The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-03
WOULD ] ] ] ! u /
! RATE REDUCTIONS {;
"A. L. COLE URGES AMENDMENT
TO PRESENT STATE Law.
Republican Candidate for Governor
Heartily Approves Reduction III Nfsf-
cchandise Rates, and Favors Legis1a-
tion That Would Put Orders In Force
at Once, Notwithstanding Appeal.

A., L.. Cole, republican candidate for
expressing his pleasure at the reduction
IN merchandise rates and favoring legis-
latlon that will prevent the railroads,
from holding up the orders of the cons
mission by going into court. sg%
Mr.. Cole said: :. :"
= The people. Of the state will ! no
doubt be greatly pleased to learn that
the railroad and, warehouse commission
bias determined to put an end to the
hearings. on the present complaints
which have been dragging along for
equivalent to a reduction of 20 per cent
classes. AS understand it, this is not
q horizontal reduction which would
leave the present inequalities in rates
intact, but provision is. made for a table
of distributing. rates according, to dis
tances, which will be used as a maxi
mum. The report Tread says that sthe
railroads may adjust to local conditions,
but cannot, exceed the figures prescribed
in making rates to and from terminal
points, and that rates between other
points must not exceed per cent more
than the schedule. ....,. *: .as..,lsi
"This, it will be seen, so far as
line with that paragraph in the repub:
lican platform which I quoted in my
speech delivered the other day at Ken
yon, which declares hat s there should
be such readjustment of freight rates
and charges as will afford to every pur-
chaser, shipper and consumer the impair
tial service of the railroads Of tho
state Further than this, it is almost
a literal compliance with the join reso-
luton adoped by the: safe legislature,
which was introduced by Senator Eber-
hart and which worked and voted; for.
That reso luton directed the railroad
take the work Of securing a readiust-
ment Of the existing freight rates which
will give a more uniform system Of
rates thruout the state and a uniform
scale of percentages which each, class
rate shall bear to the frst-c]ass, the re-
adjustment to secure substantial re-
duction' in the existing merchandise
Approves Commissions Work. ::
'!Until the railroad and warehouse
commissioners have fully completed
their investigation into the, value of
the roads in the state which they may
not be able to do before the enactment
of additional Legislation charging their
powers, they of course have not the
best possible basis on which to- order
a reduction. I think they have done ex-
ceedingly we'll under the circumstances
and that the rates they have made will
meet with the unqualifd approval of
the public. Certainly, the reductions will
prove substantial benefit to every in
terest in the state. But inasmuch as
the rates to be ordered arc somewhat
higher than those in force in Iowa,
think it possible if not probable that
when the information referred to has
been secured and the commission has
finished the Investigation! Of 4values in
which it is now engaged, the. rates may
be still further reduced. p. +: -:
"While, however, it is gratifying to
know that the reduction in. rates has
been decided upon, we must noe overs
look the, fact that as our law stands
it. may prove. impossible to make the
reduction Immediately operative. That
will depend on the position the raid
roads choose to take. 5 It is now quite
within their power to deprive. The peo4
pie of the state Of the reduction rssin
rates fol-: some time to come. 3BM con-
testing, the matter in, the !, courts; u as
they perhaps will they. can. defer: the
enforcement of the rates ordered, in
the meantime collecting rates 2according
to- schedules which the commission has
evidently decided are both excessive
and unfair. 3. %. .>.,s, a,~..s,.,
| Amendment to Law Needed.