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


Prosecute Their Business
with the same chances and the same oppor-
tunities that any other man i'll the large cities
had. The farmers and the country tradesmen
wanted fair bodybuilding more and nothing
less. The Alliance men did not wish to do
any injustice to any common carriers; they
simply wanted Justice and fair play.
Mr.. Reeve-What is the essential difference
between the Searle substitute and the Currier
substitute?
Mr.. Currier-A very great difference. The
Searle substitute repeats what little power
the railroad commission already has.
Speaker Cham plin-1here is a prevailing
opinion that the distance tariff will initiate
against people living in distant portions of
the state.
Mr.. Currier-I don't understand that it will
do anything of The kind.
Mr.. Searle followed Mr. Currier. ably re-
plying TO the latter gentleman and support
Ing his own substitute bill. Prior, however,
TO entering upon the general subject he
made the following remarks:
1t has been reported in Il newspaper called
The State that when the railroad committee
failed to recommend the passage of House
File GS, and subcommittee was appointed.
It was agreed That subcommittee should
meet at my room III the Ryan hotel, and
thereupon a telephone message was sent
from this capitol to the Great Northern Rail
way office, asking them 10 send their amend
ments 10 this committee; that the bill known
6S iHc S6aTle SUBSTITUTE was OGHIl leu DIV INC
railroad officials. l hope that the esteem in
which, hope. am held by the members of
this legislature will be q sufficient denial in
Itself of any such imputatiOn. l can say 10
the gentlemen who represent that paper that
1t is a talsehood from beginning to END. This
bill has not been drafted by the railroad Of
ticlals, and challange any one to find any
ear marks on this bill by any railroad man.
Mr. Searle dropped this personal matter
and tackled the important task of urging The
adoption of his bill. He Interestingly traced
the recent effect OF railroad legislation, en-
larging upon the difference between the two
bills before the house. The essential differ
ence was that of the distance tariff Adopt
this new and untried schedule of distance
tariff and they would demoraliZe the bust
ness OF almost every small town i'll this
state. All that was necessary i'll the way OF
railroad legislation was TO amend the present
railroad law-amend Il to meet the objections
OF the courts. That is what was done in his
bill, and it was all that was necessary. He
warned the members of The serious effects tc
the rural community of an arbitrary, cast
Iron distance tariff. lie claimed that Mr..
Currier had misread his Qhe Searle) substi
tute bill when he said that ii repealed the
power of the railroad commission. The
commission was given
Power to Fix Rates,
etc, but under the constitution. it wa!
necessary to give the railroads authority Il
appeal to the courts. Without such q pro
vision the bill would not be worth the ape
it was written upon. During the appeal b!
the railroads the schedule fixed by the com
mission would be held i'll allegiance.
Mr.. Currier (by way of explanatory
Under my bill the railroads are given powe
to appeal to the railroad commissioners be
fore the schedule of rates be fixed. Afte
that schedule is fixed by the commission
must remain in force until overturned or sus
pended by court of competent Jurisdiction
Mr.. Searle-Nowhere in MIR. Curriers' bill il
there provided for an appeal from the com
missioners' order fixing rates which vii
give the district courts the right to readIus
those rates
Mr.. Crrrier briefly replied to Mr. Searle
concluding with: Mr.. SeaTle'S bill is drawn
in the interest of the railroads; they don
object 10 such bill. l object TO such a bill
being passed in the interests OF the farmers
they don't want such bill"
MIR. Mcclure and Mr.. knUdson indicated
that they favored Tie Cu-rier substitute.
Mr.. Stiyers took Up the discussion with on
OF The strongest and most eloquent speeche
delivered this session III the house. He sait
great responsibility rested upon the legis
lature III view Of the extraordinary powe
which It possessed. The transportation
question in these modern times had brough
10 cur attention and caused 10 be formu
late new rules that never prevailed before il
any age Of the world. We had on the on
hand the railway system in this country, ant
on the other hand the people. - The railroad
are the employees of the people; but w
found for the protection of the people il wa
necessary that the employer, in this instance
should regulate and
Control the Wages
of the employe. We did not admit thi
principle in any other line or in any othe
business transaction, except upon the CUES
ton of TRANSPORTATION, and then it was nc
only necessary, bu! right. He believed, an
others on the floor of that house believe
likewise. ihatthe transportation companie
had not always been honest with the people
They had been too grasping they were to
much disposed to take the benefit of q,
within their reach, and 1t became necessar
remedy should be found. Their
must be- an authority somewher
70 hold under control thes