The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-13
DOUGLAS TARIFF BILL
Secures, Through Courtesy, Place
on General Orders.

ON GeneFll orders.
The Douglas distance tariff bill came
from the committee on railroads yes
terday, and it's return to the house
was the occasion for some more dis
cuSSion on the measure. Two reports
were presented, the majority recon-
mending the indefinite postponement
Of the bill, while the minority recon-
mended that it be placed on general
orders. While the house is unques-
tionably opposed to the measure stiIl
it's friends have fought SO hard for it
in the committees that there were a
number of members who thought it
was a courtesy to those in favor Of
the bill to place it on general orders,
and that was done by a close vote.
A number of those who voted that way
will oppose the bill when it comes up
for further consideration.
Chairman Lovejoy presented the re-
port, which reviews the arguments
against the bill at some length. and
concludes with the recommendation
that the bill be indefinitely postponed
The report is as follows:
The committee has given careful consider
alton to this bill. 1t proposes rates which
would average about 35 per cent lower than
those now in force, but by an amendment
submitted by Mr.. Douglas this proposed re-
duction was slightly modified The Ques-
ton of the reasonableness of rates for trans
portation by railroad companies is one for
judicial Investigations and determination.
Rates fixed by legislative acts are open to in
vestigation in the courts, and if the courts
hold that they are unreasonable such rates
cannot be enforced.
The making of rates requires the careful
consideration of a great variety Of facts and
many questions concerning business condi-
ttons which the legislature cannot well under
take during the limited time of its session
and by reason of many interests demanding
its attention. A legislative rate must remain
in force, unless set aside by the courts from
one session of the legislature to another,
during which time many conditions may
arise making the rates fixed unreasonable,
not merely so far as concerns the compan-
les, but to the public well.
The railroad and warehouse commission was
established for the purpose OF investigating,
among other things, the matter of the reason
opportunity to consider such matters, and
Is authorized to take testimony and to pro-
cure the attendance of witnesses. 1t may
be appealed to at any time, and by any
nartyf and any cain Of Injustice as to rates
may be considered and passed upon.
A case is now pending in the courts in
which rates on grain were reduced by an or
der Of the railroad and warehouse commits
sion from 10 to u per cent below existing
rates. An appeal was taken from the order
of the commission and such reduction was
held by the district court, to which the ap-
peal was taken to be unreasonable. The
case is still in court and should the order
of the commission be confirmed and en-
forced grain rates will be reduced about II
per cent. From comparison made by
your committee Of rates on wheat now en-
forced in the state of Minnesota, with those
in force in other states adjoining Minnesota
and contiguous to it on the east and south
it appears that the existing rates in Minne+
sofa on wheat, and especially those from
the western part or the state and the Red
River valley, to Minneapolis and Duluth are.
in every case, quite as low as from Iowa
points to Chicago, from Nebraska points to
Omaha, and from Kansas and other states
to Kansas City. In the greater number Of
instances rates in Minnesota are lower for
similar distance than the rates from Iowa into
Chicago and from Nebraska points to Omaha.
There is no central grain market like Mill
neapolis or Duluth in the state of Iowa, and
but a small portion of the grain Of that state
| is marketed locally. very large proper
ton of the wheat raised in Iowa goes from
the shipping point under interstate rates to
Chicago, the Interstate tariff being the con-
trolling rate. Under this BILL which fixes
rates on a mileage basis, the Short Line to
Minneapolis and Duluth must charge q
lower rate than the long line. This will de-
prive shippers of the benefits OF competition
between the great markets Of Minneapolis
and Duluth unless the longer line accepts
rates lower than the rates fixed by the bill
as reasonable.
that in some instances the Minnesota rate
from Duluth and Minneapolis to other points
within the state is lower and in some cases
higher than the rates in other states
Under all the circumstances, the matter
of the reasonableness of rates on hard coal
should be left to the railroad and warehouse
commission where the question can be care
fully considered in all its bearings, especially
in view of the fact that any rate fixed by
the legislature will be open to judicial in
Vestigation.
The minority report, signed by Messrs
Larson, Sampson, Wood and Bigelow, fol-
lows:
That said commission has heard all parties
appearing, and find: First, that the exist
ing rate Of freight upon grain and coal
charged by the railroads Of the state are un-
Just and unreasonable Second that such
rates are very much higher than the rates
OF freight charged upon other railroads In
other states, under like conditions. Third
that two attorneys appeared before this COM
mission representing railroads interested,
and neither, in lengthy explanation, furnished
or pointed out a single rate upon coal In
any state Of the United States.
We recommend that the bill be amended as
provided in exhibit "a" attached, and that