The Irish standard., 1906-09-01

T. I, 1906.
"The people Of one portion Of the
state should not continue to pay ex.
cessive rates in order that the sym.
metry OF the rates enforced upon some
other portion of the state or in other
states should be maintained, re.
quest, therefore, that you take steps
that may be available and as the at.
torney general Of this state may ad.
wise you are sufficient for the purpose
OF securing to the people Of this state
a reduction in rates upon coarse
grains by the three roads ! have men.
toned.
Pending the decision of the board
upon the question of merchandise
rates the reduction on grain rates
should not be delayed, nor should
such reduction be limited to shipments
originated from 100 miles from the
terminals, or if you should be advised
that such action is not feasible, that
the scope of the present inquiry be so
enlarged as to include not only the
propriety of the present rates on mer.
chandise, but also commodity rates in
this state generally.
I'm conclusion desire to assure
you of my hearty cooperation in any
effort you may make to secure more
equa! and just railway rates to the
people of this state. Very respectfully,
(Signed) JOHN A. JOHNSON,
Governor"
Upon receiving this letter the rail-
road and warehouse commission was
In the position of Davy Crockett's
coon. When they saw Governor John
sens gun leveled at them they de.
cided to come down." Then the rail-
roads found that they had been neatly
shared in a trap of their own set
ting and
Decided to Reduce the Rates
tn accordance with the governors
suggestion without waiting for action
by the commission. The capitu,ation
is shown in the following letter 10 the
railroad and warehouse commission,
transmitted by the attorney for the
railwa. companies:
How They capituiatsd.
ITO the Railroad and Warehouse Com.
mission:
The undersigned railway COM
panies lately presented to your body
petition in which we endeavored to
show the great Importance to the
farmers of Minnesota of a reduction
IN grain rates and the comparative
unimportance 10 the people of the
state of reduction in merchandise
rates; IN that petition we therefore
suggested that a reduction of approxl-
mately 10 per cent be made in the
grain rates and that the merchandise
rates he allowed to stand substan.
TALLY as at present. Your honorable
body declined 10 make the arrange.
ment suggested, taking the view, as
We understand, that you could not
properly. without general acQuiescence
OF all the railways and of the public,
secure a reduction in grain rates by
agreeing that the merchandise rates
may remain in the future as at pres.
ent.
We acquiesce in the propriety of
your conclusion. Whilst the taking of
testimony has been nearly completed
in the investigation of merchandise
rates which has been progressing for
several months before your honorable
body it seems impossible that the
hearing h0 o1Csnl hA
decided before the movement of the
present crop of grain. And such is
our confidence that the testimony in
that proceeding will convince you that
the present merchandise rates in this
state are reasonable that il author.
lied by you We have determined not
to await the decision of the merchan-
disc case but to make uncondition-
ally reduction OF approximately 10
per cent in Minnesota grain rates and
make the reduction effective upon the
crop soon to be marketed
'Therefore the undersigned respect.
fully ask permission to make approxi.
nateiy 10 per cent reduction, effec.
tive Sept. I next, in the grain rates
at present in force on our lines be.
tween points more than fifty miles
distant from the terminals"
Governors Record 10 Consistent.
The Republican state committee
and. some OF the corporation controlled
newspapers charge that Governor
Johnson's interference" in the grain
rate question was prompted by a de-
sire to make political capital. As to
the truth or falsity of these assertions
the farmers Of the state care little.
They want results and Governor John
son has made good" The governors
record on rate regulation has been
consistent and his labors incessant.
President Roosevelt, in his larger
sphere OF action. has accomplished no
more than has Governor Johnson in
his more limited territory.
AS state senator on April 4. 1901,
Governor Johnson voted in favor Of
the gross earnings tax, measure
which increased the taxation of rail-
road companies 331; per cent.
In his inaugural message, speaking
Of the rate situation in Minnesota,
Governor Johnson said:
"There is 4 rea,edy. it seems !:
/: to me- in the establishment of a