The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-14
per, of proper receipts for the amount of
6oli

nelly these measures were placed in the
hands OF different members Of the
house. They were in time referred to the
committee on railroads OF that body.
Again, through Mr. Donnelly, it was ar
ranged that the committee should have
a public hearing on those measures
Our chairman, P. H. Rahilly, according
ly appeared before the committee on
railroads, and after listening till 2
o'clock in the morning to the arguments
CT the railway attorneys gathered to
oppose the so-called Douglas bill he was
compelled 70 withdraw unheard
On Wednesday, the 10th Of March, M
Rahilly and Mr.. Costello attended the
meeting of the committee On railroads.
They were informed by the chairman
that that body was very busy, and could
only allot very short time to alliance
measures. A half hour was assigned in
which to present the merits of the five
measures above outlined. The time was
as fully utilized as it's brevity and the
iAoeUAS VI tAC lCASh UclOlC IuC CUulI1it-
tee admitted of. But from the outset;
indeed, before a word had been spoken,
1t was plain that the experience of the
committee before the railroad and ware
house commission was to be duplicated,
and that the measures would receive
short shift. Both of our representatives
spoke, but they might better have re-
mained silent. 1t was apparent through
out that there was not a shadow of pos
sibility that the measures advocated
would receive any serious consideration
whatever The committee was a mere
unpleasant obstruction in the path of
these self-sufficient legislators, to be
brushed aside as quickly and as uncere-
moniously as might be-
On the following morning the bills
were reported adversely by the commit
tee on railroads, and it was urged, with
reference to the measure for track scales
that the expense would be too great to
the railroads, and that scales to the ca
pacity asked for could not be secured.
Mr. DOnnelly, with his customary de-
votion to the public welfare, called the
attention of the house to the fact that
there was no disposition to place undue
burdens On the railroads, and that plat
form scales that would not cost more
than SIS might be made to answer the
purpose. He pleaded that the bills
should be placed on general orders, and
be discussed and amended according as
the judgment of the house might die
tate, but he pleaded in vain. The meas
ures were doomed from the outset to a
speedy and violent death.
Whatever the present actual condi-
ton of public sentiment may be regard
ing the carriers of this state, it is plain
to demonstration that all the forces of
amaigamated in the great undertaking
OF preventing any changes in existing
regulations affecting railroads and other
great corporations. The dominant ele-
ment in our politics is in conspiracy
with them. The great majority of the
men whom the electors Of Minnesota, IN
their wisdom, placed in power with the
opening of the present year are their
confederates And while there is plain
ly manifest q spirit of uncertainty and
unrest among even the representatives
of the corporations in official life, the
people can expect no immediate relief,
except such as the corporations think
proper, in the pursuit of their own in
terests, to voluntarily grant them
1t is not within the province of the
committee to suggest remedies for the
state of things which is here portrayed.
They confine themselves to the remark
that as long as the producing masses
of the state, in the exercise of the voting
franchise, show themselves to be amen
able to the influence of fear, fraud and
chicanery to the extent manifested by
them in the last state and national elec-
ton, it will remain an utterly hopeless
task for any body of men to seek any
relief in their behalf, however limited
in its scope, from the self f-imposed bur-
dens under which they are today strug-
Cling. Very respectfully, P. H. Rahil1y,
chairman; M. J. Costello, secretary; T.
]. Meighan, l.. c. Long, president F. A.
and l. u; H. V. Poor, J. T. Ames. w.
G. DAILY, w. w. Prendergast. E. ].
Moore, r. J. Hall, c. P. Aldrich. l
A Crusade.
We learn that some of the local mer-
chants are initiating crusade against
the Supply Houses" which furnish
goods to the farmers at lower prices
than they can get at home. They are
instituting a boycott against the whole
sale houses and manufacturers that sell
to the Supply Houses
There is no doubt about the correct
ness of this information,-as we get it
directly from leading manufacturer.
Our principle is to help the home mer-
chant, but he should be able to sell as
cheaply as anyone else In these hard
times he cannot expect farmers to sell
their productions at less than cost, and
then pay more for what he buys than
IT is worth.
# the Supply Houses" like those of
Roberts and Vanstrum, are to be boy