The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-02-03
ACTION NOW URGED.
Board Of Trade Issues An Ap-
peaIto Business Men.
Calls Upon Them TO Communi-
cate With Representatives.
Requesting That They Enact
Proper Rate Legislation.
More Power Is Desired for the
Commerce Commission.

From Thursdays Daily.
In a communication issued by the
Mankato Board of Trade, business men
and others interested in the regulation
of railroad rates are urged to action.
The request is made that personal let
tiers be written to congressman and SEN
ators requesting them to vote and use
their influence to the end that proper
legislation be enacted to give to the
interstate commerce commission addi-
tional power, The letter is as follows
1t is suggested by the chairman of the
executive committee of the interstate
commerce law convention that the in
dividual members of each of the COM
mercial organizations associated in the
movement to secure legislation by CON
gross giving greater effectiveness to the
interstate commerce act, write personal
letters to their representatives in the
states, urging their active support of
this legislation, and also that they exer-
else their influence with the. individual
members of the interstate commerce
committees of both branches of the con-
gross to secure the early reporting of a
suitable bill for the purpose. Nothing
produces so direct an influence upon the
member of congress as letters or person
al requests from his immediate consti-
tuents. 1t is hoped that you will feel
inclined to act upon this suggestion, and
that you win thus give assistance which
will be of great service in promoting the
desired legislation.
Representatives in congress of dis
tricts where business organizations have
taken action urging speedy enactment
of such legislation have stated that they
have not been requested by way of their
constituents, either personally or by let
ter, to support it. Some admit that they
have received copies of resolutions fav-
oring amendment of the law, but they
do not seem to regard this as of much
Importance, or as conchsively Indicative
of public sentiment Unless a majority
of the members of both branches of con
gress can be brought to realize that
their immediate constituents want this
legislation, and want it promptly, they
will not be likely to incur the displeas-
IRE of the railway interest 1.-THE exercise
.of the political influence of which, in
their behalf, most of them are DESTROYS
of securing) by taking active steps to
expedite the legislation, however desir-
able they may deem it to be.
The railroad representatives, who are
opposed to this legislation, are now in
great CONSERVATION and are summoning
their forces to the capitol. They are
restoring to the numerous devices, of
which they are masters, to defeat the
legislation or to shape it that effective
restraint of their arbitrary power over
charges for service will be prevented.
They are seeking to turn the public in
terest that has been aroused on the SUBJ
Ject to their own advantage by adding
to the already powerful combination of
railroad interests the legalization of
pooling of tariffic, in return for what
they deem to be concessions to the pub
lie interest. Unless the friends of this
legislation are vigilant and make known
their views and wishes to their represen-
tatives in congress, they cannot expect
to win this fight for Justice and right.
The chairman of the executive COM
mittee of the interstate commerce law
conference further suggests that valu-
able assistance may be given if the
members of all the allied associations
will endeavor to secure the cooperation
of their local press, and thus inform the
public, as well as members of congress,
regarding the need and demand for the
remedial legislation sought.
Congress will adjourn on March 4. The
time for action upon these lines is very
short.