The Mankato free press., 1909-03-26
TALKEDFORT THE BILL
HENRY E. HANCE IN FAVOR OF
ELECTRIC RAILWAY MEASURE.
Spent the Greater Part of Last Week
in ST. Paul in the Interest of Prop
ositiOn; Advocated Laws That Will
Encourage Trolley Lines in Mime
sofa; Right of Eminent Domain;
What the Country Wants.

What the Country Wants.
H. E. Hance spent several days in
st. Paul last week in the interest of
street railway legislation. On Wednes
day he found the Nolan trolley bill
| sidetracked, having been sent back to
the house judiciary committee Thurs
day night he met with this committee
as the hearing had been set for then
and all interests were represented at
| the meeting.
Judge Lancaster of Minneapolis came
| out strongly in opposition to the bill,
which he considered to be crude and
bad The bill, it might be said, is one
to place the street railway companies
of the state under the control of the
state railway and warehouse commits
sion, the same as the railroads are,
which would give them the same rights
| that the railway companies have, among
other things giving them the right of
! eminent domain.
Mr.. Nolan of Grand Meadow, who in
troduced the bill, defended it, and ask
ed that it be amended if it was not
satisfactory, and released from his pres
ent situation. He thought that the laws
should be in such shape that trolley
| lines could be constructed in Mime
! sofa.
| Attorney lockwood of Minneapolis
was opposed to the enactment of the
| bill into law.
Mr.. Spooner favored the appointment
of subcommittee to fix the bill so
that it would be satisfactory.
Talk By Mr.. Hance.
Mr.. Hance followed at considerable
length and went over the trolley and
street railway situation in Minnesota,
and cited the experience of the Man
kato line. He said that it was impos-
sible to go east to borrow money on
trolley line propositions as the law now
is. In Mankato, home money was found
to build the local line, but not enough
can be gotten to extend into the coun-
try. Liberal laws ought to be passed,
to allow trolley lines to be built and
the country thus built up. The differ
ent communities could take care of
themselves. He never had expected op-
position from the twin cities. The rural
districts were for the bilE The only
effective competition tnat the railways
have is from the trolley lines. If no
relief was given the trolley lines it
would simply retard the competition
that large part of the people want,
All that was asked for was what the
railroads have now. Mankato has much
money promised in the east at the pres
ent time for the extension of line out
| if favorable legislation could be secured
He had sought to get financial support
| i'll the twin cities, but the banks and
financial men had always told him that
they had no money to put into that
kind of proposition. All that ne
| asked was that the country be given a
show and that the legislature help on
a matter that would be great benefit
| to the state. Communities that have
| trolley lines are strong friends of these
lines. If the attorneys and politicians
| 81
pretty good thing for the country. In
the early days land grants and bonuses
had been given the railroads, but all
that the trolley companies asked was
laws that would enable them to 90 east
and get money to build. Trolley lines
increase farm values and build up the
country. In southern Minnesota the
population had decreased. Some eastern
towns had been lying dormant for a
half century, but the trolley lines
had started them to growing again.
Dalzell Defended the Bill
J. A. Dalzell of Morton defended the
bill, and waded into the Minneapolis
men who were opposing it. He ac-
cused them of defeating another meas
ure for developing the country two
years ago, and said that they were
| willing to do almost anything to gain
their point.
Representative L. II. Johnson of Min
neapolis favored bill that would de-
velop trolley lines, and asked tnat the
committee be fair and make the bill
odCiSldcuoiy anu Clieh IepoiI ~.
1t was finally decided to refer tine bill
to a subcommittee of five to redraft
! and present to the house again.
w. ID. Washburn Jr of Minneapolis
has a bill that is said to be Mime
| apolis measure pure and simple. Mr..
/ Hance states that what is wanted is a
bill along the line of the Nolan bill,
and he says that the country mem
| bers snould support such measure to
man. While Mr.. Washburn pro-
IA reduction to laboring men, Mr.. Hance
inquiries whether Mr. Washburns flour
mill makes a reduction to them, OIL
whether Mr.. Washburn would be will
! ;.,.. u, LII IL.