The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-01-11

ing Wneat, oats, corn, rye, Darley, max
potatoes, hay. butter. cheese, live stock
poultry. market garden, fruit and nursery
products is approximately 60,O00.O0O. In
other words, 1t required more than one
Grated to satisfy the transportation de-
mands Of railroad corporations within the
state of Minnesota.
REDUCTION OF FREIGHT RATES.
The vast earnings of railway COM
panies have been swollen by excessive
rates of transportation, which have been
much higher in our own state than in the
state state. south of us, or in Canada. to the
just demand that the people be relieved
from the eXtortion and the abuse of high
and unfair railroad rates of tranSpOrta
ton. In my biennial message to the last
legislature, and in discussing this same
question, said that believed there was
remedy in the establishment of a maxi
mum freight rate that would be fair to
the shipper and not be a hardship to the
transportation company; that the railroad
and warehouse commission was clothed
with proper legal authority to establish
failure to establish fair and equitable
rates was because of lack of aggressive
administration rather than lack of le-
gal authority. recommended at that
time the appointment of joint legis-
: latlve committee to make complete and
full investigation of prevailing rates of
transportation within Minnesota. with a
view of establishing by law, a maximum
tariff rate for transportation which might
bear a reasonable rate of interest and
profit on the investment, be fail. to all
hibt unjust discrimination between To-
calities or individuals. Pursuant to that
recommendation, the legislature appointed
joint committee which made an investi-
cation of the prevailing rate conditions,
and, as a result thereof, the legislature
adopted a joint resolution directing the
board of railroad and warehouse commits
s1oners to. proceed with view to re-
duction of merchandise rates within the
state of Minnesota. During the past
biennial period efforts have been made
commission looking toward reduction
Of the rates of transportation, resulting
in reduction on merchandise rates:
voluntary reduction by some of the rail
roads in the matter Of coal and grain
rates. am satisfied, however, that alb
solute justice has not yet been done to
the people of the state of Minnesota.
During the past year, caused to be made
complete tabulation Of the prevailing
rates of transportation between points on
the several lines of railway within the
state of Minnesota.
The recent rate reductions are In the
the right direction. Compared. however,
with grain rates in the Canadian prov
inces to the north of us and with Iowa
merchandise rates to the south, it is APP
parent that Minnesota freight rates are
still at too high a level, and especially
IN view of the enormously heavy tonnage
passing over Minnesota roads from the
several northwestern states tributary to
Minnesota distributing points.
A TWo-cENT PASSENGER RATE.
Hitherto we have dealt largely with the
adjustment of the rates of transporta-
our state when relief is also demanded
current fare for the carrying Of pa Sc
sengers now is three cents per mile. 1t
Is recognized that the average fare per
mile paid by persons who travel on rail-
roads does not exceed 2.3 per mile. A
maximum rate of two per cent per mile
should be fixed by law and fixed now.
is right in making that demand. and the
legislature should not defer actions.
ABOLITION OF PASSES.
The time has also come for some spe-
ciic action in the matter Of the enact
ment of law forbidding the granting Of
pass privileges by railroad corporations
of railways and their families. Our state
deferred action upon this matter until
other states have taken the initiative So
insistent have the people become in their
demand for this reform that all of the
several political organizations have been
compelled to recognize the justice of the
demand. and have incorporated planks in
their various platforms looking toward
the abolition of the pass system in the
state Of Minnesota.
RECIPROCAL DEMURRAGE CHARGES.
of Minnesota have made demurrage
charges upon shippers without reciprocity.
reciprocal demurrage law, which will
be fair to all parties is demanded by the
public and should be enacted at this
session of the legislature. If the mem
bers of this body need any further en-
lightenment as to the absolute necessity
of prompt, action in the passage of such
a just and practicable measure, you will
find it in the conditions of so-called car
shortage which have, afflicted the agri-
cultural districts of this and neighboring
states in the Northwest during the past
ninety days. Even so fragrant have been
the conditions that the general govern
ment felt compelled to visit this state
hearings of shippers and carriers. and
enter into an exhaustive investigation of
our. defective traffic facilities. AS one
of the chief remedies for the insufficient
supply of cars, which has resulted in the
loss Of thousands of dollars to Mime
sofa wheat growers, and in some locali-
ties produced temporary coal famine.
suggest a reciprocal demurrage law, sub
jecting carriers to the same penalties for
delay in furnishing cars as the carriers
impose upon shippers for delay. in load
time that the state impressed upon pub
lie carriers the fact that a private cor
poration which seeks from the state
charter cha ga tex to exercise auas1public func-
to the best Of it's physical ability, and
heed the, public interest. and that its
DUTY TO the public IS paramount to. its
duty to swell the already generous divi-
dends to its stockholders by "ton-mile-
age'' or other arbitrary economies.
INSURANCE.
Since the last session of the legislature
the subject Of insurance, and life insur-
ance in particular, has occupied a con-
spicuous place in the public mind and
will no doubt receive your particular at
tention.
Great evils have grown up in connec-
ton with this very important phase of
our industrial life; extravagant salaries
and commissions have been paid; am
biguous, deceptive and often fraudulent
contracts have been sold; colossal accu-
mutations have been secured by adroitly
conceived plans and used for the benefit
of favored individuals, or hazarded in
the doubtful conflicts waged by captains
of finance in the money centers of the
country. That all this has not been fol-
lowed by great disaster is due to the
wonderful resources of our land and is
not to the credit of those who have thus
abused their trust.
During your deliberations upon this
question you will be told that any legis-
lation seeking to regulate life insurance
is "paternalism" that the companies are
private corporations which should be left
to manage their own affairs, and finally
that the subject is so delicate and techni-
cal that If legislation is inevitable its
construction should be left to those who
by study and research have become ex-
pert upon the subject.
ernors, attorneys general and insurance
w a 10