Morris tribune., 1900-10-20


ditor r. C. Dunn took up the matter
and the result was the validity of the
grant was tested in the courts, ant
finally set at rest by Judge Lochren.
In the state auditors report for 1885,
and 1896 complete statement was
madeato 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 a
commission to supervise the prosecu-
tioE of the states claims. In the case
i of one grant, that of the Little Falls &
Dakota Railroad company, a suit in.
volving some $4,000 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 a
grant, but had been decided some sc, 900
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
atyalid grant, under an act of the leg
stature subsequent in date to those
acts which the governor had depended
upon as the basis for his opinion.
False Pretenses and Plagiarism.
And yet Gov. Lind is reported as
sayingsin speech he delivered recent
| lysat 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 Irvine plant.
Our political opponents are claiming
great credit for their
Railroad and Warehouse Commits
They say that when the Republicans
were in control of the commission it
never initiated proceedings to secure a
reduction of railroad rates, but Gov.
sLiEd'S commission has, of it's own in
itiative, commenced such proceedings.
The Democrat who made this state
ment would much better have re-
NAMED silent in the interests of his
party, for it recalls to my mind GER
tain facts which cannot help their cam
vass. have shown you how the Re.
publican party fought and won the
battle for state control of railroads.
Further than this, Republican legis-
Iatures created the railroad and ware
house commission, vesting it with such
wide powers as to enable it to control
the rates charged by the railroads, and
to proceed, on their own initiative, to
regulate such rates as they deemed
reasonable or equitable. Chapter 10,
Oh the GTonSTdl LdWS Ol 1901, -NCSLCQ
the commission with such authority.
In 1884,, when the Democrats and !
Populists controlled the legislature,
they proceeded, like bull in a china
shop, to make a few improvements.
and they enacted law Chapter 106 of
the General Laws of 1891, which re-
stricted the railroad commissioners
from instituting any action to secure a
reduction of unjust or exorbitant rail-
road rates, and prescribed that they, |
should not act in such matters except
upon a 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 its own initiative in the
Reduction of Railroad Rates.
and'.Chapter 81 of the General Laws of
1897, empowered the commission, al
though no complaint had been filed |
with it as the act of 1891 required, to
proceed upon it's own motion to invest
gate the reasonableness of railroad I
.ariffs of rates, fares, charges and
,lassifications and to fix and adjust the
same so that it would be reasonable;
ind it was the Republican legislature
If 1899 that passed a law providing
hat the railroad and warehouse COM
nfssioners should be chosen and elect
ID by the people, instead of being APP
,ointed by the governor, as heretofore.
Therefore, we find that the Demo-
,ratic speHbinders are adroitly mis-
Ippropriating and converting to their
,wn use and benefit the credit for the
beneficial railroad legislation which
he Republican party gave to the peo-
lie, and ignoring the fact that the fu
ION legislature of 1891 practically sue
eeded in Gripping for a time the USE
illnesses of the. railroad and ware
ouse commission.
var Grain Inspection.
Now come to a question over which
ur political opponents are greatly ex-
rcised and deeply distressed, since
he delivery of certain speech at Mi
tea by the Hon, r. G. Dunn. I mean
he question of grain inspection and
geighing, and the operation of the
tate inspection department since the
1rmer Republican chief inspector was
smoved and the Democrats have been
! undisputed control, This, our OPP
onents hoped; would be their winning
ard for the campaign, and they had /
repaired to play it strong, and it is al t
lost saddening to see how their little s