The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-10-18
Van SAINT ON STATE ISSUES

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that the question should be carried in.
to the courts. In June, 1885, State All
ditor r. G. Dunn took UP the matter,
and the result was the validity of the
grant was tested in the courts, and
finally set at rest by Judge Lochren.
In the state auditors report for 1895
and 1896 a complete statement was
made to the legislature of the status Of
the different
Railroad Land Grants.
with important recommendations re-
lating to their adjustment. The result
was that the legislature made an ap-
preparation for the purpose Of defray-
ing the cost of litigation to determine
the contentious of the state as TO these
grants in the courts, and appointed q
commission to supervise the prosecu-
tor of the states claims. In the case
of one grant, that of the Little Falls &
Dakota Railroad company, a suit in,
yolving some 1900 acres, which the
state claims were not earned by the
grantee, but had been decided to it by
the former Democratic state auditor, is
still before the courts, but there is no
doubt that the state will win it's case.
AS to the Southern Minnesota Railroad
swamp lands grant, to which Gov.
Lind gave such prominence IN his
speech of acceptance, holding that the
company never was entitled to such o
grant, but had been decided some $4,000
acres of land improperly, the attorney
general, the Hon. w. B. Douglas, does
not agree with the governor. but has
given an opinion that the company has
a valid grant, under an act Of the leg
islature subsequent in date to those.
acts which the governor had depended
upon as the basis for his opinion.
False pretenscs and PIngfarism.
And yet, Gov. Lind is reported as
saying in speech he delivered recent
ly at Red Wing, that he had been busy
ever since he assumed office in
strengthening "out the mess" arising
from the condition Of railway land
grants. This is simply an assumption
of credit and duties which rightfully
belong to the auditor of state, and is
part and parcel of the series OF false
pretenses, Misrepresentation and
wholesale plagiarisms upon which the
Democratic campaign is being con-
Quoted.
Absolutely the only works which our
opponents can honestly claim as their
own are the achievements of the rail-
road and warehouse commission. the
operations of the state grain inspection
department and the management OF
the state prison binding tWine plant.
Our political opponents are claiming
great credit for their
Railroad and Warehouse Commits
sion.
They say that when the Republicans
were in control Of the commission 1t
never initiated proceedings to secure
reduction Of railroad rates, but Gov
Linds commission has, of its own ln-e
itiatiVe, commenced such proceedings.
The Democrat who made this state
,nent would much better have re.
nlained silent in the interests of his
party, for it recalls to my mind GER
tain facts which cannot help their can
yass. I have shown you how the Re
publican party fought and won the
battle for state control of railroads.
Further than this, sRepubl legis-
Iafures created the railroad and ware
house commission, vesting it with such
wide powers S to snable it to control
the rates charged by the railroads, ana
to proceed on their own initiative, to
regulate such rates as they deemed
rea sonable or equitable. Chapter 10,
az the General Laws of 1887, vested
the commission with such authority.
IN 1891, when the Democrats and
Populists controlled the legislature.
they proceeded, like a bull in a china
,1,,x fraySy 4
and they enacted a law Chapter LOG OF
the General Laws of 1881, which re-
stricted the railroad commissioners
from instituting any action to secure q
reduction of unjust or exorbitant rail-
road rates, and prescribed that they
should not act in such matters except
upon verified complaint duly filed
with them 1t was the Republican Leg
islature Of 1897 that again conferred
the power upon the commission TO
proceed in it's own initiative In the
Reduction Of Railroad Rates.
and Chapter 67 Of the General Laws OF
1897. empowered the commission, al
though no complaint had been filed
with ii as the act Of 1891 required, to
nroceed upon its own motion to invest
igate the reasonableness of railroad
tariffs Of rates, fares, charges and
cIassffications and to, fix and adjust the
same so that 1t would be reasonable;
and it was the Republican legislature
OF 1899 that passed a law providing
that the railroad and warehouse COM
missioners should be chosen and elect
ed by the people, instead of being ap-
pointed by the governor. as heretofore.
Therefore, we find that the Demo-
cratic spellbinders are adroitly mis-
appropriating and converting to their
own use and benefit the credit for the
beneficial railroad legislation which
the Republican party gave to the peo-
nle. and ignoring the fact that the fu-
sion legislature of 1891 practically sue
ceeded in Gripping for time the use
fnlnescs of the railroad and ware
house commission.
Grain Inspection.
Now I come to question over which
our political opponents are greatly ex-
ercised and deeply distressed, since
the delivery of q certain speech at Mi
1aca by the Hon. r. G. Dunn. mean
the question of grain inspection and
Weighing, and the operation of the
sfate inspection department since the
former Republican chief inspector was
removed and the Democrats have been
In 1ndisputed control, This, our op-
moments hoped, would be their winning