The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-06
Ne " RATE LAW HAS
A LITTLE JOKER
LUMBER MANUFACTURERS FIND
SUSPICIOUS EXCEPTION,
Provision Intended to Benefit Logging
Roads May Be : phole Thru Which
Larger Lines Ma. Crawl to Do I'm
told Mischief i Senator C1lllom Elk
plains tie Bill.

Lumber manufacturers of the north,
west are beginning to take notice of
joker in the rate law that may allow
railroads to control lumber products.
The joker, or exception, was made for
the benefit of the "tap' or logging
roads, otherwise these numerous lines
in Minnesota and elsewhere would have
had to go out of business and it appears
to be about to react on the petitioners.
Attic unwilling to be interviewed at
the present time about the matter, I'M
til they have looked more closely into
the law, local lumbermcn express the
opinion that the law should be given
test by the highest courts -
In provision in the new railroad
rate regulation law, apparently designed
to prohibit railroads from engaging in
other business than that of transporta-
ton, the interstate commerce commits
sion has found a loophole which, unless
closed by the courts, will make the
prohibition harmless. {. p. FIX y.
by the act it is unlawful for a rail
road to transport any article, or coin.
modify, other than timber and manu-
featured products thereof, manufac-
tured, mined or produced by it or
under it's authority or which it may
own in whole or in part, or in which it
may have any interest directly or in
directly: -~. = ~. i u ii.
'":' Fl Only Two Coal Roads. 4& '#,i.
An investigation the interstate com
merce commission is making into the
relations between railroads and coal
companies has disclosed that there are
i only two railroads., for example, which
| actually own anthracite mines, and that
the charters they have received from
states wherein they are incorporated
specifically permit such ownership. In
the case of other railroads, the corpora
lions do not own mines or even the
stock of companies operating them. The
stock is held by the officers of the
roads, . ,.,s a.
From a preliminary consideration
which the commission has given, it can
find nothing which prohibits railroad
officers from owning stock in any en-
| terprise which ships over their respec-
tive lines.
| s&@ Effect Of Law. - = ~"
In an investigation of the. effect of
the law, which is not effective until
Aug. %, the Chicago Tribune has re-
ceived telegram from numbering
firm at Laurel, MINI, Which covers the
matter. The telegram says:
80 In the rate bill, it seems to us the
clause exempting timber and the man.
ufactured products thereof in the sec.
|
commodities transported, will enable
roads to engage in various industries
and have greater advantages over the
outputs OF private concerns and manu-.
featuring rporations-namely, lum.
Der, furniture, cooperage, wood pulp
sashes and doors, matches, boxes and
crates, baskets, excelsior, charcoal, ma
val stores (pitch, tar and turpentine)
wood alcohol (methyl), grain alcohol
(thyi), and many other industries-
possibly vehicles, wagons, -wheelbar
, rows, etc. 1885, t. - -:
Great In Possibility. <'-
"Now. doesn't that open up an ex
> tensive vista Of possibilities for rail
roads who have the right to own ant
manufacture timber and various
products thereof9 Do you not SCI
what tremendous advantage such com
b1natlon would have over any individ
ual or manufacturing corporation, ant
will you be surprised to see syndicates
, buying up small incorporated railroads
here and there in order to expand then
into great, manufacturing corporation
with privileges that may work destruc
ton to competitors who have no rail
) road combination attachment7'
) Senator Cullom, and other conferees
did not understand that the lumber
: manufacturing interests were put il
3 such grave danger as has been init
s mated. The senator explained, on be
3 ing questioned, that lumber was ex
t appeals from DISTRICTS where railroad
we're built for lumber purposes only
: So. far as the conferees knew, the grea
\ railroads were not engaged in the bust
] ness, and they doubt that they will
/ ever embark in the business.