The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-03-17
Will Call Upon Railroad Com
mission for the Relief.
WE. Young Does Not Want Any.
GIittering GeneraIities.
Plan to Do Away With Direct
0rS Is Not Favored.
From Mondays Daily.

NOW Is the tllnc 10 Slllhc lOI lONci
freight rates and better treatment of
Mankato by the railroads. So thought
the Board of Arade at the regular
meeting held this morning Now that
the legislature is in session and the
matter is thoroughly agitated, some
thing should be done. A committee con-
sisting of Thomas Hughes, F. NJ. Currier
and H. f. Hance, was given the task
of getting the grievances of Mankato
into definite shape for presentation to
the state railroad and warehouse COM
mission and to whatever other autnori-
ties it is deemed advisable.
The matter was brought to the at
tention of the board by Mr.. Andrews,
who had conversation with Railroad
Commissioner Young on the recent visit
to the legislature of the Minnesota park
committee. Mr.. Young told him that
if the Board of Trade or committee
of the same would formulate objections
to the present system of railroad tar
ifs and present them to the commits
sioners, ne was satisfied that some
Justice could be obtained Mr.. Young
had spoken of the complaint that re-
Gently came from Slayton, and the mat
ter was at once adjusted with the rail-
road companies. Mr.. Young did not
want generalities but definite state
ments of fact.
T. NJ. Currier thought more would
have to be done than to enter merely
the complaint of the Board of Trade.
1t might be necessary to have the COM
plants on the part of the parties ag-
grieved and statements of the exact
grievance in every case.
Thomas Hughes remarked that many
of the local shippers do not like to en-
ter any complaint against the railroads,
at some time for so doing. 1t would
be well to have the grievances of the
city as whole presented to the COM
commission.
DR.. Andrews said he understood that
a complaint presented by the commit
tee would do If that would not, then
some of the shippers might be induced
to lodge their complaints.
NJ G. Willard remarked that all the
people are aggrieved on the matter of
rates on coal
Mr. Currier said it is the legal duty
of the commission to look into infor
NAL as well as formal complaints, but
the commission has always seemed dis
informal complaints.
Hr. Hughes called the attention of
the board to the fact that many ship
pers of Mankato have special favors
that the railroad companies have eX-
tended to them and these shippers do
not like to make a move against the
railroads for fear these favors will be
withdrawn. Time and again prominent
shippers have been asked to meet with
the committee that has had in charge
the matter of freight rates and these
shippers have persistently staid away.
Secretary Taylor did not think it
could be expected of shippers in sucn a
situation to make complaint against the
dc bo1o cl,
parties that are aggrieved and who will
make complaint. The special favors
granted to certain shippers are bene-
fit to the business of Mankato.
Mr. Currier warned the board against
trying to accomplish too much at. one
time. One thing that SHOULD be com
planned about is the rate on coal, which,
if properly agitated, could be reduced
fifty or seventy-fv cents per ton.
Minneopa Park Proposition.
The following report of the Minneopa
park committee, consisting of DIR. An
drews, Thomas Hughes and c. n. An
drews, was presented:
''Your special committee to whom
was referred the matter of Minneopa
park, with instructions to use every
possibly effort toward the enactment
of the Gates bill into law beg leave
to report the following:
''We have correspondent with Hon
Ezra Gates, and others in reference te
the bill, and on Wednesday, Marcn
we visited the legislature and inter
viewed considerable number of The
members of both houses. We met will
no opposition except from two members
of the house, namely, w. P. Roberts Of
Minneapolis and w. B. Anderson of Wi
mona. These gentlemen are both in
fluential members in the house, both are
good speakers, and both are unqualified
ly opposed to the bill. Our interview