The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-09-07
TERMINAL TARIFF.
MankatO Will Get it Through
Compromises Made.
The Milwaukee, Omaha and Northwest.
ern Roads Make Concess.
ions on Rates.

on an equality With the Twin Cities so
far as distributing point is concern
ed. 1t is reported that the Milwaukee
Omaha and Northwestern roads have
agreed to accept the matter of ter
minal rates proposed by the commits
sion but will not agree to the distance
tariff. The Minneapolis Journal refer
ring to it says:
Notwithstanding the warlike re-
port given out in st. Paul yesterday
afternoon, it is reported on excellent
authority that an agreement has been
reached between the railroad and
warehouse commission and the three
largest railroad companies doing bust
ness in Southern Minnesota. There
will probably be no agreement with
the Northern Pacific, the Great North
ern and the Soo The commission and
those lines will have to fight it out in
court. Contrary to the impression
given yesterday the burden of proof
will be on the railroads. The COM
mission will order in its proposed
rates and when the roads appeal to the
court they will have to prove that the
rates are unreasonable.
THE raj lroads which have made
an amicable agreement with the COM
mission are the Milwaukee, Omaha
and the Northwestern. The NJ. & st.
L. and the Great Western, operating
in the same territory with these
three roads, will probably have to bow
to the agreement.
Formal and public announcement
of the agreement will probably be
made some time next week.
THE basis of settlement which has
been reached at informal conferences
between representatives of the roads
and the commission, is reported to be
as follows:
The roads agree to put in the ter
minal or distributing tariff for the
smaller towns and cities of the state,
putting them approximately on the
same basis as Minneapolis, st. Raul
and Duluth. This is point that the
commission has regarded as of the
greatest Importance.
Further, the roads agree not to
change classifcations without consult
ing with the commission. Both par
ties concede something on this point.
The agreement arrived at is satisfac
tory to all concerned.
LAS to rates aside from the terminal
rates, that is to say, the distance
tariff. they are left practically I'M
changed from the existing rates. 1t is
understood that the compromising
roads will shortly get together and
embody the compromise in the form
of a rate and classification schedule
THE commission will look over
these schedules and, after approving
them, will probably issue them in the
form of an order. 1t is stated on
good authority that extreme good
will exist between the commissioner
and the roads entering into the
agreement and they have had very
little trouble to get together.
The st. Paul Dispatch in speaking
of the conference between the roads
named and the commission says:
The confe renee was asked for by
the railroad officials and was made
executive at their request. The con-
ference lasted until o'clock, when it
was adjou rned. Both Mr.. Bird and Mr..
Bowers were uncommunicative, refer
ring all inquiries to Mr.. Ringdal.
chairman of the commission.
1.-THE latter was asked if it were not
true that there had been advances
made looking to an amicable settle
ment of at least a portion of the pro-
blem.
- 1T is true, replied the chairman.
The Milwaukee and the Northwest
ern roads will have a definite answer
for us when we meet again next We'd
nesday. We have adjourned over one
week in order to figure over certain
matters and suggestions.
1.-The Dispatch can state authori-
tatively that the Milwaukee and the
Northwestern have practically agreed
to accept the plans of the railroad and
warehouse commission relative to rate
revision, so far as they relate to ter
minal or distributing tariffs. That is
to say, the basis, or general plans on
which these tariffs have been drawn
will in all likelihood be accepted with
out contest, provided the commission
and the two roads agree upon actual
rates, which now seem likely.
mo proposition has yet been re-
ceived from the other lines, and pro-
baby will not be, unless the Great
Western agrees to the same PROPOSE
ton.
1.-THE attitude of the northern lines
has not changed, and is not likely to,
inasmuch as they are hit much harder
by the proposed reduction.
Even the Milwaukee and the
Northwestern roads will doubtless re-
sist the putting into effect of the bal
ance of the scheme, involving the dis
tance tariffs.