St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-30

it's needs. The members of the leg
/ lature come to st. Paul and start out
TO remedy evils that are apparent to
them, but find themselves stopped short
by an absolute lack of information on
the railroad subject. How can laws be
passed fixing rates when no one can tell
the cost of the railroad in question.
Early in the present session Senator
S. ID. Peterson, of Brown county, took
the first important step to remedy this
when he Introduced Senate File 46, ian
act requiring the railroad and warehouse
commission of the state of Minnesota to
ascertain and report the actual cost of
the construction of all railroads in the
state of Minnesota and for other pur-
poses" This bill passed the senate
about month ago and has now been
recommended favorably in the house,
and may be deemed certain of passage.
The bill provides, as will be seen below,
for the railroad commissioners making
a thorough investigation of the subject.
They are not limited aS to time, and
have power to compel the attendance of
witnesses. They are required to secure
information as to the cost of all rail-
roads in the state and the land granted
to each. with the amount realized from
that sold and the value of that unsold.
This bill, which is by long odds the
best step yet taken in the railroad legis-
latiOn of the state, is bringing Senator
Peterson many congratulations. 1t fol
lows in full
Section 1. That 1t is her eby made the duty
OF the commission known as the Railroad
and warehouse commission of the state of
Minnesota, i'll addition to other powers and
duties now vested in and devolved upon said
commission by law, TO forthwith commence
and as rapidly as is consistent with the per-
formance of its other duties to proceed to as
certain and report the actual cost of the con-
struction per mile of each railroad in the
state of Minnesota, the amount actually paid
by the person or corporation constructing
such railroad for the right of way, depot or
terminal grounds thereof; the amount of aid
municipal or other. received by the person
or corporation constructing such railroad to
aid i'll the construction thereof; the amount
of all lands granted by congress or by the
state to aid in the bonstruction of any such
railroad the amount realized from the sale
of such lands, and the actual value of sue h
lands now held or owned by any railroad
company receiving such aid the present cost
TO build and construct any such railroad as il
now exists, and depots and other buildings
used in connection herewith, exclusive of
the cost or the right of way, depot and termi-
nal grounds.
Sec. .. That said commission or any mem
Der thereof, i'll addition to the power and
authority now possessed, shall also have the
power to require the attendance and tes I'll
mony of witnesses and the production of all
books, papers, contracts, agreements and
documents relating to or bearing upon the
matters to be aScertained and re ported upon
under this act, and to administer oaths; and
to that end may invoke the aid of any dis
trict coupC1n this state in requiring the at
TENDANCE and testimony of witnesses and the
production of books, papers and documents
under This section. Any of the district courts
OF this state within the jurisdiction of which
such inquiry ls~carried on may, in case of
contUmacy or refusai-to( obey subpoena to
any, person, issue an order requiring any
such person to appear before SAID commits
sion. or any member thereof, as the case may
be, and produce books and papers, if so
ordered, and give evidence touching the
matter i'll question; and any failure to obey
such order of the court may be punished by
such court as contempt thereof.
Sec. 3. That the matters required to be
ascertained and reported in pursuance of the
provisions of this actshsll be embraced and
reported in the report required to be made bv
said commissioning the governoron Oh before
the first day of December in eachSyear. and
when so ascertained0nd reported, the Nsame
shall be prima facie evidence of the facts re-
quired IN section 1 of This act to be aSeer-
tanned and reported by said commission, aud
shall be so received and considered in al
proceedings pending befofesaid commission.
state in which such facts are material, or
properly inquired into in connection with the
question or controversy at issue,
Sec. !. g=Ihat said commission. subject to
the approval of the governor, shall have the
power TO employ and fix the com mpensatiofl of
such engineers and experts as may be neces-
sary 10 enable 1t to carry out the require
ments of this act.
Sec. 5. This act shall take effect and be in
f1rcafrOm and after its