Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-09-26

r.. ;. it'- 1-E =
course in. this matter In the future
that r have in the past, and try always
to- convince the people engaged in
lumber business on state lands that
honesty ;isy as essential In their bust
other departments Of commercial life,
and that 1T is not cheaper. to steal the
timber than to buy it at: legal sale
from the state Of Minnesota.
5 !. 2 !. = Tho Railway Question,
]. No ! question before the public
mind today is Of wider general interest
than that Of railroad regulation and
control and the establishment Of
rates of transportation: which will be
just and fair to all the people of the
country: 4 It is a. question which has
~engrossed the attention ofe%the presi-
dent, of the United States and the Fed
:eral- congress for more than a year,
and it lis still a living issue before the
American people.
Minnesota, in railroad transporter
-tfon, 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 -f1fths that accredited to
New England. But, in volume of an
snual net: earnings from operation, the
amount officially reported for Mime
sofa is today greater by several mil
lion dollars than the amount officially
tod rs,
England states. This fact indicates
that Minnesota, with it's $35,0o0,00O of
annual net railway earnings, is an ex-
ceedingly> profitable field for railway
enterprise.
! In my message to the legislature at
the time Of my Inauguration, I took
the position that there was an unjust
discrimination of rates within our
state. still hold to that opinion. l
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 serious injustice upon the
people Of our own state. took the
position then that the failure of reform
was not due to want Of legal author
fty, but because of the lack Of agrees
sive administration. The board OF
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 I recon-
mended the appointment of joint
Legislative committee to make a. 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-
ton, which should be based upon q
reasonable rate Of interest and profit
on the investment which would be
fair to all parts Of the state and
absolutely prohibit unjust discrimina-
ton 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, the essential
features being covered by the follow.
ing section:
whereas, The railroad and ware
house commission is the proper tri.
bunal and the only body properly
equipped to undertake the work OIL
securing an equitable, intelligent anc
fair readjustment Of the rate situation
in this state, v.
"Now, therefore; be it resolved By
the Senate, the House concurring
We recognize the prevailing conditions
which seem to warrant the existence
of a distributing and a. distance tariff
and believe that in maintaining a dis.
tributing tariff it is possible to pro.
vide not only several points in the
state which are valuable to the people
as sources Of supply, but afford a home
market for our products. We believe
however,. the two tariffs should show
but little difference in the rate for {
given mileage-in no case should thu
difference exceed five per cent
l. Resolved further; The railroad ant
warehouse commission is hereby di'
rected to undertake the work Of secur'
ing a readjustment of the existing
freight rates. in this state, which will
give a more uniform scale of percent.
ages which each. class rate shall bea1
to the first class, the readjustment tt
secure a substantial reduction in thu
existing merchandise rates."
This resolution, was duly approved
by me on April IA, 1905. and under
this direction of the legislature, thu
state board, Of railroad and warehouse
commissioners has undertaken an ap,
praisment of the valuation of the rail.
road properties of the state and also
begun a hearing and inquiry into tn,
merchandise rates; with the view to {
reduction Of these rates, and on the 8t1
day of September, 1906. the board O.
railroad and warehouse commissioner!
entered an order making a genera
and material reduction Of merchandise
rates in:4the state Of Minnesota.
During the tendency OF this inqufr,
certain admissions were made by rail.
road companies with reference to TIN
reduction of rates Of transportation OF
grain, and they voluntarily proposed
a reduction, provided that the hearing
on the question of merchandise rate.
be suspended. Upon my suggestio,
and as q result Of a conference will
| me, 1.-THE board OF railway and ware
house commissioners issued an orde
citing the railway companies of Min
! nesota> to-: appear before them ant
show cause why there should not be
| general reduction Of commodity rates
including grain, coal and other staples
/ AS a result OF this order the RAILROADS
/ of Minnesota requested permission t,
make an immed iatelreduction upon tn
rates for the transportation of: grain
T.