The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-08-28

En }. r. JACOBSON.
state. Other states following the lead
of this state adopted similar legisla-
ton, and the benefits. resulting to the
small grain producers of the entire
country. from such action is beyond
computation.
The "Y" Bill.
Mr.. jacobson in 1886 introduced and
passed what is known as the jacobson
" law" After the adjournment of
the legislature defects were discovered
in the same, and no effort was made
to enforce it till 1897, when Mr..
jacobson had secured the passage of
amendments curing the defects, and
out of the efforts made to enforce
the amended law grew the celebrated
case of jacobson vs. the Great North
FERN and Minneapolis & st. Louis. Rail
road companies"
Before the passage of this law the
railroad companies lad the power, and
generally exercised it, lof refusing to
transfer car from one line of road
to another owned by a different com
pany, and they could, and often did,
refuse TO provide iskliries whereby
such transfer could conveniently be
made, and if the freight was transport
ed over more than one road local
rate on each, instead of joint through
rate for the entire distance, was
charged.
The jacobson ~ law compels the
railroads to construct .'Y's" at inter
seeting points and permits only a
joint through freight rate to be charg
ed, no matter over how many different
roads the freight is transported
T. !. -
The railroads refused to comply with
this law, and Mr.. jacobson brought a
test case before the board of railroad
and warehouse commissioners. He pre-
pared the case, presented the evidence
and made the argument before the
board, which rendered a decision sus-
tanning HIM in every point of conten-
ton. The companies appealed the case
on points of law to the district court,
and it was tried before Judge Powers,
of the Twelfth district, who rendered
an elaborate decision sustaining the
commissioners. 1t was then taken to
the supreme court of Minnesota, which
upheld Judge Powers. From there it
was carried to the supreme court of
the United States, which confirmed
the Minnesota court, and the Gentle
man from Lac qui Parle" had the
satisfaction of having the law. he in
PRODUCED. and was largely instrument
tai in passing, declared constitutional
by the highest court in the land.
The principle, that a railroad, being
la public common carrier" could be
compelled to establish connections with
other roads at interesting points and
that a joint through rate on freight
passing over more than one line of
road cou fl be fixed by law, was first
established in the Jacobson law, and
when congress later amended the SherT
man interstate commerce act, not only
the jacobson idea but almost the lit
eral language of the law was embod-
led in the amendment.
Mr.. jacobson also introduced and had
passed measure making it illegal for
railroad, companies to advance their
freight rates without first notifying
and securing the consent of the rail-
road and warehouse commissioners.
This idea was also embodied in the
amendments. of congress to. the Sher.
man law. In fact, the amendments to
the interstate commerce act, insisted
upon and pressed for passage by Presi7
dent Roosevelt, and the politics that
have made his the most popular of all
presidential administrations, were a
national affirmation of measures pass
ed by the republicans legislature of
Minnesota, many of which were faith
cred and enthusiastically supported by
Mr. jacobson.
In 1897 Mr.. jacobson introduced and
had passed in the house the first "a
per cent gross earnings tax bill" 1t
failed to pass the senate at the time
of its introduction However, practi-
eally the same bin became a law at a
subsequent session Of the legislature.
The. increased revenue aecruing to the
state under its operation is as fol-
lows;
1905 ............ .s7l50l2 a