The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-10

Committee Dispcses OF a Large Num-
Der of Them

me session Of the railroad committee
OF the house last evening was consider
ably enliVened by the unexpected an
pedTance before that body Of the legis-
laIlVe committee Of the Farmers
Alliance and Industrial union OF this
state For some weeks past the far
nlers through their committee have
been quietly submitting proposed legis-
laLlOn. No one. outside a few mem
bers Of the lower house, who were in
the secret. appeared TO know the origin
OF the bills which NJ. ]. Costello. Of this
city. and 2. H. Rahiily, OF Lake City.
on Dehalf or the committee, advocated
last evening. They are five in number.
The first provides that it shall be the
duty Of the railroad and warehouse
commission, on the LIST Of May and
November Of each year, and al such
additional times as they desire 10 ex-
anime prevailing freight rates: and.
unless they deem those rates TO be the
lowest Just and reasonable rates that
can be established. the commissioners
must reduce them 10 the lowest avail
able point, and demand Of the roads
that they put the reductions into oDer-
alton. In the event Of the failure or
neglect OF the roads to do so, then the
commissioners are compelled under
penalty Of removal from Office. TO go
into court and have such reduced rates.
or the lowest possible rates above
those rates, declared by the courts 70
be just and reasonable. The duty i'm
posed by the bill on the commission is
a continuous one; and the design is
10 make them keep hammering on the
prevailing rates from time to time. IN
til they get the courts 10 esta bliSn the
lowest possible just and reasonable
rates.
Mr.. Costello, in talking to the commit
tee last night, addressed himself parIic-
ularly 10 this measure. and spoke for
a considerable time. He pointed our
that the spirit and intent OF all exist
ing railroad legislation, 50 far as he
could distinguish. was TO place the bur
den on the individual, and to make any
public grievance a mere matter Of
private complaint, TO be determined as
any other private controversy might
be. He insisted that the public had 4
right to demand Of the legislature that
il create some public agency which
would stand between the people and
the roads.
Mr.. RahilIy spoke directly to the
other measures prepared by the al
lance committee. They provide re-
spectively for q 25 per cent reduction
Of the freight rates in operation on
the 1st Of January. 1897, fer g uniform
passenger rate Of cents. per mile; for
he establishment OF track scales. and
the holder at will without reference
TO the name printed on the book. He
pointed out that all forms Of property
had diminished materially in value Of
recent years, except railway property:
that the farmer, while he did not re-
ceive often more than 50 per cent Of
former prices for his products. was
still compelled TO pay the railroad the
old rates for the carriage Of such pro-
ducts. And he urged on the railway
committee that he could not see why
the railroad corporations should he
granted immunity from bearing their
share of the burdens which now rested
50 heavily on the shoulders of the PEG
pie He thought that If the railroads
could afford 10 sell large punches Of
mileage books at > cents a mile as he
claimed they are doing. they should
be compelled TO establish uniform
passenger rate Of two cents.
The committee took up the consider
alton Of a number Of bills upon which
the action indicated below was taken:
s. F. 331 (Miller)-TO authorize the
railroad and warehouse commission 20
act on its own motion. To pass.
H. F eos. (McElhaney)-TO require
railroads in Minnesota to issue mileage
books al the rate Of cents a mile.
Amended TO as to provide that the
books are good only when presented by
the AtEESDn 70 NnOIIl ISSOCL. anu ICCOLll-
mended 10 pass.
H. F. $50. (Marin)-To require rail-
reads in this state TO place track scales
for the weighing Of grain at all shipping
points where there are shipped an
nually 100000 bushels. Indefinitely
postponed.
H. F. 400. (ScOtt)-TO require railroads
in Minnesota to carry bicycles as bag
gage Indefinitely postponed
H. F. $50. CF'oss)-To compel railroad
and other corporations TO provide for
sheds for the protection Of cattle at
stock points. Indefinitely postponed
H. F. 5S4. (Dahl)-TO require railroads
in this state TO issue mileage books at
the rate of , cents per mile Indefinite
IL postponed for the reason that the
McElhaney bill practically covers the
ground.
The committee will meet tomorrow
night when Mr.. Douglas will again be
heard after which ii is probable that
some action will be taken on his dis
lance tariff measure.