The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-10-10

ouced IN 1893, and we are thankful TO the
members or both parties for hair assistance
IN passing 1t. l see the governor classes
1t among Republican legislation. which does
not matter now; but if he thought it such
a good thing, why did he try to induce SEN
ator Wood to have the approximation re-
ouced one-half? Another bill that failed to-
pass provided for the election of the rail-
ROAD and warehouse commission by the peo-
PIE. mere were also a large number Of
other merltorious bills which were defeat
Gu. among the bills passed may be mem
tloned bill granting extension of time
Ior payment of seed grain loans in certain
case Dill granting aid to farmers in hail
Stlicheh districts, to procure se5d grain. Al
bill submitting a constitutional amendment,
10 vote OF the people, to prohibit special
legislation. An act providing for taxation
OF telegraph and telephone companies. An
act 10 prevent pools mad trusts in the state.
besides many others.
Chapter TO- General Laws of 1897 NO.
materially amended in 1891 The appropriate
tlon lor the Irvine plant has already been
nc, ,is, hlioheu. Inc governor mentions two
pliis passed in 1893 having especial merit.
poth OF which were introduced and cham
ploned by Alliance members one RELATING.
~ the manner of securing sites for ele-
Vators, and the other to compel railroad
companies to build sdings to elevators
situated outside of the right Of way The
Dill winch he mentions in regard to COM
n.
meeting tracks for the transfer of cars
from the tracks of one railroad COMPANY
TO those of another was introduced bv a
Republican, and I am informed that Judge
Powers has decided that the law is un-
constitutional.
Inc governor is jubilant because two bills
Whlcn ne mentions have been sustained by
the supreme court; but that is no proof OF
merit nor have the farmers much conf
uence IN court which decided the Duluth
elevator bill unconstitutional, for bidding
them to take money taken exclusively from
their own pockets wherewith to build the
elevator. In regard to the so-called mel
son Dill, requiring the licensing of all
warehouses and elevators used for the
storing, handling or buying of grain, the
Peoples party disclaims any credit for it's
passage, having opposed it in both branches
OF the legislature. There has been much
dlscontent with this bill and we have been
censured Tor not making a still harder
nght against it, The farmers had built
small warehouses where they could store
grain until ready to ship, and when the
BUSY season was over they would close the
mouse, now coming under the rules and
regulations of the Railroad and Warehouse
commission whose rules have the effect
or law, and whose rules must be alike to
an these houses must be kept open during
business hours all seasons of the year, and
this takes all the profit out of the OPERA
ton. The farmers asked for free and open
markets and now their few remaining
rights are still further curtailed for the
benefit of the large elevator companies.
When the bill came up for passage in the
mouse 1t lacked % votes of passing when
a member from the Twin Cities arose and
sald: COY. Nelson says if you don't pass
this bill he will veto your capitol bill'
upon this the members from the Twin
cities changed their votes, and the bill
was carried. If Nelson had made no such
ought
look well for the chief executive to bulldoze
the legislature. The provision in the law
that a sample of wheat may in case of
dispute, be sent down to the state inspec-
.ion force and have a grade established,
looks line in print but there is nothing in
the law to compel buyer to accept the
balance OF a mans wheat at the same
grade. However, we have not suffered
from weights or grades given at local sta
ions, but from high freights and arbitrary
prices fixed by the wheat gamblers
The railroad commission have ordered A.
small reduction in freights on grain, but
DOUBT II we shall receive any benefit from
It, l tried to have a bill passed creating a
court instead of commission, with a view
to meet the objections Of the supreme
court, as l could not see how a non-iudi
cal body could perform judicial functions:
but L have lost faith in trying to control
railroads, even by law so long as mem
VINO nave been trained as corporation law
h,
courts say that if the schedule of rates
hXed by the power of law are not in the
OPINION OF the court reasonable, then 1t
amounts to taking private property for
pubic use without just compensa ton and
is forbidden by The constitution Of the.
United States. The rule laid down bv tha
courts is that 1.-The rates must paw first
interest on debts; second, operating eX-
penses; third, a fair dividend on CAPITAL
stock. This must be determined by evil
dence and the evidence is furnished by the
railroad companies from their books" no
one being in a position to disprove them,
even though they are falsely kept.
therefore the final solution of the uues-
ions must be government ownership OF
railroads. The Peoples party does not
seek to divide the people into classes We
recognize that the farmer cannot prosper
without the aid of the other industrial
classes, but he could exist without Them
which is more than they could do without
him. Agriculture is the foundation of the
whole fabric, SO when the farmers prosner
all other classes will also prosper Though
some of the legislation in Minnesota has
been vicious, we do not charge that it has
been the main cause of bringing the far
mer to his present condition. But national
legislation has been shaped in the inter-
est or the money power, and as a result
of this an enormous concentration of
wealth has taken place which is dangerous
TO our liberties. In 1865 Mr.. McCulloch.
secretary of the treasury said: The peo-
pie are now free from debt BY the sys-
tenn of contraction adopted, the people have
been forced into debt, high Republican au-
thorities placing the total debt at $31, OOO,-
100000, while the total wealth was only &C
billions of dollars in 1890
AS a result of bad financial legislation
the wealth of the nation has decrea sed
greatly while the debts are gradually grow
ing. If the farmers, laboring and BUSH
ness men are satisfied with present condi-
tions let them vote for the Republican par
ty, with all its rings, clques and combina-
tons, for it has brought us where we are;
but If they desire to see the nation -four
ish, let them enlist in the ranks of the only
party whose principles when enacted into
law by congress will bring relief-the Peo-
pies party. Respectfully,
e. f.. LOMMEN.