The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-02-08
Opposition of Their Attorneys and
Other Big Interests Has Result
ed in Favorable Feeling.
ASSESSORS MAY BE APPOINTED
Dunn Measure Passed House by 81
to 45-Does Not Apply to Cities
of Over 5000.
~ United Press.

~ Unitsd Press.
St. Paul, Mimi, Feb. S.-There
seems to be a general feeling around
legislative halls that the eastman
distance tariff bill is going to be-
come law.
1t gained quite an impetus yester-
day when the senate railroad COM
mittee recommended it's passage by
a vote of II to 5. lie senate has
been considered as opposed to the
bill.
When the senate convenes Mon
day morning, Senator eastman will
endeavor to have the bill made a
special order of business for next
Friday Should the bill come up then
it Is predicted that it will pass the
senate, although the St. Paul and
Minneapolis members are expected
to be against it.
Without taking issue as to the
good or bad feature of the bill, or its
probable eject. it is an indisput
able fact that the opposition of rail-
road attorneys to the measure has
been the means Of creating sentiment
for it. The opposition of J. H. Beck,
secretary of the St. Paul Association
OF Commerce, also reacted in favor
Of the bill, especially among St. Paul
to his real motive.
Opponents Do Not Impress.
Very few speeches were made in
favor of the bill thus far. The OPP
ponents have been given several
hearings; the proponents will have
their inning on the floor of the sen.
ate chamber. They will be led by
the author, who has compiled and
gathered statistics which tend tc
prove that the rates would be re-
duced, with certain exceptions. if the
Iowa rate schedule was applied to
similar commodities for similar dis
tances in Minnesota.
Sight must not be lost of the fact
that the eastman bill does not at
tempt to prescribe rates. That is
left to the railroad and warehouse
commission. 1t says merely that the
lowest rate charged by any railroad.
for transportating any article for a
prescribe distance over it's lines
shall be the maximum rate for trans
porting the same article, the same
distance over any other portion of its
lines.
The original argument made
against the bill was that it would
increase railroad rates.
III railroad rates are going to be
increased by the bill, l cannot un-
derstand why the railroads should
take such interest in the measure
said one senator yesterday. Il can
not conceive of the railroads want
ing to play the part of a philanthro-
pist. If the rates are increased it
will benefit them, so I can not re-
concile their present attitude with
their attitude in the past"
Reapportionment has not yet made
it's appearance contrary to expecta-
lions. The members of the First dis
trict had a meeting today and the
Hennepin members have not yet
agreed to the bill. The senate bill
will be introduced the day after the
house bill is introduced by Represen-
tative Warner, chairman ofthe COM
mite in that body.
It is rumored that when initiative
and referendum, passed by the
huosa Thursday, comes up in the SEN
ate, that body may try to amend it
In the same respect as was attempt
cd in the house. Should the amend
ment to do away with the circulation
of petitions be tackled on, w. 1. Mo-
Ian, who led the fight against the
amendment in the house, said yes
tterday that he would move that a
conference committee be appointed
to arbitrate the difference. With
the conferees appointed by Speaker
.Rlnes and 1t. Gov. Burnquist, both
recognized progressive leaders, It Ii