The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1905-11-22
WEDNESDAY, NOV. ~, 1905.
RAILROAD RATE CONUNDRUMs.

Der IA, to make formal protest against
the exorbitant transportation rates
charged by railroads operating in
this state. Complaints that the tax
imposed by railroads is excessive
come from all parts of Montana, but
so far as known there has been no or.
ganized effort to secure q remedy for
the apparent injustice. 1t is proposed
that representative citizens from all
parts of Montana get together aud de-
wise ways and means by which some
Measure of relief may be obtained and
all parties affected be given a square
DEAL" An emphatic protest backed
UP by an organized body of Montana
business men representing all parts of
the state, would undoubtedly have a
good effect upon the railroad rate
makers-especially at a time when fed
eral regulation OF transportation
charges is so prominent a subject of
public discussion.
Convincing evidence that railroad
rates paid by citizens OF Montana are
excessive continues to accumulate re-
cent examples sustaining the charge
that rates to Montana points are many
times greater than for similar trans.
portation services in other parts of
the country. Here are some illustra-
tiOns: /
The public school authorities of this
city recently purchased some scientific
apparatus from a Chicago firm, which
was shipped by freight and weighed
about 2l0 pounds. The charges paid
the railroads that handled this ship
ment we're: Chicago to St. Paul,
about $50 miles, 1921; St. Paul to
Fort Benton, 1896 miles, $500.
Another example is given by q Fort
Benton firm which recently received q
9OO-pound shipment of goods from
Boston. In this case the freight bill
Boston to St. Paul, about l4OO
miles, 1854: St. Paul to Fort Benton,
1896 miles, S14.22.
But these instances of excessive
freight charges to northern Montana
points are eclipsed in outrageous pro-
portions by examples presented by the
Helena Record. Here are some of the
more fragrant impositions mentioned
in that newspaper:
A wagon was shipped from Indiana
to Norris, Mont, 1900 miles, and the
freight was S3l 80; the same wagon
was shipped from Norris to Townsend,
Mont, ITO miles, and the freight
charge was e2l 80.
Two boxes of machinery were
shipped from Syracuse, N. Y, to Hell.
ena. 1t is only 40 miles further from
St.. Paul to Helena than from Syracuse
to St. Paul, and yet the freight from
Syracuse to St. Paul was only $40. y,
but from St. Paul to Helena it was
900. 40.
A Helena firm shipped goods from
Schenectady, N. Y. The freight from
Schenectady to St. Paul was 81, and
from ST.. Paul to Helena, $4l. 90, and
yet the distance was less from St. Paul
to Helena than from Schenectady to
St. Paul. Another shipment between
the same points was 81. SO to St. Paul
and $l3.O7 to Helena.
Commenting upon these examples OF
excessive transportation charges, the
Record says:
Railroads are common carriers,
amenable to governmental control,
both national and state. As public
highways they are subject to govern.
mental supervision and reasonable
control. They owe a duty to the pub
lie that uses and supports them.
Railway legislation is governmental
function. just at present, at least,
Montana railways exercise their owr
sweet Wills concerning the way the,
conduct business and exact rates fol
service. They dictate fares, freigh
rates and service as they see fit ant
are almost free from regulation ant
supervision. Their patrons must per
force comply with their arbitrar,
rules.
There should be some auth0ritativ
governmental agency or tribunal u
protect the people from the unreason
able exactions and arbitrary abuse
of the railroads in this state. Their
should be impartial service, reasona
BILE fares and rates and just treatmen
of the public by the railways. Tn
railroads OF Montana have failed t,
do the public justice without sucl
governmental supervision and regula
ton. That being the case aud Their,
being no hope or promise of chang
or reformation by the railways uude
existing conditions, it is high tim
that the subject should be taken il
hand by the people and the railroad
be brought to terms by appropriat