St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-13
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
A Sweeping Enactment Recon-
mended by the Senate.


Yesterdays session of the senate was
devoted to the discussion of railroad
bills.
Senator Ward was absent. and an at
tempt was made TO lay over his bill cur
failing the power of the railroad COM
mission, so that they cannot interfere
with the management of railroads TO the
detriment of the employees, 1t is
alleged that the orders issued by the
commission have crippled the railroads,
resulting in the dismissal of a large
number of employees and an all-around
reduction iii wages. The attempt to
have the bill laid over failed, and a
proposition followed to have it i'll
definitely postponed. Senators Pope
and Clarke strongly favored this course,
and the senate concurred by vote of q
yeas to s nays.
Senator Days bill making the railroad
commissioners elective was next con-
sidered. Senator Compton argued that
the measure was unconstitutional, and
in this he was supported by Senator
Pope, who launched the idea that be-
hind the bill r;as the intention of Secur-
ing an unconstitutional measure and an
unconstitutional commission, thereby
Vitiating the acts of the commission.
Senator Child believed the bill was per-
fectiy constitutional. DeSutary dis
cussion continued, the bill being ulti-
mately referred to the Judiciary COM
mittee with instructions to decide the
conStitutlOnality of the measure.
The third measure considered was:
"a bill for an act TO amend chapter 10,
General Laws 1887, being an act tOregu-
late common carriers and creating the
railroad and warehouse commission of
the state of Minnesota, and defining the
duties of such commissioner in relation
to common carriers" This is the bill
introduced by Senator Pope, and it
merely re.enacts the present railroad
law, with the following additions:
That all such terminal tariffs shall
conform to the distance tariffs in use
Oh the lines of said railroad. with the
exception that on the application of any
railroad, and in the discretion of the
commission, the charges in the terminal
tariffs from ST. Paul Minnesota transfer,
or Minneapolis, may be based upon the
distance from either of these named
stations. which according to the table of
inter station distances, is nearest to the
station to or from which such freight is
shipped
Senator Hall sought 10 have this sec
ton eliminated from the bill. If the
measure passed, with the Objectionable
section, the railroad business of the
state would be revointionized. This
was not the time TO hamper the working
OF railroads. 1t was unwiSe legislation.
Senator Pope defendedthe addition. 1t
waste prevent discrimination in freight
rates between places throughout the
state. Railroad legislation was going
forward: not backward.
Senator Whiteman argued the bill. as
amended. was decidedly against the
interests of the Northern part of the
state, and he opposed it.
Senator Pope retorted that Mr..
Clough. of the Manitoba. was sitting by
the side of Senator Whiteman. and
putting his sophiStries into his ears"
Senator Whitdmen-When any sena-
tor says | oppose measure because
some one sits by my side he knows
lie states what is not the case.
L am taking no back-track on this
measure. l opposed this very section
OF the bill two years ago, when it was
struck out. The amendment was lost.