The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-11-29
WEDNESDAY, NOV. ~, 1906.
A RAILROAD RATE CAMPAIGN.

Every Montana business nan knows
that railroad rates upon shipments to
and from Montana points are excess
sive. Reference to his freight bills
shows that upon shipments from east
ern markets the charges by railroads
that monopolize the Montana business
are from twice to three times the am
cunt paid for similar service east Of
ST.. Paul. He knows that the exces-
sive charges are arranged by the rate
makers of railroads between which
there is practically no competition,
az agreement evidently being IN effect
by which Montana citizens are
squeezed to the limit. 1t is also
known to Montana shippers generally
that the high freight rates are ulti.
mate!y paid by the consumers of the
goods upon which the excessive tolls
are collected.
Every resident of Montana will be
interested in the announcement of q
proposed campaign against these ex-
cessive railroad rates. individual
complaints have had no effect upon
the transportation companies respon.
sible for these unjust and
able freight charges, but an organ
lied effort that represents the business
community of the entire state may
have q more satisfactory result. The
Business Mems Association of Helena
has opened the campaign with an in.
vitation to attend q meeting to be held
in that city December II, its address
to the public being in part as follows:
1T is a we'll established fact that
the people of Montana are suffering
from high and unjust freight rates on
commodities coming 10 and being
shipped from the state. These bur-
rates r much higher than
those for other states and greatly out
of proportion with those of other com.
munities to the east and west of US.
I'VE appreciate the splendid work
being done by President Roosevelt in
the direction of reforming these I'M.
satisfactory conditions, here and else.
where, in which he has the hearty CO.
operation OF the house Of representa-.
tives and the opposition OF a large
number of senator's. In this good
work for the benefit of the entire coun-
try the people of Montana should as.
sist. We therefore urge that action
be taken by every commercial club,
business mems association and kin.
dred organizations in this state, and
that resolutions be adopted, uniform
tn character, requesting our senator's
and representatives in congress to
heartily support measures looking to
the regulation of railway rates by the
government through which our people
may obtain the relief to which they
are entitled.
1.-The following preamble and reso.
lutions were unanimously adopted by
the Business Mems association OF
Helena November II:
Whereas, 1t is q notorious fact
railroad rates charged the people of
Montana are oppressive and out Of
proportion to the charges on similar
traffic and distances in other states:
and,
Whereas, President Roosevelt
has instituted proceedings to correct
abuses Of this character and for the
lawful redress of the peoples wrongs:
Therefore, BE it resolved, That
We hereby petition our senator's and
representatives in congress to support
President Roosevelt in such measure
or measures as he may propose in his
efforts TO obtain adequate laws to
govern and control railroad rates
throughout the United States.'
"The following resolutions were
also unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the business or.
ganizations Of the several cities of
Montana, and the cities and towns in
which there is no such organization,
r hereby invited to send two or more
representatives to q meeting to be held
in Helena on Thursday. December IA,
1905, to take action looking to the
formation of a state organization 70,
the purpose of securing such railway
rates as We are entitled to. Through
such organization more effective &C,
ton a be secured looking TO Il re
ductiou and equalization Of freigh,
rates, local and Interstate, than by
individual effort
'It is the sincere wish OF the peopl.
of this community that resolutions o
this nature be adopted by business
men and organizations in every cit,
and town in Montana, and forw ardec
to u senators and representatives il
congress, either directly or through
this association SO they can be sen
together and that representatives b.