New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1903-05-13
UIM. BROWN COUNTY, MINI. WEDNESDAY, MA
RESTORES FORMER RATE
Minneapolis & St. Louis Increases
Duluth Hard Coal Rate.
Freight Figures are Back to Where
They Were One Year Ago.
Railroad Commissioners Request
That Case be Taken Into Court.

Officials of the Minneapolis & St.
Louis railroad have notified the state
railroad and warehouse commission
that they have restored the old joint
rates on hard coal from Duluth to
points on their line and have cancelled
the tariffs ordered by the commission
under the New Ulm rate case. On
their part the railroad commissioners
have requested Attorney General
Douglas to bring action to compel
the company to abide by the action of
the commission and the DEGREES of the
courts.
The original order fixing maximum
joint rate for the Minneapolis & St.
Louis and what is now the Northern
Pacific was filed three years ago. It
WAS contested on the ground that the
|Meduced rates were able and
the authority to-
regulate Joint ease M
carried to- f is Me Z,
court and at every stage si Il n ssa sFe.
by the state.
Last June the final decision was
handed down and the rates ordered
were put into effect by the railroad
company. They were in force until
last week, when the Minneapolis & St.
Louis served notice that it would re-
turn to the old rate. In assigning
reason for the step the railroad Off
Gals declare that the new rates were
unreasonable and that coal could not
be carried at a profit under the tariff.
Before the New Ulm Commercial
Union began the agitation which re-
suited in the New Ulm rate case, the
freight changes on hard coal from
Duluth to this point were 50. so per ton.
The petition of the Union asked that
they be lowered SO per cent, but when
the graded joint rate was established
they fixed the figure at Sl.95 per ton.
This has now been revoked and the
y. 90 rate is again in force
In an interview with MINNEAPOLIS
Journal reporter, General Attorney A.
E. Clark of the St. Louis road, made
the following statement:
ut is true that the Minneapolis &
St. Louis Railroad company and the
Northern Pacific Railroad company
have cancelled the joint tariff on hard
coal from Duluth to New Ulm and
other local points on the Minneapolis
& St. Louis road west of Minneapolis.
This tariff was put in under an order
Of the commission made in the New
Ulm rate case. When put into effect
it proved to be non-compensatory; the
revenue earned being less than the
cost of transportation. Since the order
of the commission was made, the cost
of railroad operation and maintenance
has greatly increased, and rate which
would have been reasonable three years
ago, would not pay expenses at this
time. This company recently made
application to the commission to
modify the tariff, which request was
refused. Under the law, a rate which
Is continued in effect for a certain
period, fixed by law, cannotbe changed
except by consent of the commits
sion. AS such consent was refused the
company was Obliged either. to- con-
time, indefinitely, to carry coal at less
than the actual cost of transportation,
and at considerable loss. Or cancel
the tariff within the time limited: and
it, therefore, from necessity, Cancelled
the tariff. Whether the new tariff is
restoration of the one in force before
the order of the commission was made,
[ do not know. It was made, or will
be made, by the traffic department. The
company would willingly accept and
continue traiff which would afford a
neutrality-suspicious. the service
rendered, but does not feel justified in
accepting one which does not pay the
actual cost of operation"
Trains Chanpe Time