinitely
postpone, which motion prevailed.
The next bill was that introduced by Mr..
Thayer. who, notwithstanding the pool, TO
test the house moved the bill be recon-
mended to pass. He said the
| first portion of the bill was, III its main
features, copy of the Illinois law, and
merely said to the railroad companies that
they should not charge extravaganza rates
or practice discrimination as between indi-
viduals. The proposition was an eminent
| ly Just one. But it is a fact that discrimi-
nation exists in this state, and that it is
ruinous to the people. The milling inter
est in the south, for instance,is discriminate
ed against in favor Of the Minneapolis mil
| lers Then again there are discrimina
tons at the same point, some shippers re-
ceiving rebates, which is carried to such
an extent that one firm or individual con-
trolls the business at that point. This is
true of stock and grain, especially IN the
latter commodity, which is controlled by
class favored by the railroads, and all or
nearly all competition driven out of the
market. Thus every cent coming
to the pro lucers is effected and governed
in part by the dictum of these giant mo-
nopolies. The bounden duty, then of this
| legislature, is to provide some legislation
which shall prevent this evil. The other
special feature of the bill was the means
provided for Furnishing such discrimina-
ton, which is provided for through the
courts, the Judge first charging the grand
| jury, which shall investigate, and if yio-
lation of law is found, civil action is
mmenced, with penalties Of
three times the amounts of dam
ages shown to have been sus-
tanned. He had nothing to say against a
board of railroad commissioners, but in
his opinion if reform was really needed,
the source to look to for it was from the
powerful enginery of the courts, as was
provided III his bill, and it seemed to him
that the measures provided offered the
best means of relief contained in any of
the pending bills
Mr. Hartley did not think there was any
man on the floor who really believed in
fixing specific rate for railroad and
giving grand jury power to investigate
charges of violation of such law.
He lived on line of road in
what short time ago was a boundless
wilderness. It run five trains to their city,
and the people were glad to welcome the
roads. If shippers had any fault to find
they reported it to the management, and if
the complaint was well founded it was
remedied, and as the business was 1ncreas-
| ing, the rates were being reduced.
Mr. Thayer answered that the bill did
not fix specific rates, but simply provided
against overcharge and discrimination,
and provided a penalty for Furnishing such
of1enses.
Mr.. Brown did not propose to go
into details in discussing this
bill, but it was too i'm
portant measure to let 60 by without an
expression of opinion. Ever since the
legislature met, the members have been be-
set by railroad attorneys. This is all right,
but they have not the right, nor have the
newspapers, to denounce those who think
different, as ignoramuses, and of sticking
their noses into matters of which they
know nothing. AS to the bill under COR
sideration, Mr.. Brown said, all that was
asked by it was, that the
roads as common carriers,
shall serve all citizens alike. The power
vested in the railroads is such that they
can lay their hands on given place, and
paralyze and ruin its business. In proof
of his position he cited an instance of
Hanksto carriage manufacturer, who came
to St. Paul and bought his goods to fill
orders few miles further west, because he
could get better rates from st. Paul than
Nankato. The people, he said, had given
the railroads all reasonable encourage
ment and they in turn should reGiprocats.
The people know their rights, and they
will never give up this fight until discrimi-
nation is banished and equal privileges
established. He saw nothing hostile to the
railroads in the bill. If there was, he
should oppose it, because he had nothing
but kindly feelings for them, and would
give them their rights, but he would at the
same time compel them, if they would not
do it voluntarily, to deal justly by the
people.
Mr.. Thompson, of Fillmore, called at
tention to two towns in that county, in
one of which, by the favoritism of the
.oi1rood fha uhant rnarkat