The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-07
for the same purpose?" asked Mr.. Rah-

railroads to build any convenience az
any station to protect the rights and
property Of the public?" asked Mr..
Rahilly.
THE question of jurisdiction arises
said Judge Mills. But my view Of
the matter is that we cannot order the
roads to build track scales.''
Commissioner Kingsley then said:
1.-THE law expressly provides that the
commission can act only when specific
complaint is made. no matter what the
right or wrong Of question may be.
When a complaint is made and filed
with the commission, then we can in
vestigate. This question Of scales has
never been before this body before, and
therefore, under the law, we cannot
give an official expression until a COM
plant has been formally lodged with
US. The same Is true as to rates. We
cannot consider the determinations
which Mr.. Rahilly speaks of until the
filing of complaint setting forth the
offending line; when, where and by
whom the exorbitant rate was made,
and all details necessary to bring the
matter before the road in the form of
a definite complaint. The interstate
commerce commission has a right to in
vestigate all matters of its own Volt
ton, but this commission cannot. The
district courts have held that the COM
mission can only act on complaints
Farmers are not lawyers" said Mr.
Rahilly, with some asperity. What
we want to know is, if the farmers
make complaint, will the commission
give our complaint consideration
Certainly" responded Mr.. Kingsley
1--WE will then determine whether we
have jurisdiction
"W1ll my oral statement, made here
today, if verified, be sufficient to bring
20 fext-f -
the form of a complaint" asked Mr.
Rahilly
You cannot file an oral complaint"
said Gen. Becker. THE complaint
need not be in formal language, but a
copy must be sent to the road against
which the charge is made
Gen. Becker then gave a review OF
what the commission had done during
the past two years in the matter of re-
ducing rates in the northern part Of
the state. He referred to the famous
STEVENSON case, which is now in the
supreme court of the state. I'VE have
been endeavoring to reduce the rates
on the Great Northern road from
Crookston and other points in the Red
river valley, and the road is contesting
every point of the commission We
ordered the reduction, but the road ap-
pealed 1t is test case and will de-
termine the power Of the commission.
AS to the matter of passenger rates, to
which you refer Mr.. Rahlly, if the
complaint is made in the proper man
ner the commission will take prompt
steps to correct the abuse" Gen.
Becker said that the railroads had. as
rule, shown a disposition to obey the
rulings and orders of the commission.
Where complaint was made, and the
commission was assured that it had
jurisdiction, If any expense attended
the enforcement Of any order to the
roads it was borne by the commission.
Thus, no farmer, once having made
complaint, and having enlisted the
would be called upon to bear any pOr-
ton Of the expense of prosecuting the
case.
Mr.. Rahilly then, at the request Of
Judge Mills, quoted the rates from
Lake City to Chicago, and showed that
they were the same that were charged
hfteen years ago. 1t was all very we'll
to say that the rates in the northern
part of the state had been reduced,
while the rates in the southern section
were as high as ever
Hr. Meighen said that complaints of
discrimination and exorbitant charges
were frequent in his part of the state
and that there did not seem to be
any remedy for the farmer.
Gen. Becker called the discussion
back to the question of track scales.
Would the farmers be willing to allow
the railroads to weigh their grain and
give the shippers a receipt therefore %
he asked.
"Certainly-why not?" was Mr..
Rahilly's interrogative.
We'll, the scales might not be ac-
curate, and the railroads are interested
parties, said Gen. Becker. But the
tact remains that the shipper would
have all the grain he puts in his car.
If Mr.. Rahilly can show that he
shipped, we will say, $50 bushels Of
wheat, and when the car got to Chicago
there were but 600 bushels in the car.
he certainly has ground for action
against the company. But he must
nave proof that would convince court
and jury of that fact. This commission
would help him recover if the evidence
were in our possession that the negli-
gence Of the road had caused him
loss"
That's just what this committee
wishes to learn" said Mr.. Costello.
I'VE want to be able to prove with the
concurrence of the railroad company.
by placing the weights of the company
at the initial point in evidence. The
establishment of track scales would ac-
complish this. The shipper should have
a certificate Of the amount Of his ship
ment."
That is not an unreasonable re-
quest" said Gen. Becker IF the
shipper did not then receive paw for the
full amount Of his shipment he could
then sue the railroad"
The private citizen that wants to
go to law with a railroad was born
in the latter part of the moon" said
Mr.. Rahilly contemptuously, remem-
berlng his own experience
1--WE had the impression that fine
commission was established to stand
between the people and the extortions
of the railroads. said Mr.. Ames.
If it can be shown that any such
condition of affairs exists as has been
intimated here today" said Gen.
Becker, then you should appeal to the
interstate commerce commission, and
this commission will aid you in every
way. We, like you, are citizens of this
state, interested in its prosperity. You
must not think, as some of you do,
that this body is opposed to your in
terests. | have lived in Minnesota for
fifty years and 1 have reputation to
maintain and will not sacrifice it. Blu;
In making your complaints, if YOU ex-
pect the assistance of this commission,
you must be sure of your facts
We have confidence in the COM
mission" said Mr.. Rahilly concilia,-
ingly, as Gen. Becker had spoken with
considerable sharpness and his voice
rose in volume as he proceeded.
Il didn't suppose so from reading the
resolutions passed at the Alliance
meeting yesterday" retorted Gen.
Becker. I'm that resolution we are
called frauds, superannuated politici-
ans and other terms not complimentary
or pleasant to listen to. I'm a plain