Little Falls transcript., 1885-01-30
Railroad and Wheat Legisla-
ton.

The state legislature now in sessi on
in st. Paul is expected, by the people
of the State, to pass laws regulating the
management Of railroad companies,
the rates charged for transportation
and the grading Of wheat. These
questions formed the Issue upon which
large number Of the members we're
elected. 1t is Il work which will tax
the wisdom and skill Of the ,aw max
ers. A law which will allow th.. cor
porationS and grain buyers all their
just rights, and ut the same time in
sure the best results for the shippers
and farm 'rs, and provide a remedy
for the present evils and abuses is not
cay to create or liul. Many Of the
states have passed laws stringtnt|y
governing the railroad companies, but
no law is vet on th9 St<tute books
which can be called perfect. Sever:l
railroad bills have beeu introduced in
both houses, and the work has but
fairly commenced. Nearly all contain
some good points, and the committees
vii! probably report n bill embracing
the best points Of all, ami the people
will have to judge b. experience as to
its merits. A joint necting Of the
railroad committees Of the two houses
was held on Wednesday evening, and
reprcseu Of nearly all the rail-
roads in the stat. were present and
expressed their views. President
Hill, OF the St. Paul, Minneapolis {;
Manitoba Railroad company, delivered
q lengthy and very Interesting address
in relation to grain ,tr.,usp >rtation and
freight rates. 1t was Shown that his
company WAS charging lower rates for
shipping grain than the railroads
lea>lins into Chicago and st. Lous, ard
that Il great reduction had been made
in rates during TIE past few years, and
would b,bly continue.
Other railroad men st,teu the rail-
road side of the question to the COM
mttee. Nearly all the interests Of the
state demand some rllangc in the laws
80 AS 70 reguIrte railroads, and the
grading Of wheat. Not only are the
farmers and the LuslNtss men Of
country towns advocating the measure
bnt the organizations of the business
!
demanding tVat the legislature DO
something TO pr}';:rL silippcrd and
grain selcrs Following are resolu-
tions which were adopted by the
board ol trade Of NinncaroiiS on Nom
day. :tn1i si'u" s!>al The powerful iut1u
ence Of that city will not sbo used
ayAinI1 the desired !egislatipu
Resolved, Ti,,tve request our rep
rese natives in the legislature to ur..e
the enActnleut Of i.lS., establishing a
uniform mode Of grazing wheat il:
elevators Auu War.i,.>lsAs rHdIcin,
the number OF grades /, ths smallest
practical miliIuu., fJr tno advantage
OF y >th Buyers and so'lerS. ali pro-
hibi.:ng All Aruitary rates Of d5,:Say%'.
Resolve |, rAat'we request our Yep
resentatlveS to nr.;@, tho passage uf 4
law requiring AL elevators na'l W 1re
houses TO have iuciiitics for clearing
wheat at 'as,nable price. and when
cleaned al uoc.ia.e shall be- prO!ul' it.
Ell.
Resolved, That We urge the passage
Of Il Nv compelling tn. rNlrori com
panles as Cuil'n,u carries to iu:nis
all applicants, without >llscrin,inl ltiun
an on r,'as ,naDlc notes, cars and
track facilities tor silip;'i:.g grain fro :,
any :. ;,.;..y' r. ware nous. On the li!le
Of til ,ir rolls.
Rt+olvcsl, That we ur!1 the enact
ment Of :. law e. 'oe|li,S railroads to
furnish! sid: track facilities for al! per-
sons I''s!r'l, Of erecting Elevators or
Warehouses; ol not los, than 2),0)0
h1sitl' c.tp ,citv, at any regular station
on the hne p( any railroad oper1sel in
thls state, t. the end til It 4 free AMI
open III arket may be afforded to aiI
shippers Of grain.
Resolved, That we urge the passa &c
OF II law preventing railroad, from re-
quiring payment Of frcishts beyond
the point to which the shipper desires
to send his grain.
Resolved, That we urge the enact
ment ola law appointing Il railroad
commission, consisting Of three COM
petent persons, Of whom one at least
Shall represent the agricultural inter-
ests OF the state, whose duty 1t shall be
to see that the above laws are properly
enforced and to whom All grievances
with regard to freight tariffs shall be
submitted, and we recommend that
sufficient salaries shall be paid to said
commissioners to SECURE the best
ability For that position
Resolved, That We urge the passage
Of Il law authorizing the appointment
Of state inspector of grain, or a
board of commissioners, as may be
deemed best, with authority to appoint
competent depnties. They shat! be-
required to establish uniform grades
Of wheat, which shall be the standard
at all public and private elevators aud
warehouses throughout the state.
Resolved, That we recommend that
a law be enacted imposing suitable
penalty in case of the violation of any
Of the provisions Of the above laws.
Following are the substantial points
in report recently adopted by the
St. Paul Board Of Trade setting forth
their views and wants as to grain and
railroad (pCislat;op.