The Irish standard., 1906-09-29

no discussion of the timber question
in Minnesota. 1t is a question in
which every citizen of the state has
a keen and vital interest. 1t comes
as close to the interests of the common
people of this state as any other ques-
ton. The least that any man who is
a candidate for public position in this
state could have said on this great
question was that, If he was elected
to any public position, he would see to
it that the public interest was con-
served, that trespass cases pending
should be prosecuted to the end, and
that timber trespassers would be made
at all times to pay the full penalty of
the law. 1 promise you that if I am
reelected 1 shall pursue the same
course in this matter in the future
that have in the past, and try always
to convince the people engaged in
lumber business on state lands that
honesty is as essential in their busi-
ness dealings with the state as In
other departments of commercial life
and that it is not cheaper to steal the
timber than to buy it at a legal sale
from the state of Minnesota.
Minnesota, in railroad transporta-
tion, has become one of the leading
states of the Union. The railway
mileage of Minnesota is nearly that Of
New England and the railway invest
ment officially accredited to Minnesota
is nearly four -fifths that accredited to
New England.
In my message to the legislature at
the time of my inauguration, took
the position that there was an unjust
discrimination of rates within our
state. I still hold to that opinion. I
pointed out on that occasion that the
rates of transportation were from
twenty-five to forty per cent higher
in Minnesota than in our neighboring
state of Iowa and declared that any
system which permitted this condition
imposed a serious injustice upon the
people of our own state. 1 took the
position then that the failure of reform
was not due to want Of legal author
ity, but because of the lack of aggres-
sive administration. rrhe board or
railroad and warehouse commissioners
are today, and for several years past
have been, clothed with the legal
authority to establish and enforce just
and reasonable rates.
In my inaugural message recon-
mended the appointment of a joint
legislative committee to make full
and complete investigation of the pre-
vailing rates of transportation within
this state, with a view Of establishing
a maximum tariff rate of transporta-
tion, which should be based upon a
reasonable rate of interest and profit
on the investment and which would be
fair to all parts of the state and alb
solutely prohibit unjust discrimination
between localities and individuals.
Pursuant to this recommendation the
legislature enacted chapter $50 of the
Laws of Minnesota for 1905, the same
being a joint resolution relating to
transportation rates. This res
olution was duly approved by me on
April IA, 1905. and under this direction
of the legislature, the state board Of
|. railroad and warehouse commissioners
has undertaken an appraisement of the
valuation of the railroad properties of
the state and also begun a hearing and
inquiry into the merchandise rates,
with a view to a reduction Of these
rates, and on the sth day of Septem-
ber, 1906, the board of railroad and
warehouse commissioners entered an
| order making a general and material
reduction of merchandise rates in the
state OF Minnesota. = -
am a believer in governmental reg
ulation and control, because that prin-
o-HAS AUG ISSl uPhSAo NY lIlC SuS
preme court of our land and because
of the right of the American people
to control the highways of the country
and protect their own interests.
Before the State Editorial society
and before the Convention Of United
Commercial Travellers at Albert Lea,
l positively declared for g. flat two-
cent passenger fare and for the abol-
ition of passes, and because of the
agitation which followed these two
public declarations, the Republican
party Of. this state, for the first time
In its history, has Incorporated a plank
In its platform declaring for these
propositions,
The rates Of transportation in our
state are from twenty to forty per cent
higher than in a state across the bor-
der, which is our natural competitor
1t needs no long academic discussion
to state any public mans no.,t;o,, -,