Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1885-12-02

and the direct consumptive demand for
those grades that contain the elements of
sbody and strength" would absorb her prod
uct independent Of all other markets. The
State of New York has an experimental sta
ton" where facilities are afforded TO test the
culture of the various productions of the
huSbandman, from whence reports are fire.
quently issued for public information. Upon
similar basis the department of agriculture
of our state university could provide the ia
cilites for such scientific experiments as the
system in contemplation would require or
suggest, and provide the means by which in
spectors could receive the instruction re-
CURED to qualify them for their duties 1t
is not contemplated by such system that
every load of wheat shall be subjected to
scientific tests, but that the system shall be
controlled and directed by an intelligence,
that shall secure to the farmer Offering
for sale the best qualities of grain such
advantage as superior husbandry should
always command
RAILROADS
Nothing will engage your attention OF such
vital import to very large part OF our pop
ulation as questions of railroad legisla-
ton. Many reasons for action seemed to
exist at the last session, but although the
subject was considered in committee, SO
persuasive were the assurances that The rail
road companies would voluntarily remove
every just cause of complaint that nothing
was done. In less than twelvemonth after
wards, under the intensified pressure of the
same and some newly developed practices,
many numerously signed petitions came up
from widely extended agricultural sections,
asking that an extra session of the legislature
be called to adopt measures of relief against
the oppression of railroad manage
ment There were controlling reasons
against reconvening that body; but
as l called their attention earnestly
to the subject, so I give it to you as one
NUbi in ind ant ~
passed over. Whatever reasons for COM
plant of discrimination or extortion there
were two years ago are believed to exist TO
day; while the evil of certain other practices
and rules of management his disclosed its
enormity. The assurances of the representa-
tives of the companies to your predecessors
that the interests of the farmers might safely
be left to their discretion has proved delu-
sive. As might be expected, those who man
age the great railroads are intent, first and
chiefly, upon subscribing the interests of their
stockholders. They seek economy, profit
and convenience in operating their lines.
Profit and certainly convenience, some of
them think, will be secured as to freights, by
large, frequent and easily regulated ship
ments under contracts with a small number
Of shippers, and therefore their management
aims to encourage such Ii this tends to
build up monopoly at every station, or one
monopoly existing along their whole line,
and making itself cruelty felt at every sta
ton, that result is not, they say, part OF
their intention; they regret it if it is really
oppressive, and hope it will not always be
SO, and call you to witness that, at the very
worst, their road is a great blessing to the
farmers They tell you that wholesalers are
accorded an advantage in rates and facilities
the world over, citing the examples of in
dividu9ls who have received nothing from
the public and are under no obligations to
the public, as a precedent for company
created by the commonwealth to serve the
common veal and bound by law, as well as
the logic of its creation not to discriminate,
not to deal unequally. not to restrict it's OBJ
legation OF common carriage.
TRANSIT EVILS
Beside the practices above limited at, which
tend to establish monopolies by giving some
shippers advantages over others. another
exists upon some lines, in accordance with
which an owner of wheat who wishes to send
it to any point on the line must pay the
charges for carrying it over the whole road
He may then stop his wheat where he
chooses, and sell his transit, or remaining
freight right, for what he can get This is
on the ground that the wheat, or
it's product. must go by some transportation
line to that terminal point, Chicago or Mil
waukee, and that tie company which first
has it is entitled to devise any possible plan
to keep it, without having, at any interme-
date point, to compete for its further car
rage with other rival lines. Every argu-
ment to Justify the demand for payment for
carrying grain to Chicago when the shipper
only wants it carried to some intermediate
point, would Justify the exactiOn of transit
rases to the seaboard instead of Chicago, if
the company could possess itself of the con-
troll of continuous line thither. Another |
rule by which producers have griev- |
ously suffered, is that adopted by some roads |
to receive no wheat upon its cars except |
from elevators OF given minimum capacI- |
Jy. The managers allege that a regulation |
Of that kind is necessary to the proper per
formance of their obligation to carry the |
freight which may be offered them for
with due dispatch; that ele-
necessary for the expeditions handling and
oading of the grain; that the demand for
cars when great crop is to be moved, can
scarcely be supplied even when they are oc-
,upied the least time in loading; and that by
my other manner of handling the grain
here would be great loss in the service OBJ
aimed from their rolling stock AS a con-
sequence of this impossibility of getting
heir purchases to market whenever desired,
buyers, it is said, could not maintain
prices, and farmers would suffer the loss.
Much of this is. or has been, true, and such
considerations may be accepted as sufficient
explanation or apology for the errors of the
companies in once adopting the practice to
id themselves of an inconvenience; but
hey are not sufficient to maintain it, after it
las been found to deprive the producers
whom they were created to serve, of the
competition among buyers which ought
to exist, because it is the natural
nd only means to maintain just grades and
air prices. The duty of the railroad COM
anies as common carriers is to transport
or all alike with reasonable dispatch and at
easonable rates What are reasonable rates
nd reasonable dispatch depends on the cir
umstances of the case, but the obligation to
AIRY for all alike IS absolute under all cir
umstances. No increased dispatch, no re-
uced rate TO some, will Justify any practice
Ihich works discrimination, or restriction
his free right, to any.
The people look to you to adopt laws which
hall interdict and terminate all these prac-
ces The details of the legislation which
nil accomplish it, will be yours to elaborate
i is my duty to recommend that you aim to
ecure, at every station, an open and I'M
estricted market, the right of Shipment for
ny and all, without partiality or preference,
nd transportation for all without discrimi- |
alton at equal and reasonable rates, to any |
esired destination. The prosperity of the
depends largely upon the pros
Gritty of the people along their lines. You {
ill not, therefore, evince hostility to the ;
Dads by releasing the people from the {
lackles of monopoly which fetter their
rosperity.
FREIGHT TARIFF.
The producers of our state have been {
realty disappointed by the failure of the
lilroad companies to adjust their tariffs the |
asst year to conform to the changed condi- Y