The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1907-02-13
TO PROBE RAILROADS
SENATE AUTHORIZES SPECIAL
COMMITTEES TO ACT.


Legislative Doings of the Past Week
Developed to Some Extent the Ten
+ dency of the Proposed Railway Leg
isIation of the Session.
st. Paul, Feb. 4.-The past week
has been a somewhat eventful one in
the legislature because it has to some
extent developed the tendency OF the
proposed railroad legislation OF the
session Senator Sundberg offered
resolution providing for special COM
mittee with an expert clerk to investl-
gate the actual cost of all the rail-
roads In the state, the expenses OF
their operation, their earnings, ETC.,
and the cost of their equipment, with
the view Of establishing maximum
railroad rates for the people based
upon the actual cost of the properties
and their present earnings. The res
olutiop was held UP long enough to
ask the railroad commission what
they were doing and what they had
already ascertained.
/ Senator Hall, the chairman OF the
railroad committee, said that while he
did not oppose the resolution he doubt
ed the practicability of securing the
information in time for action at this
session He said the railroad commits
sion had been at work at this problem
for over a year with an expert ac-
countant at salary of $4,000 a year
and several assistants. A large num-
Der of senators participated in the de-
bate and during the discussion reply
was read from the railroad commits
sion explaining in much detail the
work they were endeavoring to per-
form.
Reply Not Satisfactory.
They explained that every railroad
division was subject to different topo-
graphical conditions and other causes,
cost of right of way, etc., which made
the cost vary great DEAL also the
earnings widely differed, making the
work of securing the information very
slow, and that while they were pro-
eeeding as rapidly as possible 1t was
impossible to fix specific time when
the great work would be completed.
The reply seemed to inspire the sem
ate with a desire to go ahead and get
the information for themselves. Sen
ator Sundberg Is confident it can be
obtained in few weeks, and, though
o.11 can9fQr who smoke
doubted the practieability, a motion to
strike out the expert clerk was voted
down and the original resolution.
clerk and all, was finally passed with
only one negative vote, that being cast
by Senator Calhoun Of Minneapolis,
do not think that there is mem
Der of the legislature who really an
obtained within the life of the ses-
sion, but the desire to do something
was so strong that the senators did
not feel willing to go on record in OPP
position and SO the committee was
named and directed to go to work to
accomplish in few weeks what the
railroad commission has been labor
Ing for more than year to secure
and is still at work indefinitely as to
the time required. We shall see what
we shall see as the result.
Would Hurry Railroad Committee.
The same day Senator Moonan Of
fered resolution calling upon the
railroad committee to report back at
once all of the bills sent to the COM
mittee providing for passenger rate
Of cents per mile. This resolution
went over for one day and was then
debated at length. Many objections
were urged, one being that it was a
reflection on the committee by the
implication that they were not doing
their duty. The upshot of the debate
was the defeat of the resolution by %
ayes to 81 nays. This was in line with
the theory | have all along been adj
vancing. that the session started in so
vigorously to do something with the
railroads that they have thought best
to call halt almost at the outset. I
rather expect to see bill passed re-
ducing passenger fares to cents per
mile, but when it comes to the inabil-
ity Of the Sundberg committee to
make their report on freight rates for
lack OF time l begin to have some
doubt whether, in the general tangle
and rumpus. the 2-cent passenger rate
may not fail until the whole thing can
be thrown together as a job lot and
freight and passenger rates be COW
cred at the same time
1t does seem, however, as if, by
supreme effort, the legislature might
pass law forbidding the issue of
passes. That would not hurt the feel
ings OF the railroads very much if the
freight and passenger rates are al
lowed to stand. 1t seems rather
serious question as to whether the
legislature really wants to abolish
passes within the state Congress has
abolished interstate passes do not
assume to speak positively, for so
many OF the members are non-com-
municative, but my personal belief is