The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1913-06-24
reduction in freight and passenger

rates MI. I'LL, 1SPASoSAsAA6
great system of which he is the foun-
tain head, honestly agreed to acqm-
esce in the rates. But he became
peeved over some proposition, whe-
Their it was that Minnesota was the
pioneer state in railroad rate reduc-
tons, or something else, is not yet
made public, and when the legisla-
ture adjourned he, or some OF his as
sociates, had a suit brought to re-
strain the state from enforcing those
rates.
He compelled the other companies
to kotow, by reason OF his holding
stock in nearly all of them, or because
he was the railroad king of Mime
sofa. The case got into the circuit
court of appeals, where Judge San
born granted the injunction, and the
old rates were restored. This was
after the 1911 legislature adjourned.
In 1912 came an extra session OF
the legislature. The members were
ugly over being called in extra ses-
sion, and particularly were they ugly
over the Sanborn decision. 1t was
then that they passed the bill increas-
ing the tax on gross earnings OF rail-
roads from four to five per cent, and
the people ratified this action In Nov
ember of last year. This means an
other million dollars year into the
state treasury, out OF the railroads,
and instead of being paid annually 1t
will have to be paid semi-annually,
which helps the interest fund to a GER
| tain extent.
Now comes the decision of the
United States Supreme Court setting
the rates back to where the leglsla-
ture said they must be established.
The railroads will have to return all
excess freight paid, and also all pas
senger money in excess Of two cents
per mile, where the parties hold re-
ceipts.
In other words, the railroads have
got to return what they have taken
from the people, they must get their
rates down to that fixed by the leg
islature, and then comes the fearful
penalty of one million dollars per
wear additional as tax on their gross
earnings. Still further, they must
nav the costs of the rate case, run
ming nearly to 100000. Surely, there
is no gain in this, and the loss is ter
rife.
This is why officials of other rail
roads are looking ugly at Mr.. Hill
lust now. This is why Mr.. Hill was
in an ugly mood when the news was
first flashed across the ticker in the
Great Northern office, and also why
he said that he was as dumb as
telephone pole, when the reporters
asked for an interview. He has sale
nothing for an interview. He ha:
said nothing for publication since, bu1
we fancy that when the attorneys fol
the other roads call on him for lit
tie friendly talk over the outcome o.
the case there will be talk Of the in
vective kind, and the court down il
Washington will come in for its shar
of bad terms.
: In the meantime, while the peopl
e are rejoicing, we are wondering nov
E Judge Sanborn feels. The latter i
n naturally a cold proposition. He wa
l brought up in an atmosphere of ic
S and wealth, and has never learned a
a bout the struggling masses. His de
d cision, so completely reversed, is L
1 touch with his surroundings, an
: those of the Minnesota club at s.
: Paul, where he holds out, and Will
S given honestly, illustrates that he
hardly a safe man for the people t
9 have occupy a life term on an import
e ant bench.