The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-14

schedule of rates in the next sixty
days.
This bill contains thirty-six sections
but only four Of them are new" said
Senator Thompson, "the others are a
copy of the present law. / would be
willing to consider and support portions
of the bill, If the new sections had been
put in brief bill which could be under
stood and readily discussed, and which
were fair in their provisions We have
already passed the Miller bill, which
gives the railroad and warehouse COM
mission power to look into abuses such
as those suggested by Senator Ringdal.
We should not require the commission
to make an entirely new schedule for
every railroad in the state. The rail-
roads employ large number of people
. and we must see to it that We do not
lower rates so arbitrarily that fair
wages cannot be paid. These and other
considerations make this bill inadvis-
able"
1.-The Miller bill is simply a white
wash" retorted Senator Cole. at
changes just one word in the law and
does not give the railroad and ware
house commission power to change
rates. It has nothing to do with this
BILL
Senator Miller protested that his bill
should not be called a whitewash. 1t
simply added to the powers of the COM
thing else.
Senators Hale and Young both spoke
against the bilE which they contended
was not based on the proper principles
for the consideration of the question
of the abuses of the railroad traffic
Senator Culkin said the people who
drew the pending bill had prepared an
excellent measure, and he believed that
it should be passed. He defended the
classification idea and said 1t was not
only fair, but the only system that
could be fair. It was not question
Of the integrity Of the railroad COM
missioners, but of the efficacy of exist
ing laws. He would take the greatest
pleasure in voting for the bill.
Senator Thorpe wanted the bill re-
ferred to Senator Cole, Thompson and
Young, to prepare a compromise and
report in the morning.
Senator Ringdal said that if the SEN
ate preferred to pass distance tariff
bill, rather than the classification idea,
it could be accommodated in a minute,
as he had a substitute embracing the
Iowa schedule in his desk.
Senator Cole favored the reference,
saying he believed it would be killed
anyway in it's present form.
Senator w. E. Johnson's motion for
indefinite postponement passed, p to
16.
Senator Millers BILL S. F. 33, was
then taken up. 1t provided that the
railroad and warehouse commission
should preserve all the testimony in
cases tried before it, the author eX-
planned, and that appeals should be
limited to the case as presented before
the commission, thus simplifying the
subsequent procedure in the courts.
He moved that the bill be recommend
ed to pass.
Senator Morgan wanted the bill refer
red to the judiciary committee. The
rule compelling the production of the
entire case before the commission was
Limitation of the power Of the courts,
which was in violation Of the funda-
mental law of the land. He moved
that reference.
Senator Stevens also inclined to this
view and quoted the constitution Of
the United States to show the difference
between the interstate commerce COM
mission and the Minnesota railroad
commission.
Senator Culkin took issue with the
contention of the Twin City lawyer,
that the railroad and warehouse COM
mission did not have the powers Of
court. The evidence once taken before
it, should go into the appellate courts
with the same status as evidence taken
before any court of original jurisdic-
ton.
Senator Spencer thought that new
evidence should be admitted at the
discretion of the appellate court
Senator McHale said this bill struck
nearer the heart of the controversy
than any bill introduced in the last four
sessions. The constitution gave the
Legislature the power to create such
courts inferior to the supreme court,
as were in it's judgment necessary or
desirable.
The opponents of the bill took ad
Xyapta Of this tn claim twO-tbjFdS
vote to create the court. Further, the
law expressly provided that in cases
triable by jury at common law, the
commission should apply to the dis
trict court for a hearing.
Senator Spencer embodied his Sug
gestion in an amendment, but the bill
was referred to the committee on judi
ciary, amendment and all.
The third bill was one to punish the
failure of railroad and other companies
amendable to the orders of the railroad
commission for failure to make reports.
This was recommended for passage.
When the committee rose, the Cole
bill was excepted from the report but
in vain, for it was then indefinitely
postponed by a vote of 26 to 20 as fol-
lows:
Yeas-Barr, Collester. Fuller, Greer, Han
son, Hodge, Howard, Hits, Johnson, W. E.;
Keller Knatvold, Larson, Masterman, Nor
gan, Macarthur, Potter, Pottgieser, Roverud,
Sheehan, Spencer, Sperry, Stebbins, Stevens,
Stockton, Theden, Thompson, Yale-27
Nays-Cole Cronkhite, Culkin, Currier,
Dunn, French, Hanna, Heneman, Johnson,
A. G.; Jones, Miller, McHale, Reishus. Ring
dial, Sevatson, Schaller, Sweningsen, Thorpe,
! Wing, Young-20.
The bill to permit the railroad
commission to fine companies not re-
porting was then passed without dis
sent, 43 to o. and the senate adjourned.