The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-07-03
FRIDAY. JULY 8. 1885.


At the last session of congress a
;ommitte was appointed, consisting of |
Senator'S Collum, Harris and Plat to |
enquire into the necessity of congress.
'ional legislation to regulate inter.
state commerce and more particularly
railroad traffic. This committee has |
been making a western tour and last
week visited st. Paul and Minneapolis.
They invited large number of bust.
ness men-sllippers and railroad men
to express their views on questions at
issue between the railroad and the
public, such as pooling, granting re.
bates, discriminating between short
and long hauls, &c. Most of the bust.
ness men in Minneapolis seemed to be
contented over the condi.
ton of railroad matters generally
while majority of those in St. Paul
who gave their testimony were of the
opinion that there was room for legis.
lation requiring better and more I'm.
partial service on the part of the rail.
roads. Most of them favored the
creation by congress of a railroad
commission. Capt. Blakely said that
Congress ought to establish com.
mission of one or more men from each
state, and they ought to sit down at a
table and discuss the matter right
through the year. 1t is the paramount
question of the day. Congress hasn't
time to discuss it. l would not give
them any power at the start. They
should collate and collect experience.
and the power would come later. Our
commission has been a public benefit. -
General Becker thought that congress
should pass law providing for com.
mission on interstate commerce with
pretty full power to investigate. report
and prosecute at the expense of the
government. F. r. Delano thought
congress had struck the worst job it
ever had in tackling the railroad ques.
ton. Mr.. Drake thought that Mime.
sofa railroads had never received a
fair compensation, and while people
usually regard the railroads as rich
monopolies their owners pointed for
the poor house! Mr.. Drake must have
been in a humorous mood. On the
other hand D. E. Meyers referred to
a case-one of thousands-where the
manitoba road charged $3.50 for carry.
ing from st. Paul to st. Vincent what
was carried from Springfield, Ohio, to
st. Paul for sos.
From the nature of the testimony
received in different parts of the
country, it is to be inferred that the
committee will recommend the crea.
ton of a railroad commission by con.
gress to investigate the question of
Interstate commerce. The railroads
will fight it but the popular demand
for something of the kind cannot
much longer be ignored. It is an in.
tricate question where expert testi.
mony is needed, but it is an important
one demanding the attention of con.
gress and the country. Railroad
centers will not exert themselves to
bring about a reform in this direction,
for the determinations are in favor of
such places as against the less i'm
portant points. Minneapolis would
have no change. st. Paul has the'river
which acts as powerful check in
the summer season and is pretty secure
in the enjoyment of favorable rates,
legislation or no legislation. But
these leading cities are not, for OBJ.
vious reasons, interested in abolishing
rebates and discrimination between
long and short harls. 1t is the points
oflesser importance and the country
generally that suffer from discrimina.
ton and excessive freight rates and
it is important that public sentiment
be brought to bear upon congress so
that the subject may receive the at.
tention it demands.