The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-05-11
IT'S BOUND TO COME.
The Equalization Of Freight Tariffs as De-
manded by the State Business Mems
Association.
Some Wrongs That Should be
Righted.

Some Wrongs That Should be
Righted.
General f. NJ. Pope returned FRI
day from st. Paul, and expresses him
self, as fully confident that the State
Business Mems Association will win Its
point in demanding an equalization of
freight tariffs based upon pro rata
tariff for the distance hauled. The
chances for the success of the movement
inaugurated by the Association through
President Pope have been made much
more sure by the recent decision Of the
Supreme court in the Owatonna milk
cases against the Milwaukee roads. The
fight inaugurated by the Association IN
December last IN the shape of COM
plants against the Chicago, Milwaukee
& st. Paul, the Omaha, and Chicago &
Northwestern roads will be pushed to
the bitter end promises to result in the
correction of many abuses that have
heretofore been allowed to 60 on with
out interference. The basis OF these
complaints is not specific charge of
discrimination In some one part Of the
State, as has been stated, but generous
ly covers the whole field. In brief, the
charge made is that these roads have
been discriminating against the people,
against business men and against most
of the cities and towns of the state. A
few towns are excepted from this sweep
ing charge where, the association claims,
the railroads have seemed to extend
certain favors. In particular the as
ISOLATION maintains that the distance
tariff of these roads is unjust, that it
works serious injury to merchants and
manufacturers, is an unreasonable one
and such an one as is not contemplated
by the law. The question of the lumber
grain and coal traffic is also considered
and the Association claims that the
roads discriminate in favor of La Crosse
to the detriment of Minneapolis. AS an
instance of what is claimed 1t may be
freight is carried from Winona to point
200 miles distant at less rate than from
st. Paul and Minneapolis to point 200
miles distant.
The railroad commissioners Thursday
decided to ALLOW the Association to pre-
sent evidence and proof of the discrim-
nations which it charges, AID yester-
day the hearing of the same was con-
tlnued at st. Paul. Mr.. Herbert Chap
man, of the st. Paul and Minneapolis
Freight Bureau, appeared as witness
for the Association, and General Pope
presented some elaborate and exhaus-
tive figures showing the determinations
practlced by the Milwaukee road, which
involved tariffs in effect on the various
branches of that road all over the State.
That the railroad commission considers
this case an important one is shown
from the fact that it has provided short
hand reporters who will make verbatim
reports. Three weeks is to be given for
consideration of the papers after which
a formal hearing of the case Will be given
and arguments on both sides presented
The fight is one in which all sections of
the State are interested in. If the III. &
d. division is compelled to equalize its
rates to Fargo, ETC., other roads in the
northern part of the State will be
obliged to follow suit,