The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-25
COMMISSION IT IS
SAID WILL ORDER
RATES REDUCED
Minnesota Railroads Must
Slash Their Coal and Lumber
ffs--important and Far
Reaching Ukase to Be Issued

The state railroad and warehouse
commission has decided upon a sub
stantial reduction in the rates on coal
and lumber in Minnesota. The reduc-
ton is the more important as it is
likely to be SO great that the roads will
of necessity make corresponding re-
duction in the DakOtas and other
neighboring states.
Just what the reduction decided upon
is, has not yet been made public, al
though the traffic officials of the yari-
Gus roads were appraised Of the COM
missions probable decision at the con-
ference held Tuesday. Another con-
ference Is slated for this morning,
when the question will again be dis
cuSSed.
The tariff officials will undoubtedly
present further information to the
commission to show that the proposed
reduction would be unreasonable in
the face of the increased cost of labor
and materials. They have considered
the proposed reduction as carefully as
the limited time would permit, and
yesterday all were working upon an
approximate estimate of the total re-
auction of the revenue the rates pro-
posed by the commission would entail.
Although it was impossible to secure
information as to what this would
amount to- no one denied that the roads
ton is to be a substantial one.
1t would not be SO important per-
haps If it could be confined to Mime
sofa, but corresponding reduction
would have to be made in favor of
nelghboring states, and as coal and
lumber furnish considerable amount
of traffic, the aggregate result to all
the railroads affected would make a
snug fortune.
The traffic officials have not vet
given up the task of attempting to per-
Suade the commission to modify it's
| determination, but do not appear hope
ful OF the result, and neither they nor
the commission are inclined to discuss
| the matter. The conference TODAY is
likely to prove final one, as the COM
| mission desires to formally announce
it's decision by July 1.
Conducts investigation.
The general investigation of coal
and lumber rates throughout Mime
sofa arose from the complaint of a
Litchf1eld dealer as to rates to that
point. The commission decided that
| any readjustment at that point would
affect other points, and deemed the
subject worthy of a general investiga-
ton.
Attorney General w. B. Douglas
personally conducted the investigation
that lumber rates to Minnesota points
were probably, on an average, third
higher than in Wisconsin and Iowa.
The coal rates presented a mass of in
.congruities. varying in different parts
of the state.
The railroads presented evidence to
show that the rates were not too high,
considering all conditions. The lower
rates on lumber in other states were
explained by the pressure Of water
competition.
The general explanation Of the dis~
parity in coal rates was that the same
rate was made to all lake points, based
upon the short-haul rate, and that this
rate was usually applied to Illinois and
Iowa coal. 1t was also charged that in
compiling it's figures the commission
had used the long-haul mileage be-
tween points in other states. although
that rate was based upon the short
haul rate. thus, for the purposes of
comparison. making the rate per mile
appear much higher than 1t really is.
The commission asked the railroads
for much information as to the amount
of coal and lumber hauled. the cost OF
transporting it. the class of freight to
which it belonged, and as to whether
or not they believed there should be a
higher rate on hard than on soft coal