The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-21
Saturday Evening,

motion, and investigate the reasonable
ness of any rate or joint rate. After
hearing it may declare such rate un-
reasonable and prescribe q reasonable
rate, which shall take Immediate effect
unless an appeal is taken, and stay
granted by the court. In case OF such
stay the railroad must put up bond
to refund to shippers any excess charge
made during the tendency Of the APP
peal.
No change may be made in rates,
joint rates, classiications, minimum
weights Or other rules, without written
consent Of the railroad commission, af
ter due notice and hearing to inter
ested parties. In emergencies the COM
mission may allow a change with the
privilege of restoring the former rate
at given time. The commission has
full authority over all terminal charges,
including switching charges. The rail
roads must post their rates in all sta
tions. The commission may establish
joint rates when railroads have failed
to do so, and the roads must grant con
nection privileges at functions, for
transfer Of cars. All pooling Of rates,
all rebates and drawbacks. are made
unlawful. Rates for short distance
may not be greater than for a longer
one, unless special permission is granted
by the railroad commission. Common
carriers are made liable to persons in
iured by any violation of the laws, and
those injured may recover damages
with attorneys fees. The courts may
enioin obedience to the law and direct
payment Of damages, and the commits
sion itself may prosecute a common
carrier in the state courts, in. the name
| of the state, for violation Of the law.
The railroads are required to make a
full annual report, statistical and fnan.
cial, and the commission may order a
uniform system Of accounting. Con.
solidation Of parallel or competing lines
Is forbidden. !
The laws requiring proper service
are multitude. One prohibits the re-
moval Of station without consent OF
the commission, and the commission has
power to order stations put in, station
houses built. repairs made, platforms
put in, toilet rooms in stations, anl
gatemen or fagmen at dangerous cross
ings in villages and cities. The roads
are required to make reports to thu
commission of all accidents, to bulletin
at each station the time when train,
are due, and to apportion cars equitably
among shippers in case Of short sup
ply at any station. They are also re
quired to give shippers thirty-six hour
for loading cars with grain, withou
extra charge. 49,.
Other legislation has been proposed
Including a reciprocal demurrage law
a law putting orders Of the commission
into immediate effect, Notwithstanding
appeal, and law to expedite court pro
ceedings On appeals from orders of tn
commission. However, it is eviden
from the above recital that Minnesot
has almost law enough to govern bus
ness within the state. It has worke
well. as far as it has been enforced O
the limited intrastate business. The pet
pie Of the state now want some +powe
given to the interstate commerce con
, mission, so as to reach the vast bull
, Of traffic untouched by state. author
Q tiles Fully nine-tenths Of freight r,
| ceived and shipped in Minnesota is il
i terstate. The small fraction of bus
/ ness is under splendid regulation. Th
: great bulk Of it is under practically n
4 restriction, and will not be until col
t gress has granted some real power t
J. the interstate commerce commission.