St. Paul daily globe., 1889-01-12
RAILROAD CORPORATIONS.
An Investigation Urged by the State
Commission.
sUBPGNAs FOR AUDITORS.
Unjust Discrimination Charged Against
Firms and Loealities---A Petition
Sent to Washington.

This morning the interstate COM
mefce commission will receive very
pointed petition. and one which has
special bearing upon railroads operating
in Minnesota. The petition is signed
by the members of the railroad commits
sion of this state and is as follows:
The railroad and warehouse commission of
the state OF Minnesota respectfully repre-
sents that the people OF Minnesota are to a
large extent dependent for their interstate
transportation by railways upon the follow
ing railway companies, which are engaged ill
interstate traffic. and are subject TO the
"act to regulate commerce." to wit:
The Chicago & Northwestern, Chicago, st.
Paul & Kansas City, Wisconsin Central,
Chicago, Burlington d Northern, Chicago.
Burlington & Quincy. Chicago, Rock Island
4 Pacific, Minneapolis & st. Louis, Chicago,
st. Paul, Minneapolis d Omaha, Burlington,
Cedar Rapids Il Northern.
Your petitioners understand the objects
and purpose of the ''act to regulate com
merce' to be to prevent all kinds OF unjust
determinations by railways i'll conducting
provisions are fully enforced it win result iii
equity to the people and the railways alike,
and be
OF GREAT PUBLIC BENEFIT.
For some months after it was first enacted
the law seemed to be effectual in stopping
many rof the most glaring Determinations
which had existed prior thereto, and was to
that extent beneficial. but for some time
past, and especially since July 1, 1873,
charges have been made through the public
panes named have ignored the pro-
visions of the law in the follow.
ing respects: Each and every OF said
corporations is now. directly and indirectly,
by special rates, rebates, commissions and
other devices. charging and collecting from
tiOr for its
services i'll the t 1sportatlon OF passengers
and property, than it charges or collects from
other persons for like and contemporaries
Gus services under substantially similar cir
cuInStanceS and conditions i'll violation OF
section 2 of said act.
Each and every of said corporations is
giving undue and unreasonable preference
and advantage to particular persons, firms
ard corporations, and to particular locah-
ties and to particular descriptions of traffic,
ana is subjecting other particular persons,
firms and corporations, other particular To-
caities and other particular descriptions OF
traffic to undue and unreasonable prejudice
and disadvantage N violation of section of
said act.
Such and every of said corporations have
failed and neglected to print and keep for
public inspection schedules showing the
rates and fares and charges for the trans
pOrtation of passengers and property, and
plainly stating the places upon It's railroad
between which property and passengers will
be carried, containing the classification of
freight i'll force upon such railroad, and do
not keep such printed schedules in every
depot on such road. or any of them in such
places and such form that they can be con-
veniently inspected, as required by the Sixth
section of said act.
Among the special violations and evasions
of said law in multitude of cases too num-
erous to specify, each of said corporations,
Notwithstanding the law, continues to pay
rebates UNDER he name of commissions to
some persons, firms and corporations tor
their business
ROTH PASSENGER AND FREIGHT.
Each of said corporations sometimes
claims that said rebates are paid to all per-
sons, firms and corporations alike, without
discrimination, but your petitioners are ad-
vised that such is not the fact, and that even
where it is, the payment of such rebates is q
violation of the law. in that 1t constitutes a
transportation at less than the published
and posted tariffs. Your petitioners are
advised that each of said corporations
continues to carry certain goods
at loss or without profit, at the same time
making charges On other classes OF goods
which are unreasonable by comparison In
numerous instances each OF said corpora
tions has made tariffs on certain classes of
goods for one or several distances lower than
on other classes for the same distance, while
at other distanc es they charge and collect a
higher tariff on the aforementioned classes
than on the last.
These charges have been made so fire.
quently that they have created disIrust and
alarm. and as this commission has no juris
diction in the premises, it has thought it TO
be its duty to call the attention of your COM
mission to the facts alleged, and to respect
fully petition TO have the charges investi
gated, to the end that, if proven, they lay be
corrected, and, if not. the facts may be made
known and the people advised that their
rights are being protected.
The petitioners conclude by requesting the
interstate commerce commission to institute
an inquiry into the manner and methods of
the corporations named doing interstate
business. A time and place is asked to be
appointed for the investigation, and the in
terstate commerce commission to subpoena
the auditors of the railroad companies
to bring with them books, records and papers
showing the earnings and disbursements of
each company, respectively, SO far as relates
to traffic since July 1, 1888. The proper
officials of the companies are also to show
what passes and free tickets have been issued
and commissions paid to ''scalpers."