The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-01-09
THE COMMON CARRIER.
MINNESOTA'S GOVERNOR DlSCouRsss
ON RAILWAY FREIGHT RATES.
Ho Criticises Unsparingly the Present
Methods-Report of the Illinois Com
missioners-No Reduction I'm Rates
Thought Expedient.

ST. PAUL, MINI, Jan DIN his mesa ge
to the legislature the governor of Minnesota
devoted large portion to the railway ques
ton. Referring 10 the matters of discrim-
nation and of freight rates on grain an
other farm products, he said:
The assurances of the representatives of
die companies TO your predecessors that the
interests of the farmers might safely be
lett to their discretion mas proved delusive.
As might be expected, those who man
age the great railroads are intent,
first and chiefly, upon subserVing the in
terests of their stockholders. They seek
economy, proft, and convenience in operat-
ing their lines. Profit and certainly conven-
fence, some OF them thinx. will be sesured as
to freights, by large, frequent, and easily
regulated shipments under contracts with a
small number Of shippers, and therefore,
their management aims to encourage such.
If this tends to build up a monopoly at every
station, or one monopoly existing along their
Whole line, anu making itself cruelty felt al
every station, that result IS not they say, a
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 t.
the farmers. They tell You that wholesalers
are accorded an advantage in rates ana IA
ciltieS the world over, citing the examples OF
Individuals who have received nothing from
the public and are under no obligations to
the public, as a precedent for a company
created by the commonwealth to serve the
common veal, and bound by law, as well a.
the logic of It's creation, not to discriminate,
not to deal unequally, not to restrict its OBJ
legation of common carriage.
The producers of our state have been
greatly disappointed by the failEe of the
railroad companies to adjust their tariffs the
past year, to conform to the changed con
ditions in the general business of the coun-
try. They justly complain that the charges
for transportation are out OF proportion tC
the value uf the commodities transported.
While prices Of gram have declined to a
point that affords no profit to the farmer
under the most favorable conditions for
marketing his crop the charges of tranSpoI'
tati0n prevailing in former years have Beei
substantially maintained. A slight reduc
ton may have been snade in some III
stances, as q grudging concession to popular
ciamOr, yet it has not been sufficient
to afford appreciate relief in this regard
From many points in the state one-halE Tie
value OF q buShel of wheat is taken for it.
transportation to Chicago, while from re
| mote stations the freight and accompany ing
| charges upon certain kinds and grain amount
| almost to a conhscatlon of the property. Iht
gross injustice of this policy does not require
illustration. In times of general depression
| there should be, SO far as may be practicable
an equitable distribution of burdens Whor
values of agricultural products prove re
| munerative to the farmer, he willingly pay.
! liberal rates for their transportation; bu
| VIXEN prices barely pay the cost OF pfoduc
I ton, be certainly should not be colnpailed t,
| pay tae full tribute necessary to enable the
! corporations to declare regular dividend
! upon their exaggerated issues of stock