The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-02-13
we could ship TO them. The trans
portation decreased 5000, O0e.tons in

we could ship TO them. The trans
portation decreased 5000, O0etons in
Iowa on account of poor crops, which
caused the discharge of employees re-
ferred to by Mr.. Cray. Iowa has such
a large railroad mileage that no more
building is necessary.
Mr.. Cray offered the following reso-
luton:
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
meeting that the enactment of the
so-callea CurTier Railroad Bill will
prove detrimental to the best inter-
ests of this state, and that. the inter-
ests OF our people will be better serv-
ed by an honest enforcement Of the
laws now on our statute books.
Gen. Pope seconded this resolution.
but objected to the latter portion,
claiming that no railroad law in the
state is being enforced.
Mr.. Cray stated that the portion of
the present law giving the Railroad
Commissioners power to arbitrarily
fix rates is damnable. and has been
declared unconstitutional. 1t is un-
just to arm three men unlearned in
railroad matters, with such power.
Chas. Bennett spoke of how the To-
wa law had injured the state of Iowa.
Mankato is interested in building
railroads, and to do SO it must treat
them In a friendly manner.
Gen. Pope stated that the trains
which had been taken off in Iowa had
been replaced, and that they were Ia
ken off out of cussedness.
Mr.. Bennett admitted the latter,
but Mankato might catch little of
the cussedness. in case hostile legisla-
tion is secured.
Mr.. Cray's resolution was amended
with his consent, by the addition of
the following: amended to conform
TO the requirements Of the decision
Of the United States Supreme Court"
The resolution was then nearly
unanimously carried.
Gen. Pope's resolution was then dis
cussed. Among others, Mr.. c. II.
Higgs spoke, and deplored the fact
that MankatO has such a reputation
as it has, of being opposed to rail-
roads. To meet this he offered res
olution, which, after being amended,
so as to incorporate one sentence from
Gen. Pope's resolution, was passed
unanimously, 1t reads as follows.
with the amendment:
WHEREAS. numerous railroad bills
are being introduced into our legis-
lature, many of which are radical and
unjust. be it
Resolued, That it is the sense of this
meeting that while we need some
legislation to regulate the evils now
in existence. and TO prevent discrimi-
nation between places and persons. so
that there shall be no longer allowed
any special favors or rates to terminal
points, and that every station upon
any line Of road shall pay the same
rate for comparative service, still such
legislation should be carefully pre-
pared so that no injustice be done to
the railroads.
This resolution embodies the prin-
cipal idea in Gen. Pope's, and its in
corporation in Mr.. Higg's resolution
satisfied him.
1t was voted that copies of the reso-
lutions that were adopted be forward
al, 81 To L,
county delegation in the Legislature.
The meeting then adjourned.
During the discussion, Supt. Bech-
dolt stated that in conversation with
Prof. Hadley, the well-known railroad
authority, last summer, the latter had
referred, with respect to the deep inter-
est which Mankato has taken in the
railroad question, giving Us honor and
not dishonor for it.