Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1911-02-10

we're 60 amended Is 10 give the rail-
road commission such discretion in
the matter. where one railroad reaches
Z competing point by q circuitous
route and another reaches the same
point over q straight line, as 70 allow
the long line to meet the short line
rates and reduce it's rate to interven-
Ing points correspondingly. Senator
eastman, as l understand, is willing
to consent to such an amendment if it
can be framed without breaking down
the basic principles of his bill, that.
where other things are equal, for equal
distance rates ought to be equal
r + T.
At the hearings which have been
held this week interest was centered
on the argument made by Mr.. Eaton.
recently chairman of the Iowa railroad
commission, against: the inflexible
Characteristic rigidity-of the Iowa
rate law in the matter above referred
to. It was his opinion that it throttled
competition and at many points result
ed in disaster. At the same time he
specifically disclaimed at the hearing
on Friday opposition to a distance tar
iii ii the features of inflexibility and
rigidity could be removed. above
ALL he said, there should be no dis
elimination. Every man and every
city in the state and every section Of
the state is entitled to equality of op-
portunity. No commissioner on the
face oftthe earth;:' he added, Ought tc
be permitted to allow any unfair or
illegal discrimination" He went on
to explain that he meant by Illegal
discrimination that discrimination that
would build up one town or one local.
ity at the expense of another. He fur
Their gave it as his opinion that an
amendment which would remove it's
rightly would not break down die
taoce tariff Jaw.
i + j.
1t is not often that so high tribute
is paid to public man as that in
volved in the endorsement by me
house of representatives OF the good
roads bills framed by r. c. Dunn Of
Princeton. These bills, taken. together
contemplate practical revolution in
the method of roadmaking in this
state. Yet they were adopted by the
bouseby all but a unanimous vote.
!. i. =
The first bill provides for consti
tutiOnal amendment increasing the
general state tax for roads and bridges
from one-Quarter of q mill to l mill.
AS, in explaining it, Mr. Dunn said:
You can't have your omelet without
breaking your eggs. If you want good
roads you must be prepared to pay for
them" The tax, of which, however,
the people must first approve by vote
at the general election, is expected to
add to the state road and bridge fund
something over a million of dollars
annually.
j. i.
The principal change in the general
road law at present in force in the
state involved in Mr.: Dunns bill is
In respect to the supervision of the
the appointment Of a sufficient mum
Der of deputy road engineers-prac-
tical road builders-to supervise the
work done on all the roads of the
state. They are to he paid by the
state, but their services are placed at
the disposal of county and township
boards. It is not made mandatory
that the boards consult these engi.
neers. They can build the roads un.
der their own supervision their OWE
way if they want to. But in case they
prefer to have expert advice, as it is !
natural to expect that they would, all !
they have to do is to call in one of |
these assistant state engineers. With |
out additional cost to the county he |
will make plans and specifications for
them, consult with them as to mate !
rails, ETC., and supervise the work
while it is being done, and this may
be either by contract or by days
work, as the county or township
board, as the case may be, may pre-
fer. Payment can only be- made, forl
the work. doneJ? however,, after the en-.
gineer has certified that it is accord
ing to contract.
j. !. ).
These assistant engineers are ap-
pointed under civil service rules and
can only be removed for cause. Only
$4,000 of the $4,000 appropriation
made by the bill is for the necessary
expenses of the highway commission
at St. Paul. The balance is to be used
to pay the men who are constantly in
the field. We want no drones on this
job" said Mr.. Dunn, mo ornamental
wall flowers. The men We: employ
will have work 10 do and they will be !
kept at it. You may" he concluded, |
lat this session enact laws that you
ought not to enact, and you may fail |