The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-05-16
THAT ORE RATE CASE
Mills and Miller Will Vote for a
Compromise.
AN EASY VICTORY FOR THE ROADS
They Are Not Common
Carriers of Ore.

sion is possessed with the idea of helping
the giant steel trust in its war with the
Independent ore shippers of northern Min
nesota, it would probably conduct the ore
rate case about the way 1t is now doing.
This is a hard thing to say Of men
elected to public trust by a vote of the
people, but the shadow of coming events
gives good cause for the statement. This
is said with the understanding that the
commission is about to modify the order
filed May Z. 1t proposes to compromise"
with the railroad attorneys, permitting
them to have rehearing in the ore rate
case without acknowledging the legal
right Of the commission to regulate the
rates.
Gift to the Railroads.
The ore carrying roads of northern Min
nesota, are owned and controlled by the
United States Steel company, which also
owns the great majority of the producing
iron mines of northern Minnesota The
mines owned by Independent companies
cannot operate at a profit on account of
the excessive rates charged by the roads
for hauling their ore to Duluth.
The former commission, which went out
of office Jan. 7, filed an order in Decem-
ber, directing the Duluth & Iron Range
and the Duluth, Missaba & Northern to
reduce their rates 20 cents per gross ton.
While the case was pending, and before
the order was filed, the roads withdrew
their schedules of rates, then on file with
the commission, and set up the plea that
the commission had no authority in the
matter. 1t was too late for the old COM
mission to take up the case, and it was
left for the three men elected last fall
to handle.
Five Months of Violation
For Ave months the two railroads have
been in constant violation of law, still
refusing to file their schedules. The
shipping season has begun, and they have
begun their carrying trade, paying no
attention to the commissions order
Instead of starting a mandamus pro-
ceeding to compel the roads to file copies
of their rates, the commission made an
order on May Z, declaring in substance
as follows:
"If the roads, on or before June 20, file
with the commission their rates, and also
file a stipulation acknowledging the
authority Of the commission to regulate
these rates, the commission will suspend
the order and grant a rehearing."
No one had any idea that the railroads
would comply with these conditions.
Three days later counsel for both the
roads, accompanied by E. L. Window,
claim agent for the Duluth & Iron Range,
and by NJ. D. Grover, representing the
Eastern Minnesota, waited on the COM
mission. They spent two hours in secret
consultation with the commission, and at
It's close not a word was given out as to
what took place, except that one of the
railroad attorneys said they did not pro-
pose ito sign away all their legal rights"
Next day the commission retained SEN
ator Moses E. Clapp as special counsel
in the case, but they have as yet held
no consultation.
Two Commissioners Back Down.
Two members of the commission, how
ever, have decided to back down from the
order of May Z, and to withdraw the re-
quirement that the roads recognize the
commissions authority. They Will agree