The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-02-17
SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.
The Steeners0n Case Decision Simply iu
Line With Past Record of the Court
==-0ther Items.

st Paul. Feb. 1.-THE STEVENSON
discussion and has been regarded by
many as something new and novel in
the way of decisions of the Supreme
Court of this state, but the fact is that
the principles involved We're decided by
that court long ago, and what has been
said in its decisions heretofore made
clearly indicated what the result would
be when such case was reached
For illustration, in 1885, in the case
of Rhodes VS.. the Northern Pacific Rail
way Company, the court wiped out the
plan of the railway companies whereby
they conferred upon elevator companies
an exclusive right to handle grain at
their stations through elevators built by
elevator companies, and held that no
elevator monopoly cou be created
that way
The result of this case was to confer
upon Rhodes, the plaintiff, who brought
the action in the Morrison county dis
trict court, and all other persons, the
right to build elevators upon the rights
of way of railway companies wherever
a railway company refused to conduct
an elevator itself and as it's own,
Again in 1S93 in the case of the Far
well Warehouse Association VS. the 500
road, it was held that the railway COM
pany was obliged to give equal facilities
for shipping grain to any person who in
good faith erected an elevator or grain
warehouse at station, and if the COM
pany refused to lease the elevator site
to such person, and he was obliged to
buy adjoining land and build his eleva-
tor thereon. that the company must
build him spur track so that the ele-
yator may be reached and the builder
These decisions are
among those which led up to the
stevenson case, and there are others of |
he same import of which we will speak |
1t another time
The Supreme Court of this state has
,ealously protected the rights of tie
people and is recognized throughout the
and for the soundness of its decisions.
The House passed the bill increasing
he tax upon the gross earnings of rail
Dads from three to four per cent The
opponents to the measure lacked leader
hip and did not get an opportunity to
idetrack the bill as had been planned
The only argument advanced against
he increased tax was that it was I'M
but not even the rail.
Dads claimed it was unfair When
with the tax levied in other
tates on railroad earnings it is very
and when compared with
ther taxes in this state four per cent is
exceedingly low. The railroads have
Inder this bill the option to be assessed
he same as other property, but they
'refer any reasonable gross earnings
ak to valuation tax The Senate will
undoubtedly pass the bill and in that
vent the revenues from the railroads :
btained by the state will be increased
y nearly $500, 1000 year.
*x*
The Lind-O'Brien episode has caused
nuch bad blood in the Democratic cir
les and if all the threats are carried out
ind will find some bitter opposition
hen he wants the Fusion nomination
wo years hence. There is developinga
eneral discomfort among the various
actions of Fusiondom and if they can
Ell reconciled to pull together again
18th any degree of unanimity it will be
title less than a miracle A Democrat
oes not love a Populist or free silver
republican with any fervid devotion, J
either do Populists and free silver Re-
africans love each other nor Demo- a
ats. They voted for Lind because c
icy hoped for power and rewards,
hey have been disappointed and don't !
tend to be trapped again. inst watch