Semi-weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings Co., S.D.) 1894-1898, 1898-11-04
PLAIN STATEMENT OF TIE CASE

watsrtown, Sept. 2S.-Special: The
anti-machine revolt in this part of the
state is growing steadily and the rail-
road Issue ia now about the only politi-
cal matter discussed by the people. G.
H. Myers contributed the following
statement Of the case to the Water
town Journal the past week:
| In the republican legislature OF 1895
a railroad bill was introduced and de-
feated; the same bill was introduced
in the populist legislature of 1897 and
became law, giving the railroad COM
missioners power to fix a schedule OF
rates. Republican newspaper quite
generally made light of this law. de-
nouncing 1t as gotten up in the inter-
est of Sioux Falls jobbers.
| The commissioners prepared q sched-
ule of rates, but were enjoIned Il think
In June, 1897 by the railroad compan-
les from putting their rates and fares
into operation. In the suit against the
commissioners. the road claimed that
they were entitled to earn a dividend
upon the cost of their roads and that
the cost was as follows: Fremont, Elk
horn and Missouri Valley, $18,790 per
mile; Chicago, Burlington and Quincy.
$29,3eo per mile; c.. & N. W., 15,436
per mile: Great Northern, $4,000 per
mile. These figures have borrowed.
but are supposed to be correct. The
only suit that has been tried is the one
commenced by the c., M. & st. P. Co.
| A few months after the railroad COM
panies made a showing as to the value
OF their property. the state board Of
equalization, consisting Of state officers,
made the railroad assessment but refus-
ed to raise the assessment On the prin-
cipal reads OF the state. although Gov
ernor Lee made a strong effort in that
directioa. At the valuation which the
companies placed on their roads, GER
tainly S6,o0e would not have been an
unreasonable assessment
The roads ought to be able to. and
should be allowed to earn reasonable
| dividend upon the actual cost Of their
property; but, have they been fair with
the people?
When the attorneys for the state de-
manded an accounting as to the cost of
the different items of the Milwaukee
road, light began to dawn upon the
| railroad question in this state. I will
|, give just few items to show how the
| Milwaukee company makes up the great
cost of it's road: 500 miles of right of
way fence, $3.50 per mile; 46 wind mills,
$3.50 each; IS tanks, 81, 800 each; freight
| on material for building the road ST.
342,323; transportation for shovelers
and workers, $66,0O0 1000 cattle
| guards at $40 each but by actual count
the commissioners found that the Mil
waukee road has but 221 cattle guards
In the state. Sioux Falls passenger
house, $1,000, but when the house was
built they reported 1t to the stockhold-
ers as costing SCALA.
Judge Garland in his opinion held
that the Milwaukee system in South
| Dakota did not cost to exceed $9.082
per mile, and this is probably much too
| high as their statements were so con-
flicting there was no way Of getting at
the truth. The company has appealed
| to the supreme court Of the United
States and thereby ignored the findings
Of the United States district court, and
Is still charging the old rates.
At the recent meeting of the board of
equalization Governor Lee attempted
| to assess the Milwaukee road on a bas-
is Of $500 per mile, but this was voted
down. The board was petitioned from
different parts of the state to assess the
roads not less than $4,000 per mile. The
republican members on motion of Mr.
Roddle passed resolution instructing
the secretary to wire few petitioners
in each county to give reason for the
petition or "facts on which to act as Pc
titioned." This was in the forenoon of
August 4th. 1893. In the afternoon of
the same day Mr.. Crane moved that the
board now proceed witt the assess
ments Of railroads. Mr.. Phillips oppos-
ed this motion. claiming that as they
had sent for information 1t was no more
than justice to the thousand persons
who petitioned. to wait for the an
swers. Those who voted to proceed at
once. were Crane. Grigsby Lockhart
and Mayhem; those who voted against
the motion we're Lee, Phillips and Rod
die, and the board proceeded with the
assessment before the kilograms reach
ed the petitioners. Did you ever hear
of such child's play? It would have
been more becoming to state officer to
have straddled broomstick and played
''Ho Billy"
At the same session Mr.. Crane moved
to assess the Milwaukee system, MAX
ing the basis of assessment $3.420 per
mile. Governor Lee offered an amend
ment for a basis of $4,000 per mile.
Those voting against the amendment
were Crane. Roddle, Lockhar., May
hew. Phillips. Mayhem moved basis
of $3,762 per mile. Those against were
Crane, Lockhart, Roddle and Phillips.
Mayhem also moved for basis of So
500 and was voted down by the same
parties. His next motion was for a
raise of 500 per mile. which was car
ried; those voting for were Lee, Grigs-
by, Mayhem and Phillips; those against
were Crane, Lockhart and Roddle
The answers from the petitioners
gave good reasons why the assessment
should be on higher basis, and Cover
nor Lee moved on August to reconsid-
er the assessment, Lee voting for and
Lockhart, Mayhem, Roddle and Phillips
against. Crane and Grigsby were alb
sent.
In the case between the Milwaukee
railroad and the commissioners the