The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-10-02
WEDNESDAY. OCT. 2. 1907.
STATE RAILROAD COMMISSION

STATE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
The recent visit of the Montana
railroad commission to this city, to
take testimony regarding unsatisfac-
tory passenger train service on the
Montana Central, was a matter OF
considerable public interest in this
vicinity. III has been asserted from
time to time by a few political oppon'
ents of the commission that its crea.
ton will result in very little benefit to
the general community, but the work
already accomplished and the atten-
ton giveE to complaints that have
been presented indicate that the board
proposes to i~secure q 'square desl''
for all partieslinterested.
1t was hoped that the commission
would make theurailroad trip to this
city under the conditions connected
with the regular passenger schedule,
which: complaint had been
made, and gain personal experience
of some of 1.-THE: discomforts and in.
convenience1to (which local residents
are exposed. The journey was made,
however, in q special train furnished
by railroad officials. q circumstance
which wasithe subject OF adverse com.
ment by those swho Question the efh-
cheney and good faith OF the board.
These criticsccontend that q judicial
body should not accept favors from
any OF the parties to the litigation
that may come3before it, lest any OF
ito members should be Influenced in
the slightest degree in making q deci-
sion tha t;should!be determined strictly
upon the merits of the case. An ef'
fective answe to.this criticism is the
record OF the railroad commission
during theIsix months OF its existence,
which demonstrates its impartiality in
dealing with the matters presented
and its endeavor to secure for Mon.
tana c%itizensithe best possible railroad
facilities at unreasonable cost.
The Montana railroad commission
was created by an act OF the tenth
legislative assembly that went into
effect February 20, 1907, and at a
meeting held ten days later its or
g%anization was perfected by the cleo
ton of.B. Il. Stanton, of Bozeman,
Is chairman of the board, and H. X,
Howry ,sof.Helena. as secretary, with
Commissioners Nathan Godfrey and
E. A.. Morley present.
The Montana railroad commission
in its sixEmonths OF existence has &C
complished more than any other com
mission, having prof,ed by tine act:
of the Washington commission. and
also from lthes.information obtained
while in jointiconference with the 9th
er commissioners.
An earlylresult Of the existence Of {
railroad commission was the issuance
by the railroads in the state OF 3,OO(
miles interchangeable mileage books
good on all roads from North Dakots
to the western coast, atithe cost Of ?
cents perl mile. q The establishing o
freight rates on coal onlthe line Of tn
Great Northern railway was mex TAX
en- up, and an average reduction O
40 per cent. below the tariff then !,
force was obtained.
On June 30, 1907, the Northern Pa
ci6c put: in a new tariff on lumber
raising the rate then operative NOR
than 80 per cent. This the Montan;
railroad commission refused to accept
and immediately:called q hearing. A
this hearing all!the freight!oficials @
the Northernl. Pacific as we'll as of tn
Great Northern railwaylwere presen,
and it was agreed at thislmeeting tbs
the old tariff, prior to the one issue
jane 80, 1907, should remain in effe<
until a newland complete tariff coul
be agreed on, (which will probabl
soon be:promulgated, and will be b,
very little higher that the old raj
prior to June.30, 1907.
The commissionerslget a telegraph
report Of all accidents, of every raj
road company operating any line
railroad within this state, or the d
struction OF property greater in wall
than %, 800. In addition to the tel
graphic report, the railroad comp
MES follow it with a detailed daily +
port, giving all information at hal
in connection with the accident. 7
first of each month q recapitulato
report is sent in by the railroad CO..
panies covering all accidents occr
ring the preceding month, such repol
being sworn to by an official of t
railway company.