St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-04-06

Harrington, Morgan.
Mr.. Capser, i'll speaking of the bill,
denounced it as the product of fanati-
cism, and an attempt to overload the
people with restrictive legislation.
PASSENGER RATES.
In presenting his bill to reduce pas
senger rates TO 2113 cents, G. IL. Davis
said:
Il want to say that the merits of this
bill are, that while it proposes no in
Justice to the railroad companies, it Sc
cures for the common people of the
state of Minnesota moderate decrease
from the uniform rate paid by them
to-day. In fact. the railroads to-day
are maintaining a system of discrim-
ination against one class of the people
and in favor of another. which, in my
opinion, is wrong, and would justify US
i'll passing at this time law fixing the
rate at . cents per mile instead of ~
cents. The mileage book system of the
railroads, SO VIGOROUSLY defended by
the Pioneer Press, a journal which
is noted far and wide for its
offensive and defensive alliances
with all railroad corporations, is nothing
more nor less than the giving by these
corporations of a tWO-cent late to one
class of people, while they charge the
other class, that is, the common people,
lHl6e CtlllS. J. his jctilS lilc CdSc, tilS ull-
roads cannot justly complain of a half
cent reduction of the rate now imposed
upon majority part of the people.
This still leaves a half-cent diScrimina-
ton in favor of the commercial tommu-
nifty interests of the Twin Cities, and
against the farming community Of the
state.
q have compiled from official sources
the following statement: Gross earn
ings of all roads in the state in 1856, $685.
745, 254; in 1887. S25, 640,677, showing an
increase of 1887 gross earnings over
those of 1886 81, S95.423. The data for
the year of 1888 have not yet been pre-
pared, SO | cannot positively state the
increase over 1887. but | am assured
from reliable sources that it will show
an increase of over 81. Co., GOO in gross
earnings for these roads.
The point which | desire to make
from the showing of these handsome
annual profits is that the railroads have
made them on an average passenger
rate almost the same as my bill pro-
poses, and that there is no force in the
argument of the railroad companies
that their losses will be heavy if this
bill is passed. In 1887. when the rail
roads of this state cleared nearly 81, 000,-
900 in gross earnings above those of the
year previous, the average rate per
passenger per mile in the state was 2.4S
cents. or 2-100 less than my bill fixes as
the uniform rate. In the year 1885 the
average rate per passenger per mile in
this state was but 2.53 cents, or only
S-100 of Il cent higher than the rate of
my bill. And under that average rate
the railroads continue to make increases
in their gross earnings figuring into
the millions. L quote official figures
furnished to the railroad commissioners
of this state by the railroads themselves.
In the history Of all legislation, there
is nothing so baneful as the influence OF
a railroad lobby. We have felt its
pressure all OF this session, and been
exposed TO the sophistry and beggarly
cries of the sleek attorneys and less
sleek claim agents of these great corpo,
rationS. We have no business to heed
them at this time. The question is one
atfiXing by law consistent, uniform
rate, which reduces to its minimum
the discrimination DOW so open for the
cities and against the country. The
railroad committee of this house has rec
commended this measure to pass, and
that it should do so in this house Will
be an act tending to the better adjust
ment of the relations between the peo-
pie and the corporations"
Mr.. Hompe opposed the bill. Freight
rates were what ought to be reduced
Mr.. Lane supported the bill. The rail
roads had no reason to complain of an
attempt to abolish discrimination. The
bill was Indefinitely postponed by the
following vote: