The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1897-04-14
The ALLIANCE REPORTS
Is Committee Finds the Railroad
Commission "WOrse Than
WGrthless.''
The story of Fruiiless Efforts to
Serve the People.
Strong Report, Which Should BE
Read by Everyone.

Alliance Of the state constituted the un-
iersigned legislative committee whose
luty it should be, first, to secure, if pos
DE some enforcement Of those existing
avs relating to common carriers which
might be regarded as favorable to the
farmers of Minnesota; ana, second, to
formulate and present to the legislature
such measures relating to the carria &c
Of farm products as, in the opinion Ut
The committee sound public policy
might dictate
In the fulfillment of it's mission the
committee at once visited the railroad
and warehouse commission, and asked
that body to secure to the farmers the
right to have their products when
shipped in bulk, weighed by the rail
roads at the place of shipment and re-
ceipts given for the amounts of such
shipments. The committee was received
In frigid silence, and with an assump-
the first indication given by the commit
tee that it meant business. We're that
body intent on demonstrating that it
was indeed a railroad commission by
ownership as we'll as by name, no clear
er demonstration of the truth could be
provided than was furnished on that
occasion. Forgetting for the time, ap-
parently, that the body over which he
presided was composed of the paid
agents of the public, the chairman OF
the commission, Mr.. Becker, assailed
your committee as being responsible FOR
certain resolutions, passed by the con-
vention, which had criticised the inter-
state commission and the state railroad
and warehouse commission, alike.
On his assault being resented, Mr.
Becker thought it advisable to apollo
gize. The committee We're, however, in
search of relief for the farmers from
railroad eXaction, and not of apologies
and were quickly forced to the conclu-
sion that their search was being con-
Quoted in the wrong direction.
AS an illustration of the Indifference
of the railroad and warehouse commits
sion to the demands Of the people and
the worthlessness of that body to all
interests concerned, excepting the rail-
roads alone, we call attention to the fact
that while the general statutes of the
CT tot !,
the railroads shall weigh grain offered
for shipment in bulk, the commission
assured the committee that it could Go
nothing and would do nothing to secure
the farmers the relief sought in that
direction.
Having become satisfied, from the
conduct and general demeanOr of its
members throughout, that the railroad
and warehouse commission was even
worse than worthless for all public uses
and apparently only conceived itself 20
exist for the defense and protection of
the railroad corporations against the
demands of the public, we directed our
attention toward the legislature. A Sc
ries of remedial measures were prepared
by M. j. Costello, of st. Paul, who acted
as counsel for the committee and were
ures were as follows:
First-A bill amending the law Great
ing the railroad and warehouse commits
sion and calling upon that body, on the
Of
each year, and at such additional times
as might be necessary, to carefully ex-
anime existing freight rates, and unless
the commission were satisfied that such
rates were in all respects just ana rea-
sonable, to call upon the railroads to
make the necessary reductions. On the
neglect or failure of the roads to make
the required reductions, the bill then
made it the duty of the commission to
appeal to the courts and to continue to
SO appeal until the lowest Just aud rea-
sOnable rates admitted by the courts
were made to prevail. Thus an impera
tive duty to continue forcing down ex-
listing rates was sought to be imposed
on the commission on pain CT removal
from office.
Seccnd-A bill providing for uni
form reduction of all existing freight
rates to the extent Of 20 per cent of
Il; es in force on Jan. l, 1897.
Third--A bill providing for uni
form passenger rate of cents per mile
Fourth-A bill providing for the law
full transfer. by delivery, of mileage
books from one person to another, the
possession Of such books being prima
facia evidence of lawful ownership, re-
gardless of the name written or stamped
on the book.
Fifth--A bill providing for the estab-
,ishMent of track scales at all railroad
stations. from which not less than 1GO,-
600 bushels of grain are shipped an
nually. and for the delivery, to the ship