Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-07-06
aseassea OF rye Assoc,aTED esess
NEW RAILROAD LEGISLATION

tE NEW RAILROAD LEGISLATION &
The board of railroad commission
ers has held it's first meeting under the
new law at Fargo, and number Of
matters of interest, both to the peo-
pie of the state and of the roads, were
considered and discussed, with view
to the enforcement of the laws passed
by the last legislature or determine
ton of whether or not any of them
cannot be enforced. =
The matters of greatest interest to
the people of the state are the maxi
mum coal rate law and the two cent
family mileage book, the latter of
which is provided for by the maxi
mum passenger fare law, but has not
been placed on sale by the companies.
after thorough discussion of the mat
tiers in issue, it was decided that the
commission ask for conference with
the heads of several railroads operat-
ing into the state, to be held July 10,
at which the attorney-genera was re-
auested to be present. The object CT
this conference is to obtain an AMIGA
Die settlement of matters of difference
and to get such immediate benefits
as would come from an adoption of the
coal rate law and the two cent mileage
book II the railroads would grant
IT e rates fixed by the laws, the state
would obtain immediate benefits. IL
litigation is initiated without an at
tempt at an amicable adjustment, the
SKATERS viii be considerably delayed,
beyond this year at the least. If an
zamicable adjustment cannot be reach
led, both matters will have to be car
ried into the courts to determine
whether or not they are enforceable,
sand this wilsbe brought about as ra-
pidly as possible. ssi Il = I. SIS
Another matter that is OF much in
terest to jobbers in the state is the
enforcement of that provision of law
which requires traffic over connect
ing lines to be hauled at the rate of a
continuous trip, instead Of the sum OF
two local rates. THIS matter was pre-
scented by the Fargo Commercial Club
and a committee from that body will
attend the conference next week. II
lis hoped this rate will be conceded
without legal differences, and it car
be Immediately obtained it will be Of
benefit to jobbers all through the state
The commission met with committee
of the Commercial club during one af
Iernoon and the matters were thor
oughly discussed. Members Of tht
{ club expressed themselves as in favoI
of a friendly conference with the off
cials of the roads before other meas
ures should be taken and the commits
sion will seek to enforce the rates pro
Eided for by the law, as far as thei
authority goes.
Judge Young, representing the Nor
thern Pacific at Fargo, and Division
superintendent Burt and Craver o
the Northern Pacific were present a
y the Fargo meeting and expressed tn,
attitude of the roads as DESTROYS o
obeging the laws regulating the road
pissed at the last session of the lee
Islature. OF matters appertaining t,
rates and charges, they were not au
fhorized to speak. OF matters pertain
lngg to operation of trains, lighting o
& p'atf rms, building Of fences, and sin
liar matters, it was the desire OF tn
roads to comply with these laws s
Tar as It was physically possible. ]
was represented that 1T was physica
1y impossible to complete the fencin
of all the lines within a short tims
AT the same time. every effort woul
be made to complete the work as raj
idly as possible.
The provision for the operation {
+ branch line trains under the reciprt
cal demurrage law was discussed, an
each road asked for permission to d
& crate trains on several branches q
3 they now are Under the preser
train service, some branches have
freight traingggdmbf f.1smcnfwybmbI
freight. Under the new law, a dali
passenger and freight train would b
+ necessary although d mixed train ma
be run II the receipts and business d
not warrant the double service. III
patrons Of the road on these branche
are said to be better satisfied with th
daily passenger and tri-weekiy frelgh
service than they would be with
aally mixed train. The commissio
granted permission TO run these train
as al present until the desires Of ps