The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-07
TO STOP THE LEAK
FARMERS WANT THEIR GRAIN
WEIGHED AT POINTS OF
SHIPMENT.
RAILROADS SHOULD DO 1T.
APPEAL TO THE STATE RAILROAD
AND WAREHOUSE COMMITS
SION.
TRACK SCALES ARE DEMANDED.
Other Grievances Aired by Com
mittee From the Farmers ALI
ance Convention.

|
Alliance to call upon the state railroad
and warehouse commission and lay be-
fore that body certain grievances of
the farmers against the railroads of
the state, was so fortunate as to make
a special and prompt appointment with
the commission, and the two bodies
got together yesterday afternoon. It
is but fair to say that the committee
has a better opinion of the commission
and that the latter body is willing to
admit that even the Farmers Alliance
men are not such bad fellows, after
ALL since the conference.
The committee consisted of P. H.
Rahilly, of Lake City, chairman; T. J.
Meighen. Forestville; H. V. Poore, Bird
Island; NJ. ]. Costello, st. Paul; w. G.
Taylor and John T. Ames, Mortified;
William Premdergast, West Concord.
These gentlemen arrived at the quar-
tiers of the commission shortly after 8
o'clock and found all the members of
that body in waiting. Their reception
was frigid, but courteous. The COM
mitteemen expected cool treatment,
and had chips on their shoulders, and
they, too, were studOusly polite.
Throughout the proceedings there was
an air of depressed hostility, which
finally was openly manifested by Gen.
Becker in choleric outburst Of defense
Of the commission. Mr. Costello, for
the committee, resented the remarks of
the venerable commissioner, and the
atmosphere was considerably cleared
in the mutual explanations which fol-
lowed. After that the commissioners
FASTENED to be good friends with their
visitors, and the committeeman in turn
modified their views SO that their atti-
tude was that of men who came to ask
rather than to demand certain things.
Mr. Rahilly, as chairman Of the COM
mittee, opened the proceedings with
statement that while the prices of farm
products had been reduced one-half
what they were a few years ago, the
cost Of production and the freight rates
on railroad lines remained unchanged.
A second grievance which the commit
tee wished to air was the fact that the
railroads had refused to weigh grain
at points of shipment. The third point
was the fact that although the scalping
Of railroad tickets has been declared
lille gal, yet the railroad companies con-
nive with scalpers to swindle the pub
lie and evade the law. Mileage books
were sold to the rich at the rate of
two cents per mile, while the poor man
is obliged to pay three cents a mile
for his transportation.
MIR. Rahilly spoke with experience on
all these topics. He is one of the
heaviest shippers of grain in the state.
He knows how much it costs to ship
wheat to Minneapolis and how much
to Chicago. He is familiar with the
distances from Lake City to all ad-
vantageous shipping points, and has at
his finger ends information as to the
long and short haul and other clauses
of the state laws regulating railroads.
He told how he had shipped a carload
of grain to Chicago, and when it was
weighed at that point he received pay
ment for fifty bushels less than he had
shipped. This was but one instance.
He had the same experience many
times, and his neighbors had made the
same complaint. He thought it neces-
sary for the protection of the farmer
that the railroads be compelled to put
scales in at the point of shipment and
give each shipper a receipt for his
grain before it left that point. Then
if there was any loss. if the grain re-
ceiVed at the point of destination was
reported less than the amount shipped
now, would be the loser. Such a safe
guard would make the railroads more
cautious would insure the transmits
sion Of grain in sound cars, and the
farmers would not be the loser,
as he is under the present
system. Taking up the subject Of
scaIping, Mr. Rahilly told his personal
experience in purchasing a mileage
book from a Third street broker over
the st. Paul & Duluth road. Mr.. Ra-
hilly's name was not on the book,
which he had paid 500 for. The con-
ductor took up the book and demand
ed the passengers fare; Mr.. Rahilly
offered to pay his fare if the book
should be restored to him; the con-
ductor refused, and at Hinckiey at
tempted to procure Mr.. Rahilly's ar
| rest; this failing, the conductor and
the train crew attempted to put the
passenger from the train, and succeed
ed in doing so after a fifteen minutes
tussle. Mr.. Rahilly lost the sight Of
one eye and received other Injuries,
which cost him a month in a Mime
apolis hospital and $500. He sued the
railroad company for the value of the
mileage book and was defeated in the
district court Of Hennepin county. He
appealed to the supreme court, and was
again defeated. To prove that the rail-
| road was in collision with the scalpeFS
| he bought a mileage book from the
| same scalper for the same price, and
| on it his name had been forged, so as
to legalze it in the eyes Of the con-
| ductor to whom it might be presented.
| This book was introduced in evidence
| in the trial of Mr.. Rahilly's case, but
! the offending road and scalper have
! not yet been punished for violating the
. state law, while Mr.. Rahilly lost his
time and three thousand good hard
dollars in defending what he believed
to be his rights. Mr. Rahilly's story
was listened to with great interest by
the commission, but no suggestions
were made, however. Then the speak
er demanded:
This committee would like to know
if it is in the power Of this commission
to compel the railroads to put in track
/ scales for the purpose of weighing
grain at shipping points. We believe
that it is within the power of the COM
mission, and are here for the purpose
! of hearing your opinion"
do you think that in the absence Of
legislation, this commission can compel
the railroads to do that which they do
not wish to do?" asked Commissioner
Kingsley.
well, as a lawyer, don't you think
/ the commission can compel the rail
roads to do everything in their power
! to protect the rights of the people %
returned Mr.. Rahilly. Commissioner
f, Mills interrupted with:
! THE courts have decided that we, as
i a commission, cannot go beyond the
provisions of the statute There are
some general provisions in the statute
which might cover this point, but |
hardly think that we can order the
railroads to put in track scales. Under
| the statute wa have ordpra6 CT 10 +ro oil. G