St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-02-04

not In the water but on the genuine
9 ock. Why, said Mr.. Myers, there is
enough water to float the American navy
The figures he had given, made by an ex-
perienced railroad man, he said, showed the
sort OF debt upon which the roads wanted
the people to pay interest.
Mr.. j. j. HILL,
of the Manitoba road, was quickly on his feet
when Mr. Myers sat down. He said he had
no doubt that the gentleman believed what
he had stated against his road in the Farley
business, but that if he had followed the
record through he would find that
the courts had thrown Mr.. Farley aud his
charges out OF court. AS matter Of fact he
and his associates had bought the road for
So, O00,Oo0. At tnat time 400 mics of road
had been built, which was bonded for $27,-
COCOON upon the interest of which the
company had defaulted for seven years,
making the total debt s3S, 0Oc, 900. The
present management had built the road from
Alexandria to GAINESVILLE, aud the
several branches it now oper-
ated, aggregating 27O miles, relaid
much of the track, erected the necessary
shops, quadrupled their rolling stock, all
with honest money. The actual cost of the
road was about S53, 900, 900 and it was capl-
taed to-day al SAC, 000, 900, and it was upon
this the company claimed it had a right to
receive as easouable interest.
Mr.. Chas. Canning presented as facts,
which he said would speak for themselves, in
the shape OF a number Of
freight bills, showing charges from
Canton, Oh 10, Chicago, and Whitewater,
Wis, to st. Paul, to be so and rs per cent
lower than from st. Paul to St. Vincent.
Judge Howe, solicitor of the Omaha road,
was the next speaker. He thought
the discussion was wandering from the
ell inquiry. What was wanted was light.
One trouble in arriving at an understanding
and settlement of the points of difference
was distrust of each other. Referring 10 the
provision of the bill requiring the roads to
furnish cars for DaGing on the
track, he said the Omaha road
already granted that, and it should be de-
manded OF all com panies. If that was done,
he thought it would greatly simplify mat
tiers, as it would be club held over elevator
and railroad men, and force fair
grades and weight and equal facili-
ties. With II, however, suould be a
provision compelling the shipper to promptly
load the cars put at his disposal, so the COM
mcrce of the road would not be blocked.
Referring to the general scope of the bill,
Judge Howe said it proposed to take
the control of S160,000,000 from
its owners and place it
in the hands of irres 2onsible parties. The
country was undergoing season Of stagna-
t on. 1t was doubtful yet whether a season
OF good or still harder times We're to follow.
Such legislation was calculated TO cast the
balance in favor of unsettled values, to alarm
capital and tighten the money market.
He claimed no farmer would think of bring.
ing farmer under the same restrictions.
Make commission TO correct abuses-a
court of appeal to which the people can go
with their complaints - ut do not give
it the dangerous and destructive powers pro-
posed. For railroads refusing to redress
wrongs, give the commissiO power 10 en-
force a severe penalty. That had been found
to work well in Iowa and Wisconsin and lie
did not doubt it would here.
Representative Durant, for the committee,
returned thanks to the railroad gentlemen for
their attendance and information given, and
tat the sole effort of the com mittee had been
to deal fairly between the roads and the
people. AS to further public hearing he
id the matter was now in the hands OF
the house, which would have to decide. The
meeting was then adjourned.