The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-09-07
MADE PROPOSITIONS.
Railroads Said to Have Proposed
Lower Rates to Gov. Lind.
State Commission Says 1t Was Not lr-
formed aud the Scheme
FeII Through.

Tuesday was the day set for. the
hearing before the state railroad and
warehouse commission on their pro-
posed new rates for the roads of the
state. Of the meeting yesterday the
Minneapolis Journal says
"When the railroad and warehouse
CO mmission confronted the representa-
tives of the railroads of the state today
and asked the latter to submit evidence
to show wherein the proposed rate
schedules were unreasonable, the rail
roads turned the tables effectively, and
took up position which put the COM
mission at serious disadvantage and
which the commission could not have
overcome without giving away its
hand. The railroad officials simply
sat back and put on looks which said
plainly:
We are merely here to listen to
what you have to say
1.-THE officials had nothing whatever
to say. They answered as we'll as they
could what questions were put to them,
but the whole morning passed without
either side changing front.
The belief that the railroads will
compel the commission to take the in
itiative and order the rates into effect
is simply confirmed.
''Just what the commission will do
is problematical 1t was the original
intention to decide definitely today,
and this was looked for in Lind politi-
cal circles, but now that the commits
sion has got itself into an unpleasant
mess, it was announced that adjourn
ment would be taken to 10 o'clock
each day until the commission should
make final adjournment.
1.-THE commission will evidently put
off a final decision until after the
state convention.
"When the representatives of the
different roads that were present were
asked if they desired to introduce testi-
mony to show that the proposed
schedule was unreasonable each an
swe red in the negative
"This attitude places the burden of
proof upon the commission. This
body will now have to convince the
courts that the schedules are not exy
cessive and confscatory.
'Of course, there may be some sort
of a compromise before the commits
sion goes to the length of actually or
de ring the rates into effect. The con-
slant postponement may be for the
purpose of keeping up appearances
while a search of loophole is being
made -
In this connection the Minneapolis
Times says that "Gov. Lind waited on
Pre- sident J. j. Hill of the Great North
ern last week in the interest of the mer-
chandi Sc rate schedule proposed by
the railrlad commission. The govern
or is understood to have expressed his
willingness to accept compromise,
but he got no satisfaction President
Hill informed him in positive terms
that he would not accept the schedule
in any form, and that it was useless
to talk compromise. He further in
formed the governor, it is said, that
the Great Northern intended to fight
the matter to finish Had the gov
ernor been given any encouragement
by the Great Northern's president it is
presumed that he would have confer
red with other lines.
The Times also says:
Governor Lind is reported to have
welcomed the proposition, and is I'M
derstood to have promised to consider
it with the railroad commission. But
the commission disclaims all know
ledge of the matter, and claims to have
had no talk with the governor on the
subject. Had it accepted the offer,
there is no doubt in the minds of rail-
road men that the Great Northern
would have fallen in line, and lower
rates given in those sections for which
the commi ssion is now so solicitous,
without an order, delay or legal con-