The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-03-13

reached in the senate as special or
der Senator Hardy of ST Paul offered
an amendment striking out all after
the enacting clause of the 2-cent bill
and substituting therefor bill provid-
ing for 212 cent rate It was notable
! that the minds of everybody were
made up in advance, as Senator
George P. Wilson of Minneapolis was
the only man who got up and advo-
Gated the 212-cent amendment He
assumed openly in his remarks that
this was compromise by the rail
roads themselves. The amendment
provided that the railroads must ac-
! ccpt the 2h-cent rate within ten days
after the passage of the bill in order
to make it binding and that If they did
not the bill would be subject to change
or the passage of the 2-cent bill in
stead
Declares Two-cent Fare Unfair.
He argued that the rate of 2 cents
was unfair and that evidence had been
! presented to the committees Of the
/ legislature showing that railways could
not afford TO carry passengers for less
than 212 cents. He quoted Mr.. A. B.
Stickney of the Chicago Great West
ern road as testifying that it cost his
company S1.l5 for every dollar they
earn from Passenger fares and claimed
that as far as the so-calIed popular
clamOr was concerned it came from
those who did not have the informa-
ton before them which the senate
now has
He also quoted the testimony q Mr.,
A. Z, Cults, general passenger 21a9.
of the Minneapolis and st. Lou
as confrmatory Of Mr.. Sticknen evil
dence and argued that the lee iature
had no right to compel the~ . trans
act their passenger busines, at a loss
and that as reasonable Ea the legis-
lature should be fair with the rail-
roads. He read from the report Of the
railroad commission Of Wisconsin,
which had investigated the cost Of
railroad transportation and reported
in favor of 21a cents fare. He cited
that in the older states like New York,
Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
the population was SO much more
dense that what was fair in those
states would not be either fair or inst
in Minnesota and claimed that if the
Minnesota legislature insisted on be-
ing unfair they could not make the
rate anyway, because it would be ur-
constitutional and would be contested
in the courts. He further said that he
had not been importuned by the peo-
pie of his constituency or elsewhere
to support this bill
Political Platforms Not Binding.
Referring to the platforms of the
political parties in the last campaign
fayoring the 2-cent rate he said thai
they were adopted without the infor-
nation which the senate now has be.
fore it and repudiatad the idea that
the action of the political parties was
binding upon the senate The senate
had taken testimony and was in honor
bound to act upon the information it
had secured and he felt that as hon
orable men the senators should act in
/ fairness and justice and that il they
/ did not they could not enforce the law
/ anyway. They had no right to con
/ fiscate the property Of any company
j and that if they attempted to do that
/ they would not succeed. For this rea-
/ son he advocated the amendment with
/ out intending 10 formally speak of the
/ proposed 2-cent fare. He recalled the
i early action OF the state in voting the
! old e. 00D 00A 1,oiIpood IooD r1rl,ioI, 1,..,c
/ later repudiated and a compromise
payment ultimately secured. He said
4 the judiciary committee now had be-
! fore it q bill calling for further pay
ment on those bonds, involving a large
| sum, so that any injustice that was
put in the form of law now was sure
not to stand and while he in no sense
| represented the railroads he felt the
/ obligations of his oath of Office and
was ready to stand for what was fair,
honest and just. He claimed that the
passenger business should be consid-
cred separate from freight service and
| that the railroads under the constitu-
ton were entitled to make a reason
/ able profit in the carrying of passen,
i gers
Offsets Excessive Freight Rates.
The next speaker was Senator With
erstine of Rochester, who took the
ground promptly that regardless of
right or wrong the object Of making
the 2-cent rate was because the rail
roads charged excessive freight rates
and that the two must be considered
| together, the passenger and freight
rates He had visited his home over
Sunday and found the popular senti.
ment overwhelmingly for the 2-cent
fare. Mr.. Witherstine's speech was
loudly applauded by the gallery and
! spectators. while Mr.. Wilson received