Morris tribune., 1910-10-21

county and judicial district bitches.
You who live in the localities where
such bitches are constructed are more
or less familiar with the subject. In
view of the great amount of wet,
sWampy, and overfowed lands in the
northern half of our state and in view
of the fact that these lands when
properly drained are as fertile and pro
ductive as the best of our other lands,
it is evident that the drainage and rec
lamation of these lands is a matter
of the utmost Importance second to
none other - for the future growth,
progress, and development of our
state. Thousands of happy farm homes
can be made on these lands, which
will not only prove blessing to such
home-builders, but will also tend to
minimize and lessen the congestion in
our great cities. What irrigation
means to the far west drainage means
to our state; and land drained is not
like irrigated land continually subject
to an annual charge for it's successful
cultivation.
Railway Regulation and the Grading
and Inspection of Grain.
! Minnesota is a great agricultural
state and in normal years is the great
est Wheat-producing state in the Union,
| grading, and inspection of wheat and
| other grains and cereals is a matter Of
the utmost Importance to all her people.
| The earliest attempt at railway regula-
| tion was the act of March 4, 1871, pro-
| Viding for the appointment of single
railway commissioner, but giving him
| only the power to investigate and re-
port on the physical condition of the
| railroads. The same legislature also
passed the act of March 6, 1871, pre-
| scribing statutory rates for freight and
passengers, but providing no machinery
| for enforcing it's mandate. These acts
| were superseded by the act of March 6,
the governor of board of three rail
| road commissioners, to hold office for
| the term of two years. The board was
| given power, on its own initiative, to
| The act prohibited unjust discrimina-
tions, and had rather crude long and
| short haul clause. 1t also provided for
track connections at intersecting points
| so that cars could be readily transferred
from one line to another; it also provid-
ed for track connections with elevators
right of way. The act also prescribed
the method and procedure to be pur-
sued for its enforcement The act of
1874 was. repealed and superseded by
the act of March 8, 1875, which provided
for the election of a single railroad
commissioner and simply gave him the
pO"SL " 1LNSSIlSdLS anu report NlOld-
tions of law and the physical condition
of the roads and their management, etc.
Fhe act further in rather vague terms,
prohibited determinations, and also
prohibited unreasonable rates. The act
of 1875 was repealed and superseded by
the act of March 5, 1885, providing for
Railroad and Warehouse Commission,
consisting of three members, with pow
er to investigate and report on various
matters, but without the rate-making
QPf n Eny CrnI nIr1
rules about determinations and rates,
but otherwise was not much of a rate
regulator. This last act was again
practically superseded by the act of
March T. 1887, which continued the
Railroad and Warehouse Commission of
three members. but equipped it with
and far-reaching powers, and laid down
a broad and strong code of railroad reg
ulattons, which, with some subsequent
notifications and amendments made for
the purpose of fortifying and strength
entng it, is the great railroad regula-
tive law of the state, and one of the
in this country The commission has
the rate-making power both on com
plant and on its own initiative. have
not time to describe it in detail. I can
has proven one of the most helpful and
effective of state railroad laws Not
only is this law one of the best but it
is also one of the great pioneers in the
matter of railroad regulation and con-
troll.
In 1905, after extensive hearings and
Investigations, the commission ordered
a considerable general reduction in mer-
chandise and commodity rates. Consid-
cradle objection was made to this on
the part Of the railways, and they ap-
pealed to the legislature of 1907 for re-
lief, and the legislature. after passing
the tWo-cent-a mile passenger rate
passed the act Of April Is, 1907, reduc-
ing to some extent the commodity rate
previously fixed by the commission. The
validity of these legislative rates was
questioned and objected to on the part
of the railroads on the ground among
others, that. they were cOnfiscatory, and
certain of their stockholders brought
validity of the rates, and these suits are
still pending and undtsposed of on their
merits in the lower federal court. The
master in chancery has made his report
but that has not yet been acted upon
by the court. The tWO-cent-a-m pas
senger rate has so far been acquiesced
in and has not yet been aSsailed in the
courts. In order to aid them in fixing
and prescribing rates the commission
has caused to be made by experts
physical valuation of the properties of
the several railroads in the state. This
vast work of a most complicated char
acter was begun in January, 1906, and
completed in December, 1908. The COM
mission has also, on it's own motion, in
Vestigated express rates and ordered a
reduction of 20 per cent on merchandise
ana produce rates ana otherWlse i+In = rea6- 46
NNHSNA ~
er rates. The commission believes that
the express rates are still too high and
are now engaged in a further general
investigation of most thorough and
Comprehensive character The commits
sion is not a dormant body but is con-
stantly at work investigating and ad-
justing a variety of complaints, and in
looking over the rates and classifica-
tions for the purpose of keeping the
railroads within fair and reasonable
bounds, and for the purpose of prevent
ing all determinations and rebates, and
for the purpose of securing good and
adequate service.
Grain Inspection.
A system of grading, Weighing and
inspecting grain at terminal points was
established and inaugurated by the act
of March 5, 1885, and the duty of super
vising the work was entailed upon the |
Railroad and Warehouse Commission. i
Prior to that time representatives of
the boards of trade and chambers of
commerce at the terminal points who |
in fact, represented the buyers, had |
done the grading, weighing, and in
specting of grain. Much fault was |
found, and many complaints were made |
against this system, hence the enact |
ment of the law which, on the whole |
seems to have worked well and given !
+o1a ojr coticfaatinn oil |