The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-09-20
The River Press.
Published every Wednesday, Morning
by the Rirer Press Publish
ing Company.
BIDDING AGAINST ROOSEVELT.

The recent reduction 10 grain rates
by railroads operating in the north
west is being discussed from two diff.
ferent standpoints. On q side the
matter is regarded as a demonstration
that railroads propose to give ship
pers a square deal, while other critics
submit that the reduction was made
for the purpose of defeating freight
rate regulation by the government.
The Spokesman.Review discusses the
incident to this effect:
The Great Northern's reduction in
freight rates on grain from the Mon.
tana.Dakota liue to the lakes means
doubtless a gain of at least 81, 900, 600
to the farmers of the greatest wheat
growing area IN the United States.
The railway officials give out the state.
ment that it will save the producers
two or three millions. Minnesota and
the two Dakotas will this year market
lis, OO0, 900 to 200, O0O, 900 bushels Of
wheat, with much other grain. and If
the average reduction reaches l cent
a bushel the larger estimate will be
justified, as the Great Northern cut, it
is said. will perforce be followed by |
similar action on the part of the other |
roads serving the same territory.
Hence every farmer in the great wheat
belt will profit by Mr.. Hills dramatic
hid oroirs% D,,;l@-& Eoo,s, l. |
mand for government regulation of
freight rates.
That this is the controlling motive
in the Great Northern's action a
hardly be doubted, although it will
more or less officially be denied. AL
ready the amusing tale Of MIR. Hills
enmity to Mr.. Lowry OF the $500
road is revived to explain the cut.
This will fool no one. Proper credit
can be given MIR. Hill for the benefit
the farmers will receive from this re.
.uction without losing sight of the rea-
son impelling it.
James J. Hill is a leader in the op.
to extending the powers of
The interstate railway commission.
He has long and plausibly e%xpounded
he doctrine that the railways, if left
% themselves, al be trusted to make
rates that will be fair to shippers and
consumers, a. we'll as just to the own.
ers of railway securities. No doubt
shall soon be hearing from the cor.
porate organs in all parts OF the coun.
try the inspired argument that this cut
on northwestern grain proves the com.
panies quite as likely as the govern.
ment to safeguard the interests Of pro.
ducers. But while conceding the gain
resulting from Mr.. Hills coup, the
public will not miss its real signif.
canoe.
IT the companies are able at one
swoop to lop off two or three millions
their freight charges on the grain
Of three states, when for several years
they have protested that these charges
we're as low as equity would justify,
on how many other lines of freight
ought similar cuts be made in justice
to the producers and consumers az
The Great N%orthern's action
is q confession that rates on grain in
The states named have been unneces.
sarily high. But they have notori.
ously been lower than the rates on
grain from Inland Empire to the Pa
cifc ports.
The farmers of the Dakotas and
Minnesota will therefore be justified
in drawing two conclusions from this
namely, that the cut, in
stead of being charity to the producer,
is Il delayed concession OF what has
long been due him. and that, instead
of being argument for leaving rate
to the companies, it adds
another to the many existing proofs
that government supervision is need
ed.
nl-%lhyNrH HOT AID |