The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-04-07
REBATES AND RATES
MADE SPECIAL ORDER
Joint Railroad Investigation
Committee Presents Recon-.
mendations to Legislature

use raising any question on this moor
where the railroads are concerned.
There are men on the floor who do not
dare to vote to sustain the railroads.
Don't you understand that?"
| Gen. Flower a called on George W.
Armstrong of Hennepin to desist from
pressing his point of order directed TO
Speaker Clague in making a special
order for next Wednesday of the re-
ports and the bills from the joint leg
i~slative railroad rate investigation COM
| mittee.
MIR. Armstrong had raised the point
that the bills could not be made a
special order unless the rules were sus-
pended. He commended that the regular
course was to refer the bills to the rail-
roads committee. He read the rule
squarely covering the point. Speaker
Clague was obdurate. He declined to
pass on the point, saying he would
leave II to he house to decide where
the bills should De sent. w. d. Wash
burn Jr. had asked for the special order
to conform to a similar action in the
senate. He said that because of the
short time remaining in the session to
secure action, the bills must take the
short cut to consideration.
j. G. Lennon of Hennepin argued for
the regular order and said that the rail-
roads committee would report the bills
back within a few days. ]. H. Morley
said that the bills had had their second
reading and could not be referred back
TO the railroad committee without a
two-thirds vote. The Lennon motion
received but scant support n there
was vociferous assent to the Washburn
motion. Their Armstrong pressed his
point that eighty votes had been re-
quired to carry the motion for a spe-
cial order for the reports, and at this
juncture Gen. Flower paid his respects
TO the alleged tendency in the house TO
treat the railroads unfairly. His out
burst brought no defense.
The results of the joint committees
weeks of work appeared simultaneously
in the senate and house yesterday in
two reports. In their recommendations
there is little rea difference, but the
minority report goes more exhaustive
ly into the evidence taken before the
committee and the general conditions as
related to capitalization of the rail-
roads and what would be a fair rate.
Committee Unable to Agree
The committee had tried Intellectually
TO reach an agreement ON a unanimous
report, but had failed. The majority
report was signed by Senators A. o.
Eberhart, A. r. McGill, H. w. Stone
and E. B. Hawkins and the signatures
of Representatives r. 7. Lewis and ].
II. Dorsey had been attached by their
consent. Representatives Washburn.
w. A Nolan m p. A. Gandrud had
united in signing the minority report.
Accompanying the reports were four
bills, a resolution favoring a distribut-
ing tariff and a joint resolution propos-
ing memorials to congress asking for
congressional action. The reports and
the bills were made special orders for
next Wednesday at IL o'clock in each
house.
The minority report, which 1t is prob
L ohlA fhn 4u-A hntrCnc mill oz n hoGfc
for supporting the bills accompany
ing the reports, discusses scope of
the inquiry, the method of procedure,
interstate rates, private car lines, Min
nesota freight tariffs. distance tariffs,
c~lassifications of freights, demurrage
and express rates. The report COM
mend the state railroad commission
and urges that sufficient help be given
the attorney general that his Office can
speedily pass on legal questions in
which the commission is in doubt. 1t
is also urged that the commission be
given authority to make investigation
of the books and accounts of railroad
companies and that it should have a
sufficient force to permit of this work
being done. The recommendations of
the majority report are outlined:
Recommendations of Majority
That congress be m~emorialized to pass
a law increasing the powers of the inter-
state commission, so as to give
the same proper control over interstate
enforcement of the long and short haul
clause.
Tha congress be memorialized to abol-
ish the private lines" and to compel the
railroad companies to furnish the neces-
Sary equipment now furnished by the pri-
vate car companies, SO that just and rea-
sonable rates for refrigerator service may
be enforced by the interstate commerce
commission.
That a law be enacted by the legislature
OF the state of Minnesota providing in sub
stance hat no change in tariffs, rates,
switching and terminal charges or classih-
cations shall be made without the consent
or the railroad and warehouse commission.
that whenever any change is made notices
thereof shall be posted in all stations af-
fected thereby. indicating what commodi-
ties are affected and where the
new tariffs may be seen; that there shall
be but ole classification, which shall be
uniform on all the roads of the state: and
that IL shall be the duty of the railroad
and warehouse commission to examine the
books. vouchers and records of the COM
mon carriers Of the state for the purpose
OF ascertaining whether or not the laws
of the state and the orders of the COM
mission are properly carried into effect.
That penalties should be provided for
and enforced against any railroad COM
pany which grants rebates in any form
whatsoever and that penalties should also
be provided for and enforced against any
person who knowingly accepts such re-
bates. Corporations should be made liable
as well as individuals. Such penalty
should consist of a fine rather than i'm
prisonment.
That the railroad and warehouse COM
mission should be required TO readjust the
tariffs of the state on classified freight in
such manner as to allow a difference of
not to exceed 5 per cent between the dis
trfbuting tariffs and the distance tariffs.
and that said readjustment should include
a reduction in the tariff rates on classified
freights, so as to make them substan-
tally on an average with the tariffs on
similar freights In the states of Iowa and
illinois,, and further that in making such
reimbursement the different classes should
be made to bear a certain ratio TO each
other on all classified freights.
ReadIust Express Tariffs
the railroad and warehouse com
mission should make a thorough investi-
cation of the express rates of the state.
compel the enforcement of the long and
short haul clause, and make such reduc-
lions IN and reimbursement of the express
tariffs of the state as will be found rea-
sonable and just.
hat the railroad and warehouse COM
mission should be authorized to appear in
behalf OF private compliments before the
interstate commission and sup
port complaints of shippers at the cost
and expense of the state when. I'm the
Judgment of the commission. the COM
plants are just and provable.
Tl-