The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1903-03-04
THE STONE BILL PASSES.
MIR. Clague Made Strong Argument
and Led the Fight.


week. when he almost single handed
put through the House the Stone
bin, preventing railroad companies
doing business IN this State from
raising rates for the transportation
of freight between points in the
State without the consent of the
railroad and warehouse commission.
The bill came up as a special
order at IL o'clock. 1t will be
remembered by readers of the GA
ZETTE that it was recommended for
indefinite postponement' by the com
mittee on railroads, and that the
report of the committee was re-
versed and the special order was
| agreed upon at the time stated
above. When the bill was reported
out oy the committee, it contained
many Objectionable features and the
bill as amended by its friends, Mr..
Clague Offering all the amendments,
so thoroughly changed the wording
OF the bill that it was really differ
ent measure when it was passed by
| the House.
The enemies of the bill advanced
the argument that it was an exceed
ingly dangerous proposition to
place this extraordinary power IN
the bands of the railroad and ware
house commissioners. the member
ship of which is al ways doubtful
proposition, as to whether they are
the friends or foes of the people.
They further contended that an
other danger that lurked in the bill
was IN the fact that railroad com
panies would never again attempt
to lower their rates, even for a
short time, in order to meet com
petition for fear that the commits
SionerS would allow them to return
to what they might call reasonable
rates A still further danger,
although.not advanced on the floor,
was that the railroad companies by
virtue of their cynical contempt for
law might influence improperly a
board of railway commissioners to
allow them to adjust rates when
ever they were pleased to do SO.
Mr. Clague, as before stated. led
the fight for the bill. He first
secured the adoption of an amend
ment providing that upon applica-
ton of any carrier or carriers to
the railroad and warehouse commits
sion. stating that they intend to
put in an emergency rate for the
protection Of the interest of such
carrier or shippers, the commission
may, before the rate is established,
and without notice or hearing,
authorize the restoration of the rate
existing at the time of such applica
ton and fix the time within which
such restoration may be made and
the time SO fixed may be extended
in the discretion of the commission
as the circumstances of the case
may require. Another amendmen'
secured by Mr.. Clague was tina
nothing in the act shall apply to the
| carriage, storage or handling By
any common carrier, of property
| free or at reduced rates. for thu
( United States. or the State of Min
2 nesota, or for any municipal govern
f ment or corporation within tn
State. or for any church, religious
e society or charitable purpose, or t.
2 or from fairs or expositions, or TO
stock breeding purposes.
In opening his debate in favor q
the amended bill, Mr.. Clague calle,
y attention to a number of cases G
: alleged unjust discrimination i
favor OF certain shippers, or i
: favor of certain communities. H
( pointed to the fact that by reason {
! railroad companies giving companie
: owning line lumber yards, or lin
{ elevators, or line fuel stations. tn
: independent men were PRACTICAL
( driven out of the business. A cas-
i in particular was cited in connee
3 ton with town in Meeker county
Z where the citizens not being able t
3 secure from the Standard Oil Com
: pany tank for the local supply {
! OIL, established an oil station c
Z their own, buying the oil of a