The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-09-28

Nn' "hu suiiicieht' III tfaI were the
case and Governor johnson were as
Jealous for their enforcement as he pro-
fesses to be, surely in the twenty
months that the duty has devolved upon
him to take care that all the laws be
enforced he could have done something
to secure relief for the people from the
heavy burdens the railroads have put
upon them.
But although he regards the laws as
efficient and sufficient" to afford the
people all necessary relief there is no
evidence that he ever sought to apply
them to secure That relief. We have the
authority of the railroad and warehouse
commission for, stating that up to the
middle of last August Governor John
son has never at any time in the office
of the commission or at any other place
conferred with or consulted the commits
sion or any member thereof i'll any mat
ter pertaining to the rate question or
to the railways of this state, nor has
any complaint, either oral or written or
otherwise, come to the office of the COM
mission from the governor regarding
the matter or railroad rates OF matters
involving the supervision of the rail
ways of this state" Surely this should
not be the case if our laws were "effi-
Gent and sufficient"
Perhaps in this connection it is
worth while to point out that up to the
present hour the people have had to pay
as high rates as the day the governor
was i~naugurated; that the discrimina-
tions made then are made now, and that
every injustice which then existed and
which he has on several occasions re-
ferred to at considerable length, exists
now. To use his own language, rail
road conditions in Minnesota are as
appalling" today as they were Jan.
l, 1905, and the only relief we can GER
tainly depend upon is that voluntarily
offered us by the railroads themselves
acting under the pressure brought to
bear upon them by the board of railroad
and warehouse commissioners.
In saying this 1 do not forget that
the commissioners have ordered a read
justment of freight rates on merchan-
disc which will include a reduction of
some 20 per cent in these rates. But
while this reduction has been ordered
we are not warranted in concluding that
all railroads will comply with this or
der, although they may do so, and just
here is where L think one new law is
needed to strengthen our system. l
am firmly of the opinion that it would
be merely simple justice to the people
of the state, and at the same time fair
to the railroads, that orders like this
one for a reduction in rates made after
prolonged inquiry and investigation and
after the railroads had ample time and
opportunity to present their side of the
case. should become enforcible within a
reasonable time, to be decided upon by
the comission, and should remain in
force until modified or o%verthrown by
the courts. And although the governor
now thinks a law unnecessary L wish
to point out that the position 1 have
taken in this matter was sustained by
the democrats in convention assembled
when in their platform it is declared
that "we demand additional legislation
regulating the rate charged by the rail
roads to the end that complaints from
a patron of such common carrier be
given speedy and adequate attention
and prompt relief granted"
So far from regarding our railroad laws
as efficient and sufficient" l think in
addition to the reform | have mentioned
and to facilitate and not delay the re-
lief Justly demanded by the people the
public interest requires, as l have al
ready pointed out:
First. The passage of a law provid-
ing for a Jail sentence for rebaters.
Second. The passage of a law for the
abolition of the pass system.
Third. The passage of a law for the
reduction of passenger rates to two
cents a mile.
Fourth. The passage of proper and
sufficient demurrage laws.
Fifth. The passage of a law to pre-
vent the abuse of the private car sys-
tenn.
Sixth. The passage of a law speci-
fically authorizing the railroad and
warehouse commission to determine the
actual value of railroad property with
a view to such value being used as a
basis for railroad rates.
Seventh. The. passage of such laws
as are necessary in all ways that are
practical and beneficial to the people to
make the railroad statutes of the state
conform to the rate regulation law re-
Gently enacted by the federal govern
ment.