The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-04-12
HOSTILE SHIPS JOIN BATTLE ~ THE CHINA SEA;
.APS ON THE LAND PRESS ON TO VLADIVOSTOk
RAILROAD BILLS
SAILED THRU.
Far-R Reaching Rate Measures
Adopted by Both Houses of
Legislature.
Powers of State Commission Are
Greatly Increased, and All
Rebates Prohibited.

Rebates Prohibited.
Railroad rate legislation of the high |
est Importance passed both branches of
the Minnesota legislature today under
suspension of the rules.
2 Four bills agreed on by the joint COM
mittee passed the senate in short order
without dissenting votes, and went into
the house while the same subject was
being considered as special order.
They were substituted for the CORE
spending house bills and passed.
ST. 5O8 greatly increases the powers
Of the state railroad commission, which
gains jurisdiction over demurrage,
and other charges under which dis
elimination is practiced. It prohibits
the roads from either raising or low
ering rates without consent of the COM
mission, and gives the commission &C
| cess to the books Of the companies in
order to see that it's orders are enforced.
It also gives the commission authority
complaint from shippers.
| s. F. 500 prohibits the granting of
any rebate or special concession to ship
pers, and provides penalty for either
giving or receiving such favors..
S. F. $40 is joint resolution instruct
|
lust freight rates in Minnesota, to re-
duce them to correspond with rates In
other states, and to adjust distance and
distributing tariffs now in force SO
there shall not be more than per cent
difference.
s. F. 511 is a memorial to congress
asking for legislation to increase the
powers Of the interstate commerce COM
mission, and for legislation to do away
| with the private car evil.
These bills were recommended by
both the majority and minority Of the
investigating committee. AS to the two
reports honors. were even, as tne mouse
senate adopted the report OF the ma
The house passed two bills recon-
mended by the minority, which were
not countenanced by the senate mem
bers Of the committee. One OF them,
H. F. $40, makes the orders Of the rail
road commission effective at once, nc not t.
provoked q fight in the house, but. it
was passed, 81 to 10. The, negative
votes were cast by Representa- fves llrm-
{. strong. Bardwell, Craig, Flower, Har-
den, Haskell, Lennon, Mccall, Palmer,
iPebler, Rider Rosenthal a and sk1nn e:oa
the railroad and warehouse commission
to appear on behalf Of Minnesota citi-
/ zens making complaints to the inter
state commerce commission.
i Senate Stands by Majority. -. ~.
The senate, adopted the majority re;
port of the joint committee on railroad
rate investigations and passed all but
one Of the BILLS and resolutions recon-
!, mended by the committee. -. 49,.
, Senator Eberhart Of Mankato, chair
| IL LAM ,4h xvc ,a rxyNT
Of his committee. IL. ....a
"Only twenty-five complaints were
,, tiled,' said Senator Eberhart, I'm spite
of invitations turnout the state to do so
This seems to me great credit to the
railroads, to have SO few complaints
: There are complaints before US thai
should be considered by the interstate
- commerce commission, namely, from
q Litchfeld, Hastings and st. Cloud. Gu
lines, and letting each railroad run it,
!: own refrigerator cars.' Senator Eber
Q hart then went on to summarize tn
lengthy report Of the special commit
tee. He concluded by asking for ;
call Of the senate.
i No Opposition.
On roll call, s. F., 500, providing
penalty for giving Of # rebates by com
e. | ulUA CdAAACoy p0ooONJ 20 w VI .
g BY vote Of SO to 0, S. F. 500 wa
d passed, giving the railroad commission
Jurisdiction over freight rates and elias
's sifcation, and power to inspect book
D of all common carriers. 7
BY vote Of 81 to 0, joint resol,
n ton was passed calling for readjus
~ ment by the commission of freight rate
y within the state. By vote Of 80 to
., the memorial to congress was adopte,
al asking for abolition Of private car line
+ and legislation increasing the powers {
D. the interstate commerce commission.
t. ~ House Adopts Minority Report.
70 The three house members who signe
,e the minority report won. out in thu
IN branch with little trouble, and tt
IL Washburn document was adopted.
oo The first measure called up was II.
"a 867, authorizing the state railroad cor
ne missioner to prosecute proceedings b
i. fore the United States Interstate cor
~ merce commission. No opposition d
a. veloped, even General Flower voti1
y for it, on the ground that it meant Ii
~ tie. n. @. Block Of Maine Prairie ga
n the. only negative vote.
re- re Only Fight Precipitated.
le. The real fight came on H. F. 81
providing that the orders Of the "a
road commission affecting rates, fare
charges OF classifcations Of railw
companies take immediate effect a:
ng remain in effect until a final detern
nation by the court. The shippers a
-, particularly anxious for the passage
ga such law, and the railways are equs
ne ~ strong in their opposition. It W
cir in their defense that General Flow
az made his most elaborate address.
rs 'tWhere is this thing going to endi
ex' he asked. GIVE must remember tn
are the railways are not the property
ITO few individuals, but are owned by
large number of persons. / rememt
We we'll when several railways in II
OF state went bankrupt and hundreds |,
ee- investments and have not to this
us, recuperated. their losses.
ag- "Possibly have earned the. ref
It tation Of being a friend of the railwa
11ll In a measure / am, but / am oppos
to rebates and other forms of discern
nation. We have the right to ref
late5the railroads and are doing so, [
we should be just. We must not
,ril anything that viii tend to confscs
at the property of many people.
AR s. f.. SO was passed, 70 to s,
an negative votes, being Armstrong,
'cIs Laittre, Flower, Hugo, 0 laugh
vns pahlor Skinner and Wells g n !