The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-09-16


voluntarily granted reduction to both the twin cities
and Duluth. Here is Of the things Mr.. Miller did
whereby the farmers of southwestern Minnesota gained
largely. 49, s.o.a. s.o1 s'ra. 2eI..@ IT, 5aa5a 81
- '@ What next? .'N"~ rrij aaaa aa1 d. r'r,ia .Ians
.@ Mr. Miller followed the above resolution with
empowering the railroad and warehouse commission to
proceed investigate the reasonabene of the rate and
charges of the several railroad companies doing business
in this state for the transportation OF lumber, wheat
grain rye, barley flax and other grains and seeds, ETC.,
and directing the attorney general to attend such
mission its request to represent the state any such
f investigation hearing and whenever rates found
be unreasonable excessive the shall be adj
justed by the said commission upon the basis of settle
fixed by the supreme in the o-caled Steiner
The matter was taken up vigorously by the railroad
commission and rate made for Window of 14.5 for flax;
125 for wheat and IL for other grains with correspond
ing reduction for all of southwestern Minnesota
Mr. Miller not yet satisfied with dealing with
transportation companies and next made effort to hit
the express companies the worst grafters in the state
Mr. Miller made a long and determined fight with
the express people, succeeding in passing law declar-
ing them carriers placing them for the first time
under state control and leaving them in the hands of the
railroad commission. The express companies took the
matter into the courts and after long and tedious ga-
ton, covering year two, defeated in their
ention that they not common carriers, and were
compelled by the yield to the superior will of the
people and obedience to law.
In their report to the Legislature the railroad commits
soners say:
tag9" GAS the express companies filed with the
commission copies of their tariffs for the transportation
of articles within the state the commission commenced
an examination of such tariffs, with view of inform
ing itself the reasonablene of the charged,
whether they complied with the long and short haul clause
of the law Disseminated against the locality in
dividuals The investigation lasted several months and
the commission found that in many instances the rates
charged were in direct violation of the long and short
haul of the statutes and frequently the tariff rates
Disseminated against localities The result of the inves
tigation of the commission the adoption by the
press companies under its jurisdiction of sched
ue of rates. which not only corrected the discrimination
above referred to- but made very material reduction of
the charges for transportation by express"
Here another victory for the people and defeat
of the worst monopoly in the state
Thus far in the history of the state these
press companies had been enjoying substantial immunity
from taxation, while "scaldng" the public with most
extorionate charges for the services rendered. though in
1897 tax of per cent gross earnings imposed
Miller thought this not fair and during the session
of 1899 succeeded in having passed bill increasing the
rate to per cent During the next session Mr.. Miller
again nauguated for higher taxation and with the