The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-01-04

rate JnaJ Will De GIalr TO the Shlpper ana
not be hardship to the transportation
company. The railway and warehouse
commission is now clothed with proper
legal authority to establish fair and
equitable rates.
That this. has not been done is be-
cause of lack of aggressive admins
authority. would, therefore, recon-
mend the appointment by you of joint
legislative committee to make full and
complete investigation of the prevailing
rates OF transportation within this state
with view of establishing by law a |
maximum tariff rate for transportation
within this state which shall be based
upon reasonable rate of interest and
profit on the investment, and which will
be fair to all parts of the state, and alb
solutely prohibit an unjust discrimina-
ton between localities or individuals.
Nor is our complaint alone in the mat
ter of rates within our own state There
is the same ground for dissatisfaction on
interstate traffic. On this class of bust
ness, state authority is powerless to
make any regulation. Even the inter
state commerce commission is limited in
it's authority, and to provide sufficient
power, there is before the national con-
gress. what is known as the Cooper
bill, ~ which is designed to clothe the in
terstate commerce commission with COM
plete authority to establish a just rate,
SaItel Heal1uS ana lnveSClgaClO1, anq TO
have that rate put in force pending iti:
cation. | would earnestly recommend
the adoption Of a joint resolution which
will explicitly indorse the said Cooper
bill and request our senators and repre-
sentatlves IN congress to support said
measure. To enable our people to fully
avail themselves Of the benefits of the
commerce Commission in the adt
ministration of these laws, I would
urge the passage Of bill, which would
authorize the state board Of railway and
warehouse commissioners to- represent
any individual complainant before the
interstate commerce commission, when
in the Judgment of said board Of railway
and warehouse commissioners the griev-
ance Of the, complainant is a just one.
4 In the discussion Of this question Of
Transportation T beg to remind you that
ways. Every indication points to the
fact that within few years our state
will be quite generally traversed by cleo
trical railways, and that within the com.
ing two years, several of these lines will
be under construction Being common
ment to incorporate in our statutes at
this time provision which would place
all such common carriers under the con
. troll and jurisdiction of the board Of rail
way and warehouse commissioners.
$ would also urge your attention to the ad
. visa bility of giving said board power tc
E regulate and control telegraph and tele
l. phone companies. Every public service
corporation which gets it's authority
from the state and is protected by the
. state, should he forced to submit to pub
lie control.
J. RAILROAD PASSES.
has arisen in this state against what il
commonly termed the " Pass System
l. I am not among those who believe tina
the giving or accepting of free rail
road pass or a frank is intended in an,
a way as bribe, and yet the mere &C
e places the. recipient under some sligh
d measure Of obligation to the corporation
e Public officials, and men prominent il
It other walks of life, have been the bene
3 ficiaries Of this system which has beer
n IN vogue ever since our existence as
e abused, that sentiment has becom
y aroused against continuation of tn
l. practice, All corporations do bushes
on an earning basis, and every free pas
10 or favor granted by corporation, is 0
d necessity, paid for by the class Of cit;
a. Of the corporations. Public opinion i
n this state has grown to such an exten
le that there is general demand for tn
e. passage OF a law similar to that adopte
r. in the state of Wisconsin, and which
1T most stringent and effectual.
IS which will abolish the pass system
[y this state. The legislature should nc
e hesitate to give expression to this sent
it ment.
t. PRISON LABOR.
50 For q number of years the state hs
n maintained a plant at the state prise
of fol, the manufacture of binding twin
ID and the messages Of my several pred
ds cessors in office have in almost every il
n stance acknowledged the wisdom Of tt
estahs h7n sntro OF that plant: It is
oil convict labor, and in addition thereto,
" Of great benefit to the farmers of tt
= state by giving to them cheaper bindi1
as Irvine: The Situate in this regard
al peculiar to the extent that in this i
W, stance the convict labor hus employe
t., is not thrown into competition with II
ps free labor Of the state. 1t would /
As wisdom upon the part Of the state
of devote practically all Of the prison
ay Dor to the manufacture of bindi1
lie Irvine. It would be a source of reven,
a equal to that derived from the manufa
al ture Of other products. Prison lab
,st SHOULD not compete with free labor
Id might be a source of economy to enpa,
Mt. g. portion Of this labor in the manufa
on ture OF shoes and clothing for the
ie. mates of our other public institution
ds but aside from this, T believe it won
on be wise, economical and profitable, to e
les tend the Irvine plant to such an exte
tie as to. provide employment for the +
ole ma1nder. Our present contract system
to open to great deal of criticism. Bv I
change suggested, two results would
accomplished, both of which would be-
the best interests of the state.
es- LABOR LEGISLATION.
est
Die Another subject which is Of great
ay terest to the working people Of our sta
he is what may be described as the CO.
he mon law doctrine as to the non liabili
ng OF master to a servant for injuries
ng curing thru the negligence Of a fellc
SUI servant. This ancient rule of the co
by mon law coupled with the other ru
Of generally referred to as the doctrine
Ill the assumption. Of risk by employees, b
lat cast upon the individual laborer, a ri
M and responsibility out of all proporti
,av to the wages he receives Whatev
an may have been said as to the proprie
lat of the common law doctrine in the pa
is 1t is entirely unsuited to the present e.
when high-geared and dangerous n
chlnery performs such a large part
Tho the production of manufactured articl
~ This fact has been recognized in the m;
h he. ter of operating railroads, the fell
ion servant rule having been abolished