The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1907-06-06
MINNESOTA WANTS
OTHER STATES TO
join IN FIGHT.
Thinks They Should Help De
fend.the,Principle Of State
Control Over Railroads.

st. Paul. Mimi, June 5.--Other
Itates may get together with Minnesota
70 defend the principle of state contro,
over railroads. This is the idea OF At
sorney General E. T. Young In connec-
ion with the injunction suits to be
lrgued soon before Judge Lochren In
he federal court. The railroad stock
folders who appear as complainants ara
.rying to enjoin the enforcement OF
Ttate laws regulating freight and pass
Ienger rates on the plea that the sole
power to regulate commerce rests In
he national government. Minnesota
s the state attacked, but nearly every
Itate in the union has laws regulating
common carriers and most of them
nave rate laws. The Minnesota case
s just as important in its outcome ia
other states as it is to Minnesota On
.he decision in this case all state laws
controlling common carriers will have,
20 stand or fall. ~
Will Invite Sister States.
Mr.. Youngs thought Is that other
states may consider the issue serious
enough to make 1t worth while to give
Minnesota some help. They would
hardly volunteer assistance, though
and to pave the way for such an offer
re faVorS an understanding with thG
attorney generals of the states, giving
Them an opportunity to join in defend
ing the injunction suit. IL such an
offer Is made and accepted it will
make the hearings in st. Paul notable
for the array of prominent counsel on
both sides OF the table.
Attorney General Young made the
following statement:
I'm the. suits just commenced the
issue Is Squarely raised as to the
power of the states to regulate theiI
domestic commerce or fix railroad
rates for either passenger or freight
even on business beginning and ending
within the state.
at is claimed that the fixing of such
rates by a state necessarily AFFECTS the
rates on interstate commerce.
1t is pointed out in the complainta
that If the several adjacent states
through which the roads doing busi-
ness in Minnesota carry on their inter-
state business adopted the sames rates
as Minnesota the rates thereafter on
interstate business could not be greater
than the sum of the local rates from
the point where the business originated
10 the state line, and from there to
The point Of termination, and that
therefore interstate rates, which are
exclusively within the Jurisdiction of
congress are affected, and, as conse-
quence, state regulation must be aban-
doned. T3tE
Issue OF Vital Importance.
Il consider the argument unsound
and revolutionary in the domain of rail-
road regulation, and 1t is OF the most
vital importance to all other states as
well as Minnesota. r.GIo IE
This would be especially true as to
the states that have passed a 2-cent
rare law where 1T has not yet gone into
erect. am considering a plan to take
the matter up with the attorney gem
erals of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, New
York and other states where state laws
regulating rates have been passed and
invite their cooperation.
Asked about an extra session Mr..
Young said 1t could not be OF any helm
in settling the legal questions and he
was ready to meet the issue f@
At Madison, Mimi, a mass meetine
was held at which a resolution was
adopted calling on Governor Johnson to
convene the legislature in extraordi.
nary session. Many letters urging
special session are being received by
the governor. Most Of them express
indignation at the suits and talk OF re.
taliation. Railroad Commissioner G. f,
staples favors special session strong-
ly. There are several things the legis.
lature could do If 1t went into session
now" Mr.. Staples said. The Rockney
bill regulating stock and bond issues
was mentioned, and Mr.. Staples said
that was one possibility. Every mem
ber OF the legislature ought to back up
the attorney general now" he said.
and urge him to incur any needed ex.
pense to fight these cases."