The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1913-08-13
ALLOWS RAILROADS.
Continued From Page One.

Continued From Page One.
Cole. II"
This afternoon there was just rou-
tine session Of the commission in or
der to permit that body to clear up
the details Of it's work at this meet
ing. There was nothing of any special
Importance.
-. Minnesota Rates Cheaper.
Mr.. Fleckelstein presented facts to
the commission which the travelling
men claim show discrimination in
favor of Minnesota towns. He read
table of statistics showing the ex-
cess baggage rate to be higher in every
instance from Moorhead, East Grand
Forks and Breckenridge to all North
Dakota points, than from Fargo, Grand
Forks or Wahpeton.
Mr.. Fleckelstein stated to the com
mission that it would be cheaper for
every travelling man making any of
these three North Dakota cities their
headquarters to have their baggage
carried across the river and checked
cities named. In every instance the
excess baggage rate would be cheaper
to every point in the state of North
Dakota. a.
The excess baggage rate, the speak
er>. declared, was exorbitant. 1t was
far above the excess rate charged in
Wisconsin and Illinois. In those states
1T is but IL per cent Of the regular
fare per mile. In North Dakota he
said it was Is per cent.
,.1.. Had Facts in Hand. .s'
Mr.. F1eckelstein had all his facts
at his finger tips so that he was able
tka nv At L IL
miss1oners and the railroad representa-
tives present in most comprehensive
manner. His presentation showed
careful study of the subject of excess
baggage rates not only in this state,
but with rates throughout the coun-
try and a familiarity with ruling on
the question by the interstate com
merce commission.
President .Stutsman asked him IL the
per cent charged in North Dakota,
which was In excess of that charged
by the railroads in Wisconsin and Il
linois, was not due to the fact that the
railroad here is 21s- cents per mile
while in those states there is only a 2
cent rate.
Mr.. F1eckelstein explained that from
a mathematical proposition, even
and Illinois, the rate here would not
be@16 per cent. ~ "
The travelling men are also asking
for better care of their baggage by
the railroads. ...1
Representatives Present.
The travelling men were represented
by Counselor r. E. Cole of Fargo coun-
Gil No. 65 OF the United Commercial
Travellers; Sec. Thomas E. Dunn, Col.
Thomas Hughes and Mr.. Fleckelstein.
Among the railroad representatives
present were, John G. Poore of St.
Paul, assistant general passenger
agent of the Northern Pacific; H. M
Lewis of ST. Paul, assistant general
c. 7LaRue of st. Paul, assistant general
passenger agent of the Great Northern;
c., J. Murphy of Grand Forks, attorney
for the Great Northern; James l.. Ro-
han, local agent of the Great North
ern, and j. e. Johnson, local agent Of
the Northern Pacific.
Question of Through Train.
The question Of allowing North Da-.
kota patrons to ride aboard the North
ern Pacific trains Nos. / and 2 be-
tween stops in this state as proposed
in communication from Frank v.
Steele to The Forum, while not official
ly brought before the Aattention of the
commission, was informally discussed
at the session this morning between
the railroad officials present.
John G. Poore, assistant general pas
senger agent Of the Northern Pacific,
said that those trains were coast trains
and not state trains, and therefore
could not be compelled to carry pas
sengers between stops in this. state.
j. E. Johnson, local agent of the
Northern Pacific, asked Mr.. Poore if
an arrangement could not be perfected
whereby Fargo patrons Of the road
could not have the advantage of these
two trains as it would provide them
with great facilities to reach the twin
cities. He said there was a great de-
mand from the citizens here for the
use of these trains and he urged Mr..
Poore to take the matter up. Mr..
Poore stated he did mot think the
schedule could be readjusted.
Mr.. Steele stated last night that it
was his intention to bring the matter
before the commission at the next
meeting in Grand Forks and present
facts which he contends will open the
way to give North Dakotans better
railroad accommod odations on these two
trains s. ssEf