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


ship the product back over the road. Such
was the situation in southern Minnesota
to-day, and by the system the people were
simply the slaves of those great corpora
tions. What the people want and what
they will have, is equal justice. They are
willing the railroads shall receive fair rates.
but at the same time they insist that no
favoritism shall be shown, but all placed
on the same footing and treated in the
same manner.
Mr.. Cole said he did not differ SO much
in the objects desired by his friend but in
the means he would employ. In looking
for the means care should be taken not to
create an agency of evil. The railroad
precedes immigration to-day, leading the
way for the development of the country,
| and nothing should be done to throw an
| obstacle in their way in this great work.
There was, he said, a great variety of
| opinions as to what would comprise
unjust discrimination. He was not OPP
posed to legislation against unjust DIS
elimination, and now favored the adoption
of the Massachusetts law in this state. 1t
has the same provisions against discrimi-
nation as in the bill now under discussion,
but does not provide like severe penalties,
and as it had been found to work well in
Massachusetts, he would favor a trial Of il
in this state.
Mr.. Brown called attention to the fact
that similar law as that under discussion
had been in operation in Illinois for ten
years, and had worked no injustice to any
one-the railroads or the people.
Mr.. James Smith, Jr, speaking of the
Illinois law, said that the same was now
part of the Minnesota statutes, and that If
it was not enforced it was the fault of the
people. He was opposed to the star cham
Der investigation of charges against rail-
roads as proposed in the bill. Some
determinations must be made in railroad
business. The railroads desire to settle up
the country and build up business, and TO
do this discrimination is practiced in GER
tain cases. 1t has been the policy of the
railroad companies to carry grain at one
quarter the rates charged for merchandise.
Why? To build up tia country and make
business. If the proposed legislation was
had, this discrimination would be stopped
and grain would of necessity be put at the
same relative rate as merchandise. The
producing classes did not want such legis-
lation. 1t was not to their interest
and would result disastrously
to them. The present cIamor
was started by few individuals without
real cause, and many times mahciously.
Speaking of the business of the railroads,
Mr.. Smith said that 60 per cent. of the
earnings were paid out to employees and
again put in circulation. The report of
the United States census showed that
100000 men were engaged in railroading
10 CT birtu- Of ha Loi
populat1on-an industry that certainly
ought to be dealt fairly with. In closing
he said it appeared to him that Minnesota
should deal literally with all the railroads
it now had, and get all the capital possib o
here to assist in the development of
their further extension and the develop
ment OF the state, and for one he trusted
there would be no material change in the
present law.
Mr.. Thayer again spoke briefly of the
merits of his bill, and in reply to the OBJ
jections of the speaker, at the conclusion
of which a vote was taken upon his motion
that it be recommended for passage, and
the motion was lost, yeas "a, nays sc.
The bill was then indefinitely postponed
upon motion of as. Smith, Jr.
The next bill, introduced by Mr.. Thomp-
son; that by Mr.. Frank; that by Mr..
John Peterson, were indefinitely
postponed, the last two upon the motion
of their authors.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Brown, re-
lating to injuries of one servant by an
other, was taken up and Mr.. Brown moved
to report progress, but a motion by Mr.
Hartley to Indefinitely postpone was
carried. A somewhat similar bill intro
duced by Mr.. Buck shared a like fate.
Mr.. Rahilly's bill prohibiting railroads
from issuing passes coming up Mr.. Moore
| offered an amendment restricting the
operation of the bill to Wabashaw county.
In speaking to this, Mr.. Rahilly said he
was not disappointed at the fate of the
attempted railroad legislation. He
had anticipated from the first just what is
now happening, and he had no faith now
in passing any railroad bill at this session
It's nonsense to expect any. The railroad
companies had fixed things. AS to the
pass question, he said the Wabash2w mem
bers were ready to pay their fares, and he
thought it was disgrace for member to
accept pass if thereby a railroad com
pany was to own him body and SOUL
Coming back to the subject of gen
eral legislation, Mr.. Rahilly
again said none need be
expected. The railroad interest had killed
the grain inspection bill and had fxs d
things to kill all hostile railroad legislx-
ton, but still he hoped the bill would be
favorably reported, but it was indefinitely
postponed, as was also tho next one fixing
passenger rates, also introduced by Mr..
Rahilly.
THE CHILD BILL.
The bill known as the pool bill, intro
duced by Mr.. J. E. Child, and the tenth on
the list. was next considered, and was
amended by striking out all the provisions
relating to telegraphs and taxation of
sleeping cars, express companies, etc.
Mr.. Jas. Smith, Jr., moved the bill be
indefinitely postponed. 1t was no better
if as good bill as that of the. gentleman
from Fillmore, which had been postponed.
Mr.. Fletcher seconded the motion, saying
that when the house had rejected the grain
inspection bill of Mr.. Peterson, he had
lost all hope of any railroad legislation at
this time, and he did not think the valuable
time of the house should be wasted longs:
in this discussion.
Mr.. Child, moved to amend by recon-
mending the bill for passage, and said his
bill differed from that of Mr.. Thayer in
that it created board of commissioners
for the raOulatiOn of tina