The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-05-17
Mr.. Olson Writes Relative
to the Snndberg Report.
SAYS HE WAS SQUELCHED
Declares That the Compromise Rate
Was ..Hush-up;" Claims He Conld
Scare Jim Hill Badly.

Morris. MIMI, May l3.-The Tribune
prints the following: The following let
ter criticising the report of the Sund-
berg committee which investigated the
value of railroad properties in Mime
sofa, was first written by Mr.. Olson to
Chairman Sundberg and later Mr.. Olson
sent copy toTR. j. Hall, from whom
The Tribune obtained it.
Dunnel, Mimi, April 30, l907.-Nice
President Sundberg: Thanks for the
report, but it is the testimony that
want as Judge on the subject. 1t reads
very nice and especially the attack on
Stickney indicates that you had it in for
him. The Great Northern got off very
easy, which | expected it would. 1t was
very wise of Manahan not to print the
resolution authorizing your committee
to work up and find the facts of railroad
humbug. 1t proves holman a liar, by the
report. If the books had been used to
verify the testimony, there would have
been great many more perluries eX-
posed. Judging roads mat Manahan had
probably never seen, amuses me, who,
have examined them many times In
wears past Statement about equipments
scrapped is another amusing feature
The fact is, that there is lots of twenty
five year old equipment in use which has
been repaired from time to time, pald
for as operating expense, leaving the cal
or locomotive nearly as good today as
when bought new. OF course it is not
ND to date Manahan wanting to be ut,
eliminated assistance that would have
cot what the resolution called for.
Now, senator, your report is valuable
as far as it goes. If L had not been
sauelched by the compromise rate hush
up, engineered by Mills, Staples, Spoon
er and Peterson for }. j. Hill, there
would have been committee of three
senators to perfect your report for the
next session. As it is, the Garfield DILL
perfected by me, of which You got
copv. is stored in the secretary of states
office.
The people should be informed upon
the principles of $. F. 249 and RI. f.
422 and the resolution creating your
committee.
Do YOU see now that the hush-up
prevented the merchants, outside the
twin cities, from getting any relief
whatever i'm the class rates for freight
How different it would have been il
eastman had not worked for his own
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT only? When L left
copy of S. f. 240 at j. j. Hills private
office, he caved on that fifth day OF
April, 1907, and ordered all court re-
sistance dropped to hush up the fight
of the people against the highway rob-
bers.
| understand that the railroad and
warehouse commission got $4,000 for
1907 and $4,000 for 1908 for the pur-
pose of putting higher value on roads
than YOU did and for grafters on the
commission and for hush-up purpose.
On September, 1906, there was deal
between the republican gang and the
democratic gang to hush up. The peo'
pie did not permit it. The same gang
made the same deal again between
April 5 and Q, 1907, and when | saw it
[ took the train home 5:35 p. M the
latter day.
| am satisfied that those office graft
ers do not want us to have a live fed
Grafton of farmers, because Eric Olson
pretty much alone could scare }. }. Hill
to sue for peace, allow 33 l-3 per cent
reduction of passenger rates, % per cent
of class rates and 20 per cent average OF
grain, coal, lumber and live stock il
Minnesota. What could not lOO,OOt
farmers federated accomplish?
However, l am at home and oversee
ing highways at $l.5O per eight hours
work, receiving So when using team
write like this when l care not to worl
manually. The gang can starve me on
from active work that counts for reform
but / have a home and stay at hom'
when / choose. Fraternally yours, Err
Olson.
The public reads Eric's letters Will
interest, but some of his statements arr
taken with a side-dish of salt.