The Mankato free press., 1900-02-23
THREW A BOMB.
Mayor Currier Surprised Rail-
road Officials Yesterday.
The New Freight Rate on Candy viii
Cost His Firm $1,000 More
Year.

railroad commission caused the attend
ance of some of the highest officials OF
the lines interested, there being twen-
ty-one of these gentlemen present. Ow'
ing to the scope of the inquiry, the le'
gal representatives of the lines interest
ed asked thirty days adjournment.
and March 26th was the day set by the
commission for the final meeting.
A side issue of the hearing was an ar
raignment of the present arbitrary
methods of freight classification before
the commission by Mayor Currier, OF
Mankato, who was the only shipper
present. When he got up there was a
general ''rubbering" on the part of the
railroad attorneys and officials. He
charged that the railroads operating
through Mankato had raised the classi-
fication of the products of his factory
without notice or apparent cause. He
asked for an investigation of his com,
plant. The commissioners directed
that it be filed in the proper method
and set it's hearing to follow the argu-
ment of grain rates.
The following account of Mayor Cur
rier's complaint is given by the Min
neapolis Times:
Mayor Currier, of Mankato stirred
the railroad officials at the rate hearing
before the state railroad commission in
st. Paul yesterday. When the ques-
tion of adjournment was up, being sug-
gested by the road in order to allow
mission. the mayor of Mankato asked
leave to submit question. He desired
to know if the commission intended to
deal with the classification of rates in
its proposed reduction. He stated
that recently the roads had changed
candy from the third to second classi.
fcation. Crackers had also been sub
ject to the same change, but had SUBJ
sequently been allowed to return to the
third classification The roads, how
ever. had continued to keep candy in
the second classification, and in doing
so had given no reason other than an
arbitrary ruling.
''The complaint of the mayor plainly
nettled the railroad officials. 1t seems
to strike the Omaha especially hard for
Judge Wilson, legal representative OF
that road. at once took exception by
plain interference. Messrs. Kellogg and |
Bum also excepted and supported
Judge Wilson who held that the SUBJ
iect of classification was not mentioned
in the order in the way suggested by
Mayor Currier. Mr.. Kellogg particu-
larly made strenuous objection to the
matter. He held that classification was
one of the broadest in railroad manage
ment, and called forth many matters
But Chairman Ringdal OF the commits
sion recognized that Mayor'Currier had
raised new point, and the former ex-
pressed appreciation of it. He ruled
that during the next ten days any one
would be allowed to make complaint re-
garding present freight classification,
and that the roads would be obliged to
meet such complaints in their order"
Mayor Currier told the commission
that the change of classification costs
RosenbergerSC Currier 81 900 year, and
that he saw no reason for the change
unless it was to increase the freight
revenues.
In speaking of the matter today,
Mayor Currier said that the reclassifi-
cation, which went into effect Jan. 2Oth
sends the rate on candy.up about twelve
cents per hundred pounds. He said
that the board of trade and business
men now have an opportunity to benefit
Mankato if they will pull together to
secure terminal rates. He believes that
much better freight rates can be secur'
ed for this city, and that this is essen
tial if the city is to advance in CONNER
cial Importance and as shipping point.
AS an illustration of how Mankato
suffers, Mr.. Currier states that the rate
on candy under the present classitica-
tion is 80 cents per hundred pounds to
Algona Iowa, while the rateafrom lDes
Msines to Algona is but II cents. The
distance from Mankato to Algona is not
nearly 80 great as from Des Moines to
Algona. Mankato shippers tare4at the
same disadvantage all over Iowa. Mr..
Currier says that the Republicans of
Iowa put law on the statute books
eleven years ago, regulating freight
charges, and that this.law'has been of
great benefit to that state. 1t is partly
on account of this law.Ethat Mankato
suffers in the matter of.Sfreight rates.
He favors similar law flor Minnesota,
putting greater powers ini theshands OF
the railroad commissioners.
Mr.. Currier statesithat he is going to
carry his fight through isingle' handed
if the board of trade has not the will
E.. %l,0 .s<xl1% 1G