St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-01-02
THE FARMERS PROTEST.


:. Lake Calls Attention to Some
; iGlaring Abuses and Indorses
Tariff Reduction.
Special to the Globe.
ELBOW LAKE, Jan. 1.-The following
resolutions were adopted at the meeting
of the Farmers alliance held here few
days ago:
Whereas, After a long agitation and
full discussion, the state of Minnesota
has conferred upon the board of rail-
road and warehouse commissioners full
power to establish rates Oh all RAILWAYS
in this state; and
Whereas, The rates, although some
what reduced during the last year, are
still unjust, unreasonable and oppres-
sive, be it
Resolved, That we call upon the gov
ernOr to see to it that the correction of
this great wrong to the people be no
longer delayed.
Second-We also call the governors
attention to the fact that the laws re-
lating to the shipment of grain have
been and are being daily violated and
ignored by the railway companies doing
business in this state. The right to
ship from side track must be kept in
violate, and cars must be furnished to
shippers upon their reasonable demand,
in accordance with existing law. The
repeated refusal year after year to
furnish cars while corporations are
needlessly extending their lines into I'M
inhabited territory, merely for the pur-
pose of increasing their powers of tax
alton, can not be submitted to by free
people.
We urge also upon the people to be
xyini in ,tai, fI,ni ,irrl,
construct fiat ware houses at all estab-
lished side tracks regardless of size or
number.
Third-We protest against the state
inspecting grain outside the state limits
or anywhere in the state not authorized
by law. To inspect grain out of mixing
houses is unjust to the bonded ware
houses, to producers and consumers
alike, and direct violation of the spirit
and the letter of the law.
We respectfully request the board of
railway and ware house commissioners
to investigate the subject of grain clean
ing at the Duluth, Minneapolis and st.
Paul ware houses. We desire infOrma-
ton as to the value of screenings and
dockage. What is done with the screen
ings? What are they worth? To
whom do they belong?
l. FREEDOM OF TRAFFIC.
First-The freedom of traffic law ell
acted by the last legislature has never
been enforced. We call your attention
to this fact also. We understand that
the section of the law providing for
transfer facilities between different
railroads have been ordered to be pro-
vided In certain cases. That the com
panies have failed to comply with the
order and that the matter is now crest
iI,n Off
demand of him that efficient measures
be promptly taken to compete compli-
ance. Not only with that section, but
with that far more important provision
of the law relative to the shippers right
Ito select the route or routes over which
his shipments shall be made.".
Second-We respectfully ask why the
district court of Ramsey county have
suspended the order of the commission
erS to reduce rates Oh the Manitoba rail-
road.
Third-We call the attention of
the people of this state to the
section of the state in which
we live is mainly prairie, yet there lies
close upon our borders forest so vast
and extended that those who have not
paid especial attention to the subject
have no comprehension of it's magni-
tude. 1t begins near the east line of
Grant county and extends IN almost an
unbroken body to Hudson's Bay and
the Atlantic ocean. 1t Is more than
thousand miles through it in a north
easterly direction. and to the eastward
$1,000 miles. 1t is one of the largest
bodies of timber on the continent. AL
though this great forest is at our doors
in order that coal brought from Penn
sylvania and Ohio may be forced
upon us, and that the lumber baron
may exact their tribute, we are
shut out from this vast forest except on
such conditions as InonopolistS may die