The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-06-26
BY w. w. Jermane.

Washington, June Ex-senator Mel
son of Minnesota came to the relief Of
Senator La Toilette of Wisconsin yes
terday afternoon when the La Toilette
resolution was up, requesting the in
terstate commerce. commission to make
an investigation Of the grain elevators
of the country, to ascertain whether or
not there has been between the ele-
vators and the railways combination
such as has recently been unearthed
in Pennsylvania between the coal mines
" and the railways.
But for Senator Nelson's help it is
possible that the La Toilette resolution
might have had hard Shedding.
The disposition on the republican side
Of the chamber to ignore or treat La
Toilette with open disrespect is all the
while growing. When he gets up to
talk, the republican senator's, with few
exceptions, have an uncontro11a bic de-
sire to take to the cloakrooms, and
while they have voted for some Of his
resolutions and amendments, it has been
with WY face. La Toilette is in bad
odor with his republican associates, and
he does not care If he is. He counters
on them by voting with the democrats,
and so the breach is widening instead
of growing narrower.
- Investigation Important. -
SENATOR Nei6 Gucht GuS 1uFSS-
tigation provided for in the La Toilette
resolution Of yesterday is important,
and bears with particular force upon
all of the wheat states Of the middle
and northwest, and so he arose in his
place and earnestly seconded La Fol
lette's motion that the resolution be
passed. On the test, there was no oppo-
sitiOn.
The resolution is not joint resolu-
tion, which would give it the force Of
A statute. but simply resolution Of the
senate Being such, it amounts to no
more than a request, which the inter-
state commerce commission may ignore,
should it want to do so.
Commission Will Act.
But there will be oignoring Of it. The
nto the investigations in Philadelphia,
which have shown that there has been
strong combination between the rail-
roads and the coal and other shippers
If that state, and that, as a result of
hat combination, the general. pubic
)ers have been held by the throat for
years. ~.s.r.
The commission, SO I am Informed,
vas consulted regarding the grain ele-
rator business before the La Toilette
.esolution was introduced, and ex-
HeSSeQ u OeSlre TO utN6 ctuIuOAAUy w
proceed along the lines which the reso'
ution marks out. It believes it can
how that a condition of affairs SINH
ar to that disclosed in Philadelphia ex-
SITS in the wheat states between the
ailroads and the elevator proprietors
his also is Senator Nelson 8 belief.
Will Visit Minneapolis.
The work of this investigation will
AIRY the commission into the heart OF
he wheat country. It will not only SIT
ago, Duluth, Omaha and Kansas City
ut in numerous instances it will. &c
ight into the heart Of the wheat belt
self, into the small towns. for the
urpose Of taking testimony of the men
charge of local elevators, and of the
armers themselves. ..... ....-..
The work will probably consume q
tonth, perhaps two months. It will
2 very thorO. and as much time as Is
ecessary for theroness Will be taken
ow that the commission has enlisted
i the work Of reform, it does not want
y put off its armor, or withhold Its
and. 49,. .'.-.-...-. ~.
Nelson Pioneer.
Senator Nelson is himself a pioneer
this work of curbing the elevator
,mpanies andsmaking them play fail
with wheat-growers. He began thi!
eeobs an Of Lac S oui Barie county, co
5erated with him, and as the result g.
e1r joint effort several important bill
ere made laws while Nelson was gov
nor. F g. ~
ISpeaking Of the, Minnesota laws,,th,
nator today. said that in his jndg
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