Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-10-31
D|SREPuTABLE TACTICS he POINTED THE way
GOVERNOR JOHNSON ENTITLED
10 CREDIT FOR REDUCTION
IN FREIGHT RATES.

Inc Cole supporters say CnaC Gov
ernor Johnson IS not entitled to credit
for reduction in freight rates because
a Republican legislature authorized
the railway and warehouse commits
sion to Investigate and reduce rates,
and that the investigation was made;
by the commission which. issued the
order on which reductions were made.
But the railway and warehouse COM
mission had been In Office for four
years before it began this investiga-
ton. Governor Van Sent had been in
Office four J;ears, but he had not told
the Legislature, as did Governor John
son at the very beginning of his term,
that RAILWAY rates are much higher
in our state than across our border IN
Canada. That there is an unjust dis.
elimination there is no question. Rail,
way rates are lower In Iowa than in
this state by rs to 40 per cent Some
thing is radically wrong with. a system
which places the Minnesota shipper
at such a disadvantage" Governor Van
SAINT did not recommend to the legts-
lature at any time during his four
year term, as Governor, Johnson did
at the beginning of his service, that
joint legislative committee be appoint
ed to investigate rates with view to
establishing by law maximum tarsr
rate for. transportation: within this
state which shall be based upon req
sonable rate of interest and profit %,
the investment, and which will be fair
to all parts Of the state and absolutely
prohibit an unjust discrimination be-
tween localities or individuals"
At no time during, his four years ct
service did Governor: Van SAINT do
these thines, and, furthermore, neysr
before in the history, of the state did
the legislature undertake such an in
vestigation. Why not? The legisla-
ture meets every two years, and tie
unjust conditions pointed out by Goi
ernor Johnson have existed since rail-
roads were operated in the state: AS
matter Of fact, the legislature had
done nothing in the past because no
governor had pointed out just what
was to be done and how 1t should be
done. .~~. -
Isn't it strange that this railway and
warehouse. commission never made a
move for a general reduction Of freight
rates until they had been informed by
Governor Johnson that the reason this
had not been done was because of
lack -of aggressive: administration
rather than to: a lack of legal author
ity." Search as far as you will In the
records and. you will not find another
instance in which a governor of the
state directed that the legislature and
railway commission get busy in behalf
Of the interests Of the people. 1t is a
peculiar fact that Johnson was the
first to- do this and it. is, a striking
fact--a peculiar coincidence to say the
least, that the legislature and, commits
sion, with one accord, "got busy: :. =
r. Mr.. Johnson's opponents may pro-
test as:Smuch as they please they:
may proclaim that # was: the legisla.
ture and I the commission and that
johnson. had. nothing to do with 1T;
!: but the logic Of the case, Is against
them: Nothing was done until John.
son pointed out the manifest injustice
Of existing conditions and indicted II
remedy. The people recognize this
and give i IS 81 Governor johnson full
credit for reform accompl ished. ;::lz I,