The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1895-03-09
FOR LOWER r,u,s1cnr RATES.
Report of the ~lntc-stnt. Committee
of the North DnkOta and Mime
sofa eginlnturcs

--------
Report of the Interstate Committee
of the North Dakota and Mtnne-
sofa Legislnturcx.
Bismarck, Feb. 2S.-TYle joint inter
state committee appointed by the leg
islatures Of the States of North Dakota
and Minnesota for conference rs I @
lower freight rates on grain ana lu1n-
Der have made the following report:
10 the President Of The Semitic 9nd
Speaker Of the House cf Krprrs m;:-
tives of the States Of Minnesota IN.
North Dakota:
The Joint intrrSttt" committee. duly
appointed. by ihr scnut" AID house of
representatives of the States Of Min
ncsota and North Da.;u,i. to confer
upon the matter OF freight rates on
lumber, grain and coal within said
states. respectfully submit the follow
ing report Of it's proceedings:
Your committee convened in 81.
Paul, Mimi. FEB. IS. 1885,. ut 10 o'c.ock
a.. III. Present, Senators Smit]. and
Cronkhite, Representatives Shell and
Dcmaittrc of Minnesota. and Senator's
Little and Burke and Representatives
Twitchell, Wincman and Irossrr Of
North Dakota. Absent. Representa-
tive Hartshorn Of Minnesota.
On motion Senator Smith was elect
ed chairman and Representative Pros
ser secretary Of the committee.
At the first session the question Of
best mode of procedure was generally
discussed, and 1t was decided to in
wife the chairman Of the state board
of railroad commissioners, Gen. Beck
er, and representatives Of the various
railroads interested to appear before
the committee at the subsequent SIS
sions to give information relating to
ard reasons why freight rates should
not be reduced in the States OF Mime
sofa and North Dakota.
Gen. Becker stated that the matters
now before this committee had been
under consideration for some time;
that under Minnesota law the board
has the power to fix a reasonable rate,
but the trouble was to get information
that would enable them to intclligrntly
determine what would be held Il rea-
SOnable rate, for the reason that rail
road companies refused to furnish sat-
iSfactOry evidence us to the cost of
transportation. That the board had
secured the services of an expert to
EaScertain the actual cost OF construct
ing. equipping and operating railroads
within the state. which facts would be
used as the basis in the fixing of rates.
Mr.. Moore, representing the North
crn Pacific. stated i'll substance that
owing to diminished volume Of bust
ness railroads were not able to pay on
penses under existing rates; that to cX-
pect Il lower tariff now seemed I'M
reasonable. and recommended that
farmers should endeavor to help them
selves by ~diversifying their operations.
instead of depending so much upon
outside assistance in the way Of con-
cessions from raill Dads when times
We're hard and wheat prices low.
Objection was made to this line OF
argument, and statement made that
the members We're not seeking infor-
nation about how they should farm,
but how they could get reasonable
rates of transportation on grain, lunl-
Der and coal.
1t was urged that the committee de-
sired information as to the present cost
of transportation compared/ with the
cost, say three years ago. or at the
time when. the present schedule was
adopted.
Mr.. Moore evaded the question by
urging diversified farming.
In the matter of rates on Ignite coal
over Great Northern lines in North
Dakota. Mr.. Ptlinney stated in sub
stance that coal Oh their line was only
found at points where the local bust
ness was so small that it necessitated
the hauling of empty cars to the mines
which cost the company almost rs
much as hauling loads, and for that
reason they considered the coal rates
fixed by law, although adopted by
other roads, unreasonable and unjust.
and they should refuse to accept them.
Mr.. Grover, general solicitor of the
Great Northern, addressed the commit
tee at length. c%ontcnding that the
Great Northern had been liberal in its
voluntary reduction of transportation
rates when the volume Of business and
general prosperity of the road had war
ranted it; but present conditions were
such that further reduction could not
be conceded at this time. it WAS
shown. that between 1881 and 1902
rates had been reduced from 20 to 40
per cent.
Failing to secure voluntary conces-
sions. the committee found that the
only practicable way to accomplish the
| object sought was by legislation. and
directed the secretary to have snitah'e
bills prepared and introduced in North
Dakota and Minnesota. providing for
a 10 per cent reduction in The rates on
grain. lumber and coal, based OH the
schedule now in force.
After which the committee adjourn
cd to meet at Bismarck, n. D., Feb.
81. 1906.
IL u ncncotfn11y cr,hniffn1
]. II. SMITH.
Chairman.