The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-04-17

Wy, Ottt NtotttO 0e'tne properly OF the- ma
ton.
By discussing this question a few
years ago in this city man would
have hazarded his reputation for san
lty, but today even some of the "bet-
ter people" among us are in a posi-
tiOn where it would be insanity for
them not to discuss it,. They went up
on the Mesaba Range two years ago
and invested in iron lands and they
are now owners of valuable mines.
Two roads offered their services and
they were going to have competition,
which of course would mean low rates:
bed rock figures. Everything looked
lovely. But 10! and behold! the two
roads are there yet but where is the
competition. The rates are the same
on one road as on the other, and on
both are at the top notch. This
could yet be tolerated, but we find
that the same parties who own the
two roads, also own about two-thirds
of the mines within the territory Of
those two roads. What these parties
who own those roads. pay out under
the name OF some mining company as
freight, they receive under another
name as RAILROAD Company" The
State Law, making it compulsory to
have equal rates for all shippers in
this case is but dead letter. The result
OF this is that the freight rates OF the
ore from the mines to the lake, costs
the parties owning the roads, nothing
whatever, and they can afford to sell
their ore for twenty-five or thirty per
cent less than those who do not own
the roads, and thereby drive the lat
ter out of the market. This is moth
ing more and nothing less than what
has been going on all over the country
for years, but it is the first time it has
been brought home with sufficient
force to Duluth people as to make an
impression on even s'some of our
best" and the only reason it has this
time made an impression on them is,
that it means theil own financial
body else'S ruin andsthen it was prop
er; it was only a matter of business.
1.-THE railroad company of whose do
main California, With anarea greater
than twice that of Great Britain is
but one of the Provinces, absolutely
dominates that state.s This company.
heavily subsidized In the. first place as
great public convenience, levies on
commerce, not TOLLS. but tariffs. If
man goes into business requiring
transportation, he must exhibit his
profits and take it into partnership
for the Lions share. Importers are
bound by an iron clad agreement to
give it's agents access to their books,
and if they do anything the Company
deems against it's interests. they are
fined or ruined. by being placed at a
disadvantage to their rivals in busi-
ness. Five continental railroads
heavily subsidized by the nation, un-
dor hn
would keep down. rates, have now
reached the Pacific. Instead of "com-
peting,' they have ''pooled" their re-
ceipts.
'"The line of steamers from San
Francisco to New York, via the
| Isthmus receives 100000 per month
to keep up fares and freights to a
level with those exacted by the rail-
| roads, and if you would send goods
| from New York to San Francisco, by
way of the Isthmus, the cheapest way
is to first ship them to England"
This is not carried ON SO boldly and
openly and confessedly as few years
ago, but no mate rial improvement has
been affected. 3&
Is there no remedy for these evils?
Everything but one has been tried.
Laws have been passed, both State
| uAu AuUC1oOdOOs kCloCItOluS rules duU
regulations for the railroads and Ship
pers, but up to date practically moth
ing has been accomplished. State
and Interstate Railroad Commissions
have been appointed, but practically
all they have done is4to draw their
salaries and tell the people there is
nothing wrong. There is only one
remedy and that is Government own
ership and operation of railroads."
Let those who use and need the roads,
own them and operate them, as they
now own and operate the streets in
the cities and the highways in the
country.
But here we meet with the obiec-
tion that it is not the function Of the
government to own and operate rail-
roads. Before we answer this, let us
look at that grand document, which
is more honored and more ignored
than any other document, "Thc Dec
laration of ependence." There
we find it stated that the first and
main purpose OF the government is to
secure to every man those equal and
just rights with which the Creator
has endowed him. If Government
ownership Of railroads serves that
purpose. it certainly comes within the
proper function of the government, if
it will aid in securing to every citizen
the equal right with every other citi-
zen. Ii it can aid in making people
more prosperous, more happy, more
intelligent, then it is not only the
right, but the duty Of the government
to take possession and control of these
great highways of commerce and
intercourse.
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