St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-26

corporations that had grown so strong, and
SO we were confronted by this curious
anomaly; the employer fixing the wages
of the employe. The railroads were our serv-
antst we were their masters. 1t has been
held that the railways of the country. being
the highways, that they had the right to regu-
late and control their affairs. We, therefore,
come down to these substitute bills, OF which
he would say that he believed that II. F. 912.
Mr. Searle bill, was the best of the two.
The other bill was not very bad one. The
only feature in the Currier substitute that he
radically objected against was the distance
tariff. The present state railroad law of 1887
had proved to be very etfectual law. Mr.
Searle had pointed out how rates had been
gradually reduced. he might have said rap
idly reduced. Within the past year the state
law had been held in allegiance by the de-
cision of the United States supreme court,
but even during that time there had been a
reduction of freight rates. He had not
heard any complaint that the rates
were too high, but that they were
unequal. There were some points in regard
to the inequality of rates which the average
citizen did not understand, because he did
not take the trouble to investigate. What
did the law of 1887 provide. 1t was we'll they
should know this, because Mr.. Searle's bill
merely proposed TO make that law etfectual.
Mr.. Stivers briefly enumerated the provisions
of the law, the protection provided for the
payment of employees wages, the prohibi-
ton Of
w atef1nS StOCAs
the long and short haul clause, upon which
he spoke at length. He explained the opera
ton of this distance tariff He illustrated the
Great Northern and Northern Pacific run
ming from the Red River valley to Duluth.
The Great Northern was the longer line, but
under the operation OF the distance tariff. it
would be prevented from making a special
rate for the carrying of grain from the Red
river valley to Duluth in order TO compete
with the Northern Pacific road. If it did
make lower rate, it would have TO make a
similar reduction i'll its rates to intermediate
points. 1t could be easily seen how the op-
Grafton of such a tariff would be destructive
of all competition.
Mr.. Currier-Let me ask you question?
Mr.. Stivers-Certainly.
Mr.. Currier-Can you explain why it should
cost merchant at Mankato as much to ship
barrel of flour to Sioux Falls as it does the
merchant at st. Paul?
Mr.. Stlvers-In true Yankee fashion l will
answer that question by asking another:
WOULD that inequality be altered by your bill
If it became law!
Mr.. Currier-Yes
Mr.. Stivers-No, sir, it would not and 1
will tell you why. That is interstate traffic,
and the courts have decided that the state
laws are not binding upon the railroad any
part of which commences or ends or runs
through any portion of another state.
Mr.. Currier-The state law would apply
within the limits of the state.
Mr.. Stivers-No, the state law does not
apply on interstate business.
This practically ended the discussion on
the bill for the day. Mr.. Stivers was suffer
ing from severe cold, and proposed to de-
Ter what he still had to say respecting these
ol!ls. Speaker Champlln suggested the com
mittee report progress, the bills oeing placed
at the head of general orders. This was ac-
cordlngly agreed to.