Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1908-05-08

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Minnesota. BY order OF the railway
commission, REINFORCED by subsequent
legislation, this voluntary reduction
was followed by horizontal reduc-
ton I'm maximum freight rates OF about
13 per cent. and there was created a
new class OF merchandise tariff In
which the rates were reduced about 20
per cent. The railways took these re-
ductlons into the United States courts
by enjolning the attorney general or
Minnesota from enforcing the law.
This action has opened up some OF the
most important litigation Involving
constitutional Interpretation that has
come before the supreme court In this
generation.
The Two Cent Law.
The enactment OF the two cent pas
senger tariff law was an example OF
Governor Johnsons celebrity Of action.
Invited TO address the Minnesota Edi-
torial association, instead Of making
the usual platltudinous address on such
occasions. "he exploded the two cent
bomb" and urged that an end be put to
the giving Of passes. he talked on
the same subject to convention or
commercial travellers. Immediately the
state was aHame with this innovation
In railway legislation. When the legis-
lature met be asked for law embody-
Ing this idea, and the Legislature quick
ly responded Neighboring states fol-
lowed with reductions. and now
throughout the middle northwest the
two cent rate prevails.
About the time Governor johnson
came into Office there was q wide
spread agitation for reciprocal demur-
rage laws which would compel rail-
ways to allow shippers demurrage
charges for failure to deliver cars on
time. Governor johnson, ever abreast
Of popular progress, recommended such
q law and got It
Thanks to bis initiative the orders
of the Minnesota railroad and ware
house commission are now Immediate
ly effective pending appeal.
In Defense Of Labor.
Governor Johnson, In consonance
with his thorough democracy and be-
lieving In equal rights. has not been
nsglectful OF the interests Of labor. He
desired q free state employment bu'
reau designed to eliminate the many
abuses that have marked private en-
ployment bureaus In the great labor
centers OF Minnesota. Such a bureau
was created and has been thoroughly
helpful and widely efficient
Since time immemorial that relic or
feudallsm, the common law doctrine OF
nonlia bility Of employer 10 employee
for injuries occurring through the negli-
gencs Of a fellow servant has prevail
ed In Minnesota as well as In many
other statea This ancient rule OF the
common law" said Governor Johnson.
coupled with the other rule generally
referred TO as the doctrine OF the as
sumption Of risk by employees. has
cast upon the Individual laborer risk
and responsibility out Of proportion to
the wages he receives"
During his term OF office Governor
Johnson has had to deal with one
great conflict between labor and capi'
tal-namely. the strike OF the miners
on the Minnesota iron ranges. BY di
rect personal Intervention. by advice
TO the employers on the one hand and
the strikers on the other. the governor
succeeded. without the use OF state
troops. In preventing violence and
bloodshed.
In the forests and prairies OF north
ern Minnesota are great extents OF
fertile lands which. owing to lack OF
drainage. have not been available for
cultivation Thanks 10 Governor john
son. additional legislation on this sub
iect was secured. and hundreds OF
thousands Of acres Of fertile land Will
bc added to the rolls Of the states
wealth.
Governor johnson believes In the
municipal ownership OF public Utilities,
and. following his suggestion. modi
fed form Of the Illinois Mueller law
was adopted by the Minnesota legisln
ture Under It's provisions innnicipal
lty may bond It's street railways Vi
other public utilities to pay the rost OF
the purchase and operation OF thc
same.
Minnesota. leading ngrirnltnrnI
state. has long had 10 contend win
the cordage trust. which has Il pracu
cal monolniy Of the binding twim
used I'm harvesting For many years
the state has had twine plant III
which prison labor was employed The
trust erected factory In Minnesota
to compete with the state made twine.
aud Governor Jobnson's answer was.
with the consent OF the legislature
authorization for the state twine plant
to sell its product outside as well as
! within the state The cordage trust
will now have to ight the cheap MID
nesota state made twins In other states
as we'll as nt home.