The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-02-27
OUR POPULISy LEADERS.
Doing Good Work In the Legisla-
ture.


them. The Penny Press has this to
say of one them:
From all parts Of the state are be-
ing received commentators for the
grain Dill recently introduced by Rep
reSentative Emil j. Meilicke, of Cot
tOnwood, which aims to secure free
dom or markets, and which it is con-
ceded will, il passed. operate to stop
restraint Of trade in grain and food
products, which it is claimed xists in
an alarming and dangerous degree un-
der the operation Of the system now
in vogue in grain handling and grain
purchase"
The st. Paul Dispatch has this to
say of one of our Senators:
"The railroad committee met YES
terday and received the report of Sem
ator Ringdal, who was appointed a
committee Of one to investigate the
cost of railroad construction and to
make recon mendation as to the re-
ductlon of freight rates. Senator
Klngdal presented report consisting
OF thirty-four type written pages Of
statistical information. giving an
estimate of the cost of ia different
railroads, covering roads built
through all kinds of country, from
prairie to mountains. Acting on this
information, he has drawn up a bill
to nix freight rates in proportion to
the amount of capital invested in the
roads to be affected by such reduction.
Senator Ringdal believes in horizon
tai reduction of 20 per cent on the
rates in force Jan. !, 1898, should be
made, and has prepared his bill to eff
feet that reduction. The committee
referred the report and the bill to a
subcommittee, consisting of Senators
Peterson, Ringdal and Smith, to in
vestigate 1T and report back to the
whole committee
In speaking Of the report Senator
Ringdal said:
ut contains very little information
that has not already. at various times,
become part OF the public records of
this and other states, and of the
United Estates. All that the report
attempts to do is to CLEAN from those
officlal documents facts bearing upon
the probable actual cost of railroads,
and to determine what, in conse-
quence Of such facts, should in the
opinion Of the committee constitute
reasonable freight and passenger
rates. In order to be BILE to arrive at
reasonable correct estimate of the
cost OF the roads, the committee has
not confined itself exclusively to such
fragmentary information as could be
found in the various reports of this
state, but has computed the average
per mile cost Of ia roads in the
United Stated, arrived at the conclu-
sion that the average value Of the
average road in the United States is
at least as high as the average cost of
roads in Minnesota.
las result of this computation the
committee arrives at the conclusion
that SIT $50 per mile is at least high
enough estimate of the average cost
per mile of railroads in Minnesota.
Taking the average net earnings of
the roads in Minnesota for the past
four years as just criterion Of their
earning capacity under their present
rates, | find that a reduction of 20 per
cent on all freight and passenger rates
In effect on the lst Of January, 1893,
would be but matter Of tardy justice
to the people, and leave the roads the
liberal net earning upon capital actu-
ally invested Of 7.43 per cent"
Senator ReiShus has been making
gallant fight to force an investigat ion
of the capitol bill. He claims that
there is "a colored gentleman under
the wood pile," and he has locked
horns with Gov. Clough and main
tanned himself handsomely.
Senator CrOnkhite made a Stong eff
fort to secure division of the tax pay
ments so that one-half should be paid
in the spring and the other half in
the fall but he was voted down. In
this condition we would call atten-
tion to the following statement by
one Of the Ramsey county mbers,
on the floor of the House:
Henry Johns showed from the re-
port of Gov. Nelson that the state
had on hand at the time the report
was made 81 ,O01 600 in the general
fund for which it had no use, money
that had long been lying idle in the
banks of the state 1.-The gentleman
from Kandiyohi knows we'll the great
need for new capitol" said Mr..
Johns, land instead Of talking to the
galleries and preying upon the preju.
dices of his farmer constituency it
would be far more creditable for him
to do his duty to the state as legis-
lator."
This fully confirms the wisdom of
Senator Cronkhite's action.
Senator Hanna, of Renville county,
has been making splendid record.
He has introduced bill for the taxa
tion of railroad lands which avoids
many of the objections found against
the Markham bill.
Senator Sevatson is always quiet
and sensible and faithful. and moth
ing escapes his observation. A very
strong character.
In the house, Messrs. Brevig, Hen
bricks, Knuteson, Lee, Meilicke,
Moore, Nelson, Richardson and Viegen
are all making good records, and their
votes are almost invariably found on
the right side of all important ques-
tions They stand considerably above
the average of their fellow members.
We believe they will endure to the
end.
We are proud of all this. The good
conduct of these senators and men,
bers will strengthen the Peoples Par
ty all over the state. I'D.
Mr. Meilicke sends us the following
statement as an explanation of the
necessity for his bill:
STATE CAPITOL,
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Feb. IS, '95.
DEAR SIR:-I will briefly state the
r TT