The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-23
WORK ON NEW SCHEDULES
RAILROADS FIX UP WHEAT AND
FLAX RATES EROM SOUTH
WESTERN MINNESOTA
LEVEL OF NORTHERN RATES
1t VIII he Insisted That the Rates
Ee Made Equable as against
the Red River
Valley.

Wednesdays conference at the railroad
commission between representatives OF
the traffic departments of the roads in
terested in the grain rate hearing set for
March 81 before the commission, and the
members Of the commission, resulted in
an understanding which gives excellent
promise OF leading 10 an adjustment. So
satisfactory was the presentation of the
railways that the commission yesterday
issued the following official statement.
giving the present status of the rate
case:
Informal conferences between traffic
managers and the railroad commission
have been held with a view OF getting
together on the wheat and flax rate ques-
ton from Southwestern Minnesota to
Minneapolis; In view of the attitude of
the railroads in this matter as devel-
oped at these conferences, II Is not i'm
probable that an agreement may be
reached.
The roads, however, require some time
TO prepare the new schedules, and the
commission will require some time to
examine the same when submitted, and
for these reasons the hearing fixed for
March p will be postponed till some
later date, or II the proposition made by
the road Is acceptable, indefinitely.
At the conference Wednesday, an ac-
count Of which appeared yesterday in
the q o b e, the railroad commissioners
intimated that an agreement covering a
satisfactory basis of settlement of the
pending questions would be acceptable.
This concession, however, was limited
by the structure that the present rates
must be lowered as previously demanded
The commission was given assurance
yesterday that an effort at settlement
would be made and the official statement
of the case followed.
Commissioner Knox outlined the basis
of settlement which will be acceptable to
the commission in a conversation yester-
day afternoon while the commission
has made concession in part" said
he lin allowing an attempt at adjust
ment Of these rates before the hearing,
the original demand that the rates shall
be lowered to a reasonable basis is
strictly adhered to. Any court would
sustain the commission in this demand
and would further cut the rates in all
probability. If the interested roads will
agree upon an adjustment covering our
requirements the case will be dismissed.
This Will result In a victory for the COM
mission without placing q new legal pre-
cedent.
The commission is firm in the belief
that the rates from the southwestern
part Of the state were placed as a result
bf the Stevenson decision"
VIII TINS settlement afect the stand
Ing Of the complaints filed as a result of
the order for a hearing?"
With the adjustment, naturally, the in
dividual complaints against grain rates
will be dismissed This at least is my
personal opinion. The complaints against
classification will be heard In their natur-
al order. AS far as the merchandise
rate question is concerned, the adjust
ment out Of court of the grain rate
matters will not affect in the least the
commissions liberties. We will proceed
probably to investigate the reasonable
ness Of these rates applying from points
in Minnesota, but the natural conclusion
is that If the grain rate question is adj
justed, the merchandise rates will fol-
low suit and an agreement on this part
Of the case reached"