The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-10
JOHNSON REFUSES
DULUTH i 9TH PETITION ! +
BUSINESS INTERESTS THERE OBJ.
JECT TO RATE REDUCTION.
They Asked the Governor to Intervene
and Help Thorn Get d Rehearing-
Claim COMMISSIONER Order VIII Up
set Everything Governor Was I'm
able to Share Their Views, II

Duluth jobberss and manufacturer.
have petitioned Governor johnson to in
tervene for them and secure rehear
ing in the merchandise, rate case. They
represent that the reduction amounts tc
q distance tariff, and will work great in
jury to distributing conters. 5
= The governor has fled the petition
with the railroad commission, but ha.
declined to intervene. He replied tc
the petition, stating that in his opin
ion the reduction will not harm any in
terest, but will be Of general benefit ia
the people of the state. Copies Of the
were given out today
at the governors office.
The Duluth petition was forwarded
by Mayor NJ. B. Cullom, and has the
signatures Of ,twenty-si firms and cor.
porations. The petition recites that
adjusted in accordance with business
necessities, after many years Of bust
ness experience Business institutions
have been built up, according to these
adjustments, and changes will be haz-
ardous. The readjustment, according
to the petitioners, will retard state de-
velopment, because people In outlying
districts will have to pay tribute for
every crook and curve< in the, tracks.
It will cut off competition and foster
trusts. Each locality will be entirely
at the mercy Of the nearest jobbing
point. Where present rates are lower
than the maximum tariff, the railroads
are likely: to raise them: At competing
points The line having the long haul
will not meet the short line rate, and
SO there will be no railway competition.
wouldn't Oppose Horizontal Reduction.
!. ~ We do not wish to be understood, -
the petitioners say, Gas protesting
against reduction in class rates in gen
eral, provided said reduction is made
upon lines that will preserve the pres
emit relative positions Of the business
interests that we mention. You can do
much for US in this matter and we look
to you and beseech you to aid us in
securing q rehearing before the railway
and warehouse commission.
The governors reply, addressed to
Mayor, Cullom, calls attention to the
paragraph in his message favoring q
legislative inquiry into freight rates.
He tells the result Of that inquiry, and
shows. that. the railroad commission IS
action was in obedience to the legisla-
lures instructions. The governor then
says: =.
Says Producers Have Suffered.
It is not possible. to- conceive that any
public official would willingly do that
which would bring hardship or inconven-
fence to the people of the state of Min
nesota. am convinced, however, that
one great element, viz, the producer Of
the state, has been at serious disadvan-
tage by reason Of unequal and unfair
rates. of transportation, and that the
state desires that the greatest good
should come to the greatest number and
that the class Of people who have borne
an unjust burden should be relieved SO
far as possible from this undesirable and
unnecessary situation.
It Is a we'll known fact that the rates
Of transportation in our state have been
too high. and feeling that, the present
proposed reforms along this line ARE Of
great value to the whole people. can
not conscientiously comply with your re-
quest that I join In any movement look
Ing toward the annulment of the good
which has been accomplished thus far by
the board Of railroad and warehouse com
mtssioners in their recent action. - (,
/ am satisfied In: my own mind that
what has been accomplished thus far will
not ernbarrass the best interests OF the
state Of Minnesota, and / i, cannot con-
ceive that the reduction Of rates Of trans
portation to the benefit and interest, 81
the masses Of the people will In any wise
affect the prosperity Of any commercial
institution within out state.
In order, however, that the request OF
the petitioners may have full considera-
ton, beg to advise you that have sub
mttted the same to the. board of railroad
and warehouse commissioners with a
copy Of this letter.