Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1906-08-24
MINNESOTA RAILROADS YIELDTo
EXECUTIVES DEMANDS FOR
/ TEN PER CENT DECREASE
ON GRAIN RATES FOR THE NORTHWEST
jOHNsON's RECORD ON RAILROAD
QUESTIONS HAS BEEN CON.
SISTENT AT ALL TIMES.

The greatest concession to the PEG
pie Of the state ever made by the rail
roads is the recent reduction of grai1
rates approximating 10 per cent from
all stations over fifty miles from. ter
minal points. This is a direct result
of Governor Johnson's demand thai
the people be given "a square DEAL"
The attorneys for the three North
ern lines made a proposition last weel
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 il
Is generally understood that the com
missioner 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. B. Stickney, president
of the Great Western, also entered vo.
ciferOus protest and the commission
was forced to revise it's order and de.
cided to go 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 to that effect. For once
IN it's long period of existence the
commission saw a great white light"
and agreed to carry out the recon.
Aspdations of Governor Johnson by
citing the railroads to appear and
show cause why the grain rate should
not be reduced in accordance with
their own proposition.
The railroads, like the railroad and
warehouse commission, are more SEN
sitive to public opinion than they used
to be and concluded that they might
RS we'll
Make the Reduction on Grain Rates
without a hearing, hoping doubtless to
score a point in their favor with the
people.
The St. Paul Pioneer Press is au-
thog1ty for the statement that the saw
Ing to the farmers of the state by this
reduction in the grain rate will be
from 81, 900 to 100000 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 SEIZED
ules.
The letter written to the railroad
and warehouse commission which
brought about the reduction in grain
rates should be read by every voter
1t is given in full as follows:
Johnson's Letter to the Commission
ITO the Railroad and Warehouse Com.
mission:
If the statement concerning the re-
cent transactions before your honor
able body in the matter of the rate
hearing is correctly reported l think
an opportunity is afforded you of Sc.
curing immediate and considerable
benefit to 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 on 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
lance 10 per cent from the tariff now
In force
THE proposal was, however, cou.
pied with the condition that the mer-
chandise rates under discussion, 50
lar as they relate to the tariff now in
force on said lines OF railway, shall be
continued in force and the proceed
}ngs with reference to the same shall
be dismissed.
1T further appears that representa-
,Uves OF other roads objected to the
acceptance OF this proposal by the
commission upon the ground that the
effect would be to disturb the rate on
their roads. l think every one mu {
agree that you were clearly right in
refusing to entertain the proposal OF
the three companies, but the fact hav.
ing been made and the manner III
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 Icing made
by your board.
by their own statement the three
companies can afford to
Make a Material Reduction
,tp grain rates and they should be com