The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-08-24
Thinks He Has Been the Subject
of Unjust Criticism.
TAKES UP THE OFFICIAL RECORDS.
Benefits That Mould Accrue to the
People Through Reduction on
the Coal Schedule.

St Paul, Aug. % Commissioner
Staples of the site railroad commission
has issued statement bearing upon the
situation developed out of the agitation
on the railroad freight rates. The state
ment reads:
Gas have seen no true statement pub
lished as yet, but have seen in different
news items and in.
terviews based on information not IN ac-
cordance with the facts, and frequently
making unjust criticism of my position
in the NATTER deem it just both to
the public and to myself that | make
a statement of the facts.
Il will not dwell upon the history of
the investigation into the rate question
further than to say that while the whole
rate question is the subject of inquiry,
vet the merchandise rate has been the
prominent feature. The evidence in the
hearing is practically all in, a continu-
ance haing been granted to Aug. 81 to
permit the examination of certain rec
ords
During this continuance, and on Sat
urday, Aug. IL. the commission received
a written communication from the Great
Northern, Northern Pacific and 500 rail-
way companies, made jointly, offering
a compromise on the rate question, this
being the first irtimation the commits
sion had that any of the companies pur-
posed to suggest a compromise or offer
any reduction in rates; and which, strip
ped of all the explanatory language,
reads as follows:
"'We offer as compromise in the
pending rate inquiry to reduce our rates
ginning with lOO-mile haul from the
terminals, this on condition that the
vestigation.'
"The commission took the matter UNI
der immediate consideration and decided:
First, that no proposition could be
considered unless all the companies were
notified and agreed to it.
Second, L dictated the following modi-
fled proposition as the only one l would
agree to consider land it is the only one
submitted to the railway companies):
Proposition Considering this pro-
prositiOn, the commission has conclud-
ed that if this proposition is modified
as follows, and all the companies agree
to it with this modification, to-wit: That
a 10 per cent reduction shall be made
on the present grain rates, beginning
with fifty mile haul, and graduating
that reduction back reasonable dis
tance until it runs out and meets the
present rate, the 10 per cent reduction
to begin with fifty miles and to cover
all points in the state fifty miles and
beyond and further, that a 10 per cent
reduction be granted OH all coal hauled
between any stations in the state, and
that all these rates shall be put into
immediate effect, the commission will
consider the proposition of suspending
the Investigation now pending, instituted
by the commission, and also the propo-
sitiol that no further general freight
rate reduction under said investigation
will ne made until such time as the
commission has completed the valuation
Ct the railway properties in the state
now under way, which is the basis fixed
by the supreme court of the United
States for the Establishment of reason
able f.eight rates. The commission is
not to he understood as saying they
will not hear and determine as best
they can OH what evidence is offered,
the issues on any complaint that is
filed here by any party"
''This was agreed to, and it was de-
cided to notify all the companies to APP
pear on Monday to give them opportu.
nifty to either agree to it or decline to
do so.
''The modified proposition was not
agreed to by any of the companies in
the state.
"The commission was not in position
to make an order, but having received
the original communication felt in duty
bound to notify all companies and to
give the matter fair consideration. The
modified proposition not being favorably