The Irish standard., 1906-09-01
WHAT GOV. JOHNSON
Has Done in the Way Of Rail
way Legislation.
Grain Rates For the .Northwes,
Have Been Reduced.

OFdln kaSeS FOR the Northwest
Have Been Reduced.
The greatest concession to the pee
pie of the state ever made by the rail-
roads Is the recent reduction Of grain
rates approximating 10 per cent from
all stations over fifty miles from ter
minal points. This Is direct result
Of Governor Johnson's demand that
the people be given "a square DEAL"
the attorneys for the three North.
ern lines made proposition last week
that they would voluntarily reduce
grain rates 10 per cent If the commits
sion would agree not to disturb the
merchandise rates now in force and it
is generally understood that the COM
mfssion-or at least two members of
that body-agreed to accept the COM
promise. But James Manahan, attor-
ney for the Hastings shippers, did not
propose that his clients should be sold
out In this manner and objected
strenuously. A. 3. Stickney, president
Of the Great Western, also entered vo.
cfferous protest and the commission
was forced to revise its order and de-
cided to so ahead with the merchan-
disc hearing.
Right here is where
Governor johnson Got Busy.
He decided that since the railroads
admitted before the commission that
they could afford to reduce grain rates
the farmers of the state should be
given the reduction without further
parley or investigation and wrote the
commission 10 that effect. For once
in its long period of existence the
commission saw a great white light"
and agreed to carry out the recon.
mendations Of Governor Johnson by
citing the railroads to appear and
show cause why the grain rate sheuld
not be reduced in accordance with
their own proposition.
The railroads, like the railroad and
warehouse commission, are more SEN
sittve to public opinion than they used
to he aud concluded that they might
rs we'll
Make the Reduction on Grain Rates
without hearing. hoping doubtless to
score point in their favor with the
people.
The st. Paul Pioneer Press is ALL
.thority for. the statement that the saw
Ing to the farmers of the state by this
reduction in the grain rate will he
from s1,5o0,u0O to $2,0Oo,0oo and that
Minnesota is not alone in securing the
benefit, as rates must necessarily be
reduced in North and South Dakota in
order to harmonic the freight sched-
u:es.
The letter written to the railroad
and warehouse commission which
brought about the reduction in grain
rates should be read by every voter
It Is given in full as follows:
Johnson's Letter TO the Commission.
ITO the Railroad and Warehouse Com.
mission:
III the statement concerning the re-
cent transactions before your honor
able body in the matter of the rate
hearing is correctly reported | think
an opportunity is afforded you of Sc
curing immediate and considerable
benefit to a large portion of the people
OF this state.
1T appears that on the 18th inst.
an accredited representative of the
three railway companies appeared be-
fore you and proposed to reduce the
rates OIL wheat and coarse grain
shipped from all parts of the state OF
Minnesota in excess of 100. miles from
the terminal OF their respective dis
tance 10 per cent from the tariff now
In force
The proposal WAS, however, cou-
Piled with the condition that the mer.
chandise rates under discussion, so
far as they relate to the tariff now in
force on said lines OF railway, shall be
continued in force and the proceed
lnes with reference 10 the same shall
be dismissed.
ut further appears that representa-
tives Of other roads objected to the
acceptance Of this proposal by the
commission upon the ground that the
effect would he to disturb the rate on
their roads. l think every one must
aeree that YOU were clearly right in
refusing 10 entertain the proposal Of
the three companies, but the fact hav-
ing been made and the manner in
which it was presented suggests to
my mind that We should be able To Sc.
cure reduced rates on grain before the
present crop is moved without in any
manner interfering with the general
investigation of rates now being made
by your board.
"By their own statement the three
companies can afford to
Make Material Reduction
II grain rates and they should be com.
relled to do 1t without delay.
"The demand that the present in
au:ry into rates be suspended could
oot, Of course, be entertained, mas.
mich as that proceeding is in accord
ance with instructions given you by
the last legislature in a joint resolu.
tion.
There is no. reason for presuming