Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-10-24

President Roosevelt did not vote on
the passage of the bills to secure regu-
iation Of Interstate freight rates but
all acknowledge him TO be the most 90
tent factor in securing the passage CT
the measure. In his message to Con-
gfess, in public speeches and in in
spired interviews he urged the need
of remedial legislation. A majority OF
his own party was bitterly hostile sc
he secured the cooperation Of the
democrats in Congress and by means
OF their aid got the bill reported out
from the senate committee. In The
meantime public sentiment was being
brought to- bear upon Republican legis-
1ators and by these means he carried
his point. The rate bill became a law.
In the meantime IN Minnesota there
has been also rate agitation and fer
Johnson is as much entitled to credit
by Minnesotans, as - President Roose-
welt by the people of the nation From
the time Of his Inauguration as Gov
ernor to the present, he has at all
times, through state papers and in his
public utterances advocated necessary
reforms. He has pointed the way, has
assisted in the creation Of public sem
timent to that end and in every man
ner worked in the interest Of the peo-
pie to curb corporate aggression. in
his inaugural message to the legislature,
he said:
lone Of the great problems Of the
present time and which is Of the great
est and most vital concern to the peo-
pie represented by you, is that of rail-
way transportation and tariff rates eor
the same. There is no need to re-
hearse the history Of recent litigation
affecting combinations Of parallel and
competing railway lines. The United
States Supreme Court in a decision
rendered by it has decreed against the
merger of such parallel and competing
lines Of railway. And yet we realize
and know that combinations are in
effect which completely annihilate
competition. Railway rates in our
state are much higher than across
our border in Canada. That there is
an unjust discrimination there is no
question"
Railway rates are lower in Iowa than
in this state by. from Is to 40 per cent.
Something is Radically wrong with a.
system which places the Minnesota
shipper at such a disadvantage" i.
'There is g remedy, it seems to me,
in the esta p!ishmen1 Of maximum
freight rate that VIII be fair to 1.-The
shipper and not be 4 hardship to the
transportation company. The railway
and warehouse commission Is now
clothed with proper legal authority to
establish fair and equitable rates.
would. therefore, recommend the ap-
pointment by you Of joint legisla-
tive committee to make a full and COM
plete investigation of the prevailing
rates Of transportation within this
state with a view"nf establishing ~
law miximum tariff rate for trans
portation within this state which shall
be based upon a reasonable rate Of in
terest and profit on the investment,
and which will be fair to all parts Of
the state, and absolutely prohibit an
unjust discrimination between lOcali-
ties or individuals. That this has not
been done is because of a lack Of lg-
gressive administration rather than to
a lack of legal authority" =. 4.
"All corporations do business on an
earning basis, and every free pass or
favor granted by a corporation, is Of
necessity, paid for by the class Of citi-
xens who do not come within the favor
of the corporation. Public opinion in
this state has grown to such an Ok
tent that there is a general demand COR
the passage Of a law similar to, that
adopted in the state Ct Wisconsin, and
which Is most stringent and effectual.
I would urge the adoption Of, a law
which will abolish the pass system in
the state. The legislature should not
hesitate to give expression to this SEN
timent." .'-r>, =.
In compliance with this suggestion
by the Governor. the legislature ap-
pointed a. joint committee for the in
vestigation OF freight; rates. After 8
thorough Investigation the committee
made it's report and as a result the
legislature passed the, following reso
luton: Il: !; 4 y. .:,T !. 60 g.:
, Whereas, The railroad and ware
house commission is the proper tri-
bunal and the only body; properly
securing an equitable, intelligent and
fair read justment Of the rate situation
Nov, iTher efore;;s Be ! It GR esolvedH ~
the Senate, tile House concurring We
recognize the prevailing conditions
witch seem to warrant the existence OF
q Sadistributi AM II: d stance tariff,
and believe 4 q. inin /; a 8 y
tributing tartfr 1T s. possible to pro;
YAuc9SIlOt VAt1vfss: ScXS.ell! klO1Hts III ~ no
statea which are Yaluable to the people
as sonrcesHof suppl " Tut a florida home
market for our products. We believe,
however, the. two tart ffs should show
but little difference the rate sforJ q
given m;lea and I'LL no case shoIld
the difference exceed Ave per cent
$$zl Resolved, F'urt her ne railroad and
warehouse .colnmis sio;l us hereby d.
rectedE to undertake the work #or secur-
Ing a readjust ment. Of 81 existing
freight rates Ant his stat htchs1x ..n
give 81 more inform system .:Of rates
throug houtsssS the stare and z aF suriif orm
scale SofH perennial hichs each class
5ate5I shall bear 70 he first class. .he