St. Paul daily globe., 1888-05-24
MORE DISCRIMINATION.
Complaints Presented to the Rail-
road Commissioners.

If there is one thing more than
another that the Business Mems Asso-
ciation of Minnesota designs to make
record on it is in the number of it's COM
plants against railroads operated in
this state for maintaining unequal and
unreasonable rates. Two complaints
fathered by the association, identical in
character and against the Omaha and
Chicago d Northwestern roads. were
ventilated before the railroad commits
sion yesterday, occupying the attention
of that body the whole day. The COM
plant of the association alleges that the
rates charged by the companies men
toned for the transportation of the sew
eral classes of freight over their
lines to and from St. Peter,
Winona, Sleepy Eye and numer-
Gus other stations on their lines
are unjust and unreasonable, by reason
of which the towns named are subjected
to unequal and unreasonable prejudice
and disadvantage. 1t is further alleged
that the distance tariffs enforced by the
companies complained of are eXorbi-
tant, and the railroad commission is
asked to change the rates and in con-
formity to law fix them at a notch that
which will do justice to all concerned.
The hearing, which partook of the
character of an informal talk, began at
II a. IN. j. NJ. Burlingame, of Owa-
tonna; f. NJ. Pope, Mankato, and Sec
retary Chapman, of the ST. Paul and
Minneapolis freight bureau, appeared
for the association; and the railroads
were represented by E. w. Winter, J.
I. Clark, II. G. Wicker and J. H. Howe.
The laSt-named stated that
4 NEW TARIFF
would go into effect on the Omaha
about the 10th proX., which would ma
terially alter the rates complained of as
excessive, and he suggested that the
commission consider that fact before
proceeding with the hearing. AIr.
Wicker said the new tariff would effect
considerable change in the rates on the
Northwestern also, and that the ad-
Vancement of rates June between Chi
cago and the Twin Cities would be to
the advantage of La Crosse and Winona,
Tor the reason that rates to those points
would remain as now. MeSSrS. Pope
and Burlingame, however, insisted that
the hearing be proceeded with, stating
that there was time enough to consider
the tariffs referred to as likely to alter
existing conditions after they had been
issued. The request for state interfer-
ence i'll the matter of rates was based,
they said, upon a principle which would
~ D9 ltSlIluOIlN III WAS
intended to offer. Mr.. Howe cOntended
that the two roads should be considered
separately, which provoked a discus
sion that consumed great deal of time
and amounted to nothing in the end.
Secretary Chapman, of the freight
bureau, was examined as to rates on
coal, grain and lumber. lie testified
that the rate on grain from ST. Paul to
Red Wing, JOG miles, is 111%c; Red Wing
to Duluth, 257 miles, lie; Red Wing to
Chicago, sos miles, 1919c. On the basis
of the rate from Red Wing to Chicago
he claimed that the rate from Red
Wing to Duluth should be 1Oc, and Red
Wing to St. Paul &c. The rates from
other points on the respective lines to
the terminals named were quoted. and
arguments made in favor of reduction
proportionate to the through rate to
Chicago.
The commission will take the matter
under adviSement.