Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1901-07-03

pOitlOu VI 0u0AI ISpOIV3 tSAO Willie VIC
have referred to this matter before in
the columns of the TRIBUNE, it will
bear repetition. 1t is the following:
"This commission is not sure that
it's whole duty under the statute has
been exercised with regard to reports
when it has pointed out the defects
which render imperfect the enforcement
of the present system of railroad
regulation:
IF, in their opinion, the system is
one based upon wrong principles, and
by reason thereof is incompetent to
carry out it's full purposes in
surfing of fair and just treatment of
all shippers,-they cannot convince
themselves that they would be doing
their full duty to the people of the
state, whose servants they are, did
they, by their silence, lead these to be-
lieve that the system itself is good and
that minor details, alone, need legisla-
tive attention.
''This is the situation that confronts
the commission. Their every effort
to gain for the people of the
state the right of equal participation
in the benefits to be derived from those
public or quasi-public enterprises
which come under their jurisdiction
have brought them to fuller realiza-
ton of the futility of attempting to
harmonic private property rights in
public utilities with the rights of the
public to adequate, equal and reason
able use of those utilities. If property
rights are to be the dominant force
behind them, the public interests must
suffer. If, on the other hand, it be
conceded that their first duties are to
the public, private property interests
must be subordinated. The commission
sees no escape from this conclusion.
They are convinced, therefore, that
the only remedy for those discrimina-
tons, from which the various business
interests suffer, that will prove ade-
quate and sufficient, at the same time
that it will not prove hurdens0me to
private property interests, is public
ownership and operation of railroads.
Whether this end should be sought
within the limits and jurisdiction of
of the state is a question for future
consideration, resting largely upon
the action taken by our federal au-
thorities.,
eff the way opens to federal control,
then the state might escape the duty of
undertaking the enterprise for itself.
On the other hand, if, as seems obvi-
Gus, federal control Is q remedy too
remote to enter into immediate calcu-
lations, the question arises as to, not
only the powers, legal and practical,
of the state, to engage in this public
h,,cirooo Ito I,rk o1e0
of it's duty to the varied interests of
its citizens.
cit may not be out of place here
indeed, we believe it entirely appropri-
ate-tO call attention to the exception
ally favorable situation of this state
to meet the necessities of the case. On
our eastern boundary we touch great
natural highway,-the Great Lakes
which now is, only one step removed
from a world-highway. That it will
assume the latter character In the COM
paratively near future there is ample
cause to expect. When that day comes
If not at the present moment) the
State of Minnesota will be in q posi-
ton, if it's interests are entrusted to
the care of wise and enlightened citi-
zens, to solve the transportation ques-
tion for itself, without waiting for the
slow and cumbersome machinery of
our federal government to come to it's
aid. That the people of this state will
be called upon at no very distant day
to meet the question of transportation,
on a broader and more comprehensive
field tnan that which now obtains, this
commission has not the slightest
doubt. In order that they may have
the benefit of such slight observations
and experience "a this commission has
had the fortune in the prosecution of
their official duties to make and &C.
quire, these suggestions are made"