The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-25
TRIED TO MAKE THE
COURT BALL A FIZZLE
Small but Active Party in Sweden in Opposition to the
King--Question of Royal Grants Before Parliament
Renewed Attempts at Railway Rate Regulation
Late Swedish News.
By HUGO VALLENTIN.

such a project was preached in the ultra
conservative press bears witness Of the
feelings of the chauvinist party. Per
haps the4king's willingness to listen to-
sensible advice and surround himself
with liberal cabinet-in which there
is found, besides the premier himself,
such out-and-out radicals as Mr.. Berg
and DR.. Bergstrom-has had something
to do with the lukewarm feeling with
which he is now regarded in- certain
circles. Of course it is not q very
numerous class, but they always make
noise enough for whole army.
A Railway Rate Plan.
Among other matters that came up
for discussion during the address de-
bate, there was one subject on which it
seemed that both parties were Of the
same opinion. This was the "zone
tariff that is, the new tariff for the
government railways which came into
force Jan.#1.
The zone tariff has been the subject
Of many discussions before. It has
been sat upon by committees appointed
by former governments and at last it
was decided that we should be benefited
by this system which, thru cheapening
railway journeys, should increase
travelling. AS soon as the tariff which
was fixed by the government railway
office after the principle had been ap-
proved by the parliament and govern
| ment, was published last year, a cry
| went up from all sides, saying that
| this was no betterment but the reverse.
Certainly the fares for longer journeys
| were somewhat cheapened, altho not to
such q degree as was expected, but
short distance fares were considerably
| increased. F8s'
T. With the zone tariff all return tickets
are abolished and yearly and monthly
passes and similar arrangements under.
went such changes that people who set.
tied outside Stockholm and other, large
cities, where they had to go daily fol
their work, found their yearly travelling
expenses in some cases more than
doubled. This met with universal dis
approval. .s.. *<'.s
Then there were the heavy over
freights for:the. drummer 3 sample anc
pattern cases, For some firms the in
crease in cost on this account woult
have meant about 81 900 a year. Z
The heads of the principal bushes!
houses met and invited the chief o.
the government railway to listen tt
! their complaints. But he's was obdu
Z. rate Red tape, did not allow of AM
alteration. ~ t. SIS .zsss',5 s.
4 Then came the new government
Z Some mod ifcations of Importance wer
4 at once introduced by the minister O.
the interior, under whose department
!, the railways are operated. But it wa
z too late in the day to make thor
change for this year. A reconstruction
Of the whole system is, however, prom
Used and, being asked by some member
during the address debate about thi
the minister made a vigorous ittl
speech, deploring the errors and mis-
r takes and promising to do everything
that he could at the earliest momen
possible.
Stockholm Streets Noiseless.
While I write about traffic innovs
tions I must not neglect to mentio
: something that is closely connecte
with it, and that is the new street pave
ment that is just being tried here i
II Stockholm. Everyone who has yisite
. in this city must have noticed one Q
r its greatest disadvantages to be tn
terrific noise in the streets, caused b
r the iron hoops Of the carts and cal
t riages on the granite paved street
: Altho the traffic is. by no means grea
: the noise is such that any body sufferin
o from the slightest nervousness is almos
h driven to desperation. The stree
f noise is a standing complaint here.
t The. granite pavement comes mos
t naturally to us in our land Of grant