Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-10-24
Executives Letter" 10 the Railroad Conn
mission the Direct Means Of Forcing
q Reduction In Grain and :=*
Merchandise Rates.
.1ok,nson's Administration Has Saved the
Farmers Of the State More Than
$4,000, 600 Annually II Lower
Charges by Railroads.

readjustment to secure a substantial
reduction in the existing merchandise
rates.
This resolution was approved by
Governor Johnson April II, 1905.
Under the authority Of this resolu-
ton the railroad and warehouse com
mission employed an expert to obtain
the real value of railway properties in
| the state and issued an order for a
nearing on merchandise rates. This
hearing had been in progress for some
II months when three railway compa-
MES of the state sought to stop the :11-
Vest1gatiOn by proposing a compro-
mise agreement of which we will speak
later. In the meantime Gov. Johnson
had employed an expert statistician
TO prepare for him a comprehensive
table OF railroad freight rates be-
tween stations on all the roads within
the state. He made an especial study
of railroad matters and on every DC
caston sought to educate public SEN
tfment to- assist in the work of rate
reduction. IN a speech delivered be-
fore the Merchants Club in Chicago
on February is, 1905, which was at
tended by e number Of the greatest
railroad presidents III the country, he
said:
mo corporation should be permitted
by law to issue a share Of stock that
does not stand for paid-in cash and
certified to by state examination. Every
dollar invested in a commercial enter
prise should earn a fair profit and
every investor is entitled to a fair rate
OF interest on his investment. But it
is not entitled to a rate Of interest and
profit on stock which has no capital
basis.
added to the gross misuse of frau
chise privileges, railways are guilty
Of the still worse crime Of discrimina-
ton. Is 1t wonder that the President
has taken up the war of the people to
regulate transportation charges? Is it
legislatures are stirring themselves5ao
correct the evil?
THE corporation based on an inf1at-
ed value complains Of conf1scation
when the matter Of governmental con-
troll is suggested. Governmental con-
troll is coming and the people who op-
pose it want to remember that the
pendulum has been too long on the
one side. When it comes back it may
swing as far to the other side.
Railway interests want to bear in
troll is too earnestly resisted, gov
eminent ownership Is apt to follow,
which would be still more undesirable,
at least from their standpoint"
Us it not time that the law Of the
land was invoked for the protection Of
the common citizen, instead of for such
corporations and such practices? Is it
not tina that the functions of govern
ment were employed for more legiti-
mate, uses? Is it not time the author
ity Of the nation Is exercised to pre-
vent, instead Of to protect, such dis
elimination and special privilege?
Rate discrimination, monopoly Of nat
ural resources, fictitious capitalizatio
special tariff bounties and transportal
ton rebates have been promoted under
the cloak Of law until the public con-
science is in revolt"
His next utterance on this subject
was before the Minnesota State Edi-
torial Association IN Minneapolis, on
a fiat declaration favoring the two cent
passenger rate for all the people of The
state of Minnesota, pledging himself
to make such recommendation to the
legislature Of 1907. This was the first
declaration Of any executive Of Ihe
state for this much needed reduction in
passenger fares. j. ~" -
In g. speech delivered before the
State Municipal League at st. Paul on
Jan: 10, 1906. he took advanced ground
for the. regulation Of railways and re-
duction of rates and among other
things, said. 81. II, v ;.;$.s.y;s
"one Of the greatest problems Of the
present. time, end one Of the most vital
concern to the people presented by
you, is that OF railway Transportation
and the regulation, or rather the %secur-
ing of proper, tariff rates for;the same:
The nation is astir today and the eyes
Of all the people centered upon
the Congress of the United States.
whether the great representative Of the
the people shall have the hearty sup
port and concurrence 81 the Congress
of the United States ia his laudaole
effort ITO secure the fright Of the peo-
pie to regulate the rates 5of stransporta.
ton. OnSevery hand we hear the COM
mon cry that there isHno5 rsmed y;t III the
law. On every hand we hear the cry
that .fts & not a proper functi on of
goyernrnen control and regulate
common =carrters. en- hand We
con ract cannot be d. 1--WE are
metSconstantly WI tliS the Claim atztlle
vested land #charteredsI;g Ri |S of the Cor
4poratiOnF cannot b be- assat d.sreg ulated
Or Abridged. IA 0rtunatel yS the United
States Supreme Court has renderedafa
decision thai I; e q the superi ndine pow
er5 over the highways ana the CHARGES
upon the ptElic Tor heir use always
remain an the COVE rnme This Isl .1ot
only its ind efeasib bic! III ht, but is nec,es-
ssary5 tor thu prot ction aof the people
against extorti on and III abuse II These
positions WeE deem toHbe ncontrobe rti-
bic. mi deed ,SE they Il are / ad judEed b tie
law in the sdeci sioi1s of this court. Rail.
roads and raj road corpora ions# are It'll
this eatagOry this dectsion 81 of The
scourtsbe true. certain the government
which has the SCI ht# 10 confer 81 charter,
IWhich has Ethezsrig sto dispose OF the
public domain, hichH has the right to
confer pri ysileges 1Ionz u corpora
jl|egtslat ureE siuEJ otnt Rssolu Cahp-