The Mankato free press., 1905-01-27
UrgeMinnesoia Representatives
to Support Measure.
Railroad Rate Discrimination
Discussed Somewhat.
Other Matters Receive Alton
ton of Directors.
From Mondays Daily.

From Mondays Daily.
This morning the Board of Trade i'll
response to a communication from the
chairman of the executive committee OF
the interstate commerce law convention
urging that the board communicate with
congress in support of legislation look
ING to the enlargement of the powers OF
the Interstate Commerce commission,
passed a motion, instructing the secre-
tary to telegraph to Congressman Me
Cleary and to Minnesota's two national
senator's, urging the passage OF the
Quarles- Cooper bill. There was some
discussion over this motion, some OF
the members arguing that ii might be
better to make the commtlmi cIti31 GEN
eral. inasmuch as other legislation had
been set on foot in congress along tic
same line Others said, however, that il
would be better to ask Tor something
specific The railroad interests had Il
way of defeating legislation by mix
ing things up, getting various bills intro
duced and their relative merits discuss
ed, for the mere purpose OF delaying
matters and muddying the water.
+. NJ. Currier reported some of the
proceedings at the meeting of the NUM-
cipal League recently held at Minneap-
oils. which was attended also by Mayer
Taylor, C. n. Andrews, Glenn Schroeder
Thomas Hughes and City Engineer
Thompson. Mr. Currier regarded the
sessions as good thing. They crystal
lie public sentiment. Yet the sessions
are too short for the important topics
that are brought up for discussion.
Municipal Lighting Again.
Among other subjects that were
brought up for discussion was that OF
municipal lighting. Delegates from New
Ulm and Rochester both declared that
their cities would not think of going
back to privately owned lighting sys
TENS
NJ. G. Willard wanted to know wheth
er "the camel got his nose in" Hi
meaning not being clear, he explaine,
that he wanted to ask whether the Twin
Cities were disposed to ''butt" into tn
meetings.
Thomas Hughs made some remark
tending to quiet any apprehension OF
that score, saying that the secretary o
the Minneapolis Board of Trade CAV
some very interesting information rela
tive to railroad discrimination. Tn
fact was brought out that the Swif
company could hold cars four or fiv
months without demurrage, while th
country was suffering for cars, wherea
the small shipper must pay demurrag
if he holds cars few hours beyond th
time allowed.
Another Feature Brought Out.
Another fact brought out was tn
wheat is being shipped to the Twil
Cities from the northern half of tn
state much cheaper than from the south
ern half. In the southern half the rail
road companies have rates adjusted il
such way as to drive the wheat t
Chicago.
c. y. Andrews remarked that one o
the chief features of the meeting wa
the paper by Mr.. Currier on the loca
distance tariff law.
DIR. Andrews introduced resolution
declaring that 'the telephone SYSTEM
have become almost co-eXtensive wit
servants. The same has long since bee
true of the telegraph systems, yet til
companies owning and operating thes
are wholly independent of any state 0
national control. They are permitte
to Inconvenience the public and EN-
barass commercial business over thei
lines to any extent that will satisf
their own selfish ends, and the publ
have no redress. They will charge ur
equal and often eXorbitant rates an
if the public makes complaint, the
are simply told to go where the wood
bine twineth;" also that in cities of tn
size of Mankato the telegraph line
maintain no night service, and ther
are many examples where parties hav
reached the point of destination by raj
before the telegram. This happened one
to the author of these resolutions"
The resolutions go on to petition tn
state legislature "to enact a law plac
ing all telegraph and telephone com
panies under the control of the railroa
and warehouse commissioners, or som
other body authorized with a powe
delegated by the state to fix rates, com
pei different companies to connect u
one with the other and render sue
reasonable service as the public may re