The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-01-19
Some Scare Grows.


tleman and recognizes that unless the
railroads consent to the passage of laws
which will permit the government to
regulate rates and maintain n supervis-
ion over the lines, the people will rise up
and demand that the government shall
take absolute control of these corpora
tions. Mr.. Stickney does not fear laws
which will regulate rates, and in his adj
dress before the Minnesota Municipal
league he made some statements which
should set other railroad presidents TO
thinking hard.
Referring to the investigation made
by the United States senate committee
President Stickney said: "The commit
tee heard the arguments of nine rail
road presidents, six railway lawyers,
and five railway traffic men against the
principle of legislative control of rates.
These arguments are very voluminous
but I hired an experienced lawyer, who
studied them for a month and made the
following consolidated brief of their con-
tents:
"One president and one traffic man
ager objected, because it would result
in stability of rates. That is to say
If understand correctly, it would per-
NIT manufacturer or merchant to con-
tract to sell or buy goods to be deliv-
cred six months hence with an absolute
knowledge of the rates which he would
have to pay when the goods were moved
Would the manufacturers and mer-
chants regard such knowledge as cal
amitv to their business? On the con-
trary. / have been told over and over
again by men in various walks of bust
ness that they would regard such stabil'
|ity of rates as a great benefit.
'One president and two traffic man
ayers objected, because 1T would result
in making rates ON mileage basis
One president objected, because it would
force railway companies into politics.
Four presidents and one traffic man
ager objected, because it would be dis
astrous to railway securities and finan-
cial interests
''Have you noticed the course of the
stock markets since these arguments
were made, while the bill is still pend
ing, with prospects of becoming law
with revolution pending in Russia, and
other disquieting conditions?
-Four presidents and two traffic man
ayers objected, because rates cannot be
adjusted between communities without
taking away stimulus to develop local
tiles, and causing sectional prejudices.'
zone railway lawyer objected, because
government rate making would be a
step toward government ownership.
Two presidents asserted that Legislative
control of rates would make rates lower
and two presidents and one traffic man
ager said it would make rates higher.
"The bogyman which remains to be
mentioned is the assertion of five presi-
dents and three traffic men that legis-
lative control of rates would be detri-
mental to the business interests and
commercial development of the country
by preventing further railway extern
sion; stem the tide of immigration
stop the investment of capital in the
development of agriculture, forestry
mining and other natural resources
''This is an old scare crow which has
been in service both before the courts
and the populace for many years. The
insincerity of the argument is proven by
the fact that now, while the legislation
is pending, with prospects of success, the
very presidents who advanced the argu'
ment are arranging to build more extern
sions during the coming summer than
can possibly be consummated with the
labor which is at command. More than
thirty years ago, when the states first
began to legislate in regard to railway
rates, this same scare crow was in SER
vice."