The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-01-22
GOVERNORS MESSAGE


20 the Legislature In J0e0e C0AVo0e
tlon Assembled.
ST. PAUL, Jan. 14-It was sgreed that
the Governors message should be re.
ceived by both houses In Joint session
- soon ~ the House received formal
notification on the organization Of the
Senate. At lO:45 =. NJ. Secretary Var
Duzee announced the organisation and
shortly after the Sergeantrat-arms Of
the Senate appeared followed by the
Senators. Gov. Merriam then delivered
the biennial communications as follows
Gentlemen Of tho Senate aad House Of Repre-.
sentatives:
opportunity Of submitting to this body such
facts and suggestions affecting the present
condition Of state anatrs g arc deemed worthy
privilege rst 90. %Sset 70 1a
pertaining to general legislation, aud later
refer more specifically to such items g re-.
gard OF special Importance. Permit me to
roHerete the sentiment expressed in the com.
munication TO the Legislature assembled tive
years ago % to the desirability of . careful
Ecru,iny OF all bills the purposes and require.
pTnc OF cali tor the
be exercised in this direction. Lot the taxes
DO kept ct the lowest point consistent with
prS % aSn ana WISE ADMINISTRATIONS The penal
lie school system. should DO supported in q
manner worthy OF the state and tts ci'izens,
but every demand for increased facilities. 81
enlargeA expenses, should be carefully consid.
cred and aid only extended when absolutely
needed. Later on shall take the liberty OF
81 to
Ions offered are based upon careful compute.
tton OF the revenues to be derived from vari.
Gus sources during the coming two years.
n ~ md
growing evii, in connection With Ill legal en-:
actments, both state and national, tho tend.
ENJOY towards class legislation. 1t is too com.
individuals, to ask OF the law making power
some action that will tend to their exclusive
benefit. Laws should be passed that will bear
greatest care should DO exercised that no I'd.
vantage OF any kind or character to the detri-
ment OF the general public be given to any es-
quito the custom among many We:lmeanins
citizens to demand Of the legislature relief
from every trouble. imaginary or real many of
eurstvs All shoSid Be- peSSa
their personal and property rights Discrim-
tnation OF any character that Is to tho advant
1'y
spirit OF tree institutions In this sS conns sS
ss an eS shas w
suit IN great trouble and endless confusion. It
Is . malady that seems to be spreading, and
carried TO its logical ahd legitimate conclusion
and localities, to the detriment Of tho great
masses OF the people. Your responsibilities in
this direction ore important. ind l commend to
your consideration the necessity Of avoiding
OIL legislation OF tho character I have noted.
RAILROAD AND WAREHOUSE COMMISSION.
The report OF the railroad and warehouse
commission gives full insight into the work
that has been accomplished under the direc.
ton OF that body during the past two years.
Since the passage Of the law creating the
present board, the records will clearly demon.
plished that has been Of direct benefit to the
general public. Among other things, and i'm.
portant. has been tho gradual but material re.
eSop in rates for
resulted IN requiring "'' Of ; the r mas
road companies equal consideration for
however. that competition, improved methods
In handling trains. mower and better machinery,
lower grades. and The reduced cost Of trans
acting business, aided by continually grow.
the burdens Of transportation. To my mind
ono OF the greatest evils incident to railroad
management ID the .pernicious habit INDUCED
in by TOO many railroad officials Of discriml.
mating in favor OF some patrons and against
others. 1t Is an abuse over which the public
feel Justly tncensed. So manifestly unfair il it
other. that, in calling attention to The matter,
to simply state tina: The practice exists seems
to be oil that i necessary ct this time. The
law referring to discrimination should DO SO
severe rs to administer lesson to him who
breaks it that it will not soon be forgotten
The commission in its reports OF 1885, and Of
later dates, speaks of . certain form OF dis
elimination that is worthy OF your considera.
ton. quote from these reports relative to the
system so common among railroad managers
OF 6estowtng free passes: 1t Is the conviction
OF this commission that the issuing OF free
passes % now practiced in this state is an un-
Just discrimination a. against every passenger
the act passed for the regulation OF common
carriers: that 1t is q fruitful source of corrup-
tfon; that it is injurious alike to public and
companies themselves, and that it is one of
the chief obstacles in tho way OF proper and
necessary reform In railway man agement and
state" The present law regulating common
carriers especially permits tho issuance Of
passes for the FREQ transportation OF pas.
sengers, although all other discrimination Is
prohibited under severe penalties. Comment
1s unnecessary.
It is gratifying to state that those sections OF
to ndiSidusl slippers have been carried nso
effect more fully during the last two years than
1T any time heretofore. While there have been
Where the railroad
yet on the whole tho spirit OF the law has been
met, and it, provisions generally complied
with.
Tbs decision rendered in March last by the
supreme court Of the United States, holding
that certain provisions Of the oct Of 1887 regu:
lating common carriers ore not In harmony
ssry some changes In our laws in this regard
II was generally understood when the laws OF
1887 wis enacted that while the railroads were
rendered, the legislature was the sole arbter
Is to what rates were reasonable 1t was also
generally admitted that this power could be
BY NJ Els N 70 a o.
United States, delegated this power to the
board OF railroad and warehouse commission
ers and provided no means for review OF its
action. The court OF last resort has determined
that action upon such matters Is not tinal either
IN commission or in the legislature itself.
The power Of the legislature to make reasona-
BILE rates for common carriers is not denied,
but whether gwen rate so made Is reasonable
Is . judicial question. and must be settled as
other matters Of law and fact are determined,
through the medium Of the courts. The statu
tory provision of 1887 should be so amended as
to provide plain direct and speedy method OF
through the medium of appeals or by direct
proceedings on application Of tho board. or OF
any party or corporation interested, to the su-
the direction of reducing the cost of marketing
our principal cereal at tho terminal points
when the amendment suggested is carried into
effect.
GRAIN INSPECTION.
Ono OF the important interests entrusted to
the board Of railroad and warehouse commits
sioners 10 the inspection and weighing OF grain
l confess to approaching this subject with din.
dence. as I am not entirely positive whether
our present system Is all that can be desired
The grading OF wheat is not an exact science,
but is largeiy-a matter of individual judgment.
Grain experts will not always agree, and rs a
result there is frequently adtvergence of opin-
Ion between inspectors in the country and at
terminal points OF 80 marked character a. to
produce much confusion and often disatisfac-
ton. I have addressed communications to
many Of the leading farmers Of the state, as
well 40 " eome Of the prominent receivers Of
wheat. and with practical unanimity they con
cur in the opinion that the law. in its present
s ,1s% With possibly sV%e slight
enactmonts that can be devised for
board Of appeal he provided ut each terminal
point to adjust any question Of grades arising
in connection with inspection. This deem to
be . wise suggestion. Tho problem of grading
~ local stations is moro dtfficult to solve It
would be impracticable to maintain state in.
spection st the Thousand and one points
throughout the state whero grain Is bought,
and therefore IL would seem IS II the small
shipper must avail himself Of the right to ship
his wheat direct to tho receiving points and de-
mand state inspection and weights in case he
10 dissatisfied with the inspection OF the local
elevator agent. I am well aware that MANY
hsrdships arise from undertaking ut country
stations, but 500 no way whereby this dit.
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