The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-02-07
HOT FIGHT IS OVER THE
DISTANCE TARIFF BILL

ST. Paul, February 5.-Condemning
the distance tariff bill as measure
which would drive the small manu-
facturers out of business, or force
them TO move their plants TO the
twin city to gain an advantage in
freight rates, delegations of men APP
peared before the senate committee
on railroads yesterday afternoon and
bitterly assailed The bill and its au-
thor. They drove Representative II.
*. Dunn, former speaker of the
house, from tho committee room
with the vigor Of their attack and
drew from him taunt that their
protests would avail them nothing.
Gus Widell Of Mankato, the part
ners of Governor Eberhart in the
rock crushing business, was among
those who spoke against the bill.
~ IF You run any kind of a manu-
featuring business in this state, ''said
60. w. Babcock of. Kasota, ''you,ye
got to have a low rate TO the twin
city, in order to get your goods out
on the railroads radiating from there
We're satisfied with the rates now
Leave 'em alone" b.asu..'
krost Made Talk. IT, r...
A. P. Krost of Mankato, also en-
gagged in the rock crushing business.
appealed TO Senator eastman, who
was present. to tell him what rates
would apply if the distance tariff
bill were enacted. aa.. ...
DO you mean TO drive every lit
tie concern in the state out of busi-
ness, because of hard and fast dis
lance tariff? Do you want to con-
fine every little industry to a radius
of fifty miles on one railroad line?"
Don't you think" interrupted Rep
resentative Dunn, that a business
fifty miles nearer than another bust
ness ought 10 have cheaper
rate?" ~. r..t
Not necessarily" Mr.. Krost re-
piled, quickly, and a half dozen 9th.
ers spoke out at the same time.
Natural resources, for instance;
those natural resources belong to all
the people of the state, and they
should be entitled TO them at practi-
cally the same rate -a. a.
A wave of bedlam swept over the
room--voices directed at Representa-
tive Dunn. You're trying to kill off
competition!" you want TO drive us
out Of business!" These, and other
similar remarks were hurled and Mr..
Dunn arose. ~ E.rsar
Who Paid For Advertiseme nts?
Tell me-" he said, "if this bill
will result in such benefit to the
twin city, why were page advertise.
ments printed in the Sunday papers
against ito. Tell me, too,
who paid for them?" # g
Il caused those advertisements to
be printed" interposed J.. H. Beck,
secretary of the st. Paul Association
of Commerce. Il paid for them
paid for them with funds of the as
ISOLATION | represent"
You men who were brought here
by the railroads to oppose this BILL"
said Senator eastman "have reasons
for opposing it,"
Instantly the bedlam broke loose
again. Mr.. Babcock characterized
the remark as direct insult and a
dozen voices were raised in protest.
Each man declared that he had come
in the interest of his own particular
business and that no railroad had
anything 10 do with the visit.
Representative Dunn left the room.
Il won't stay here" Dunn retorted.
I'VE represent a half million people,
and | don't have to stay"
AS he reached the door and was
passing through, he turned and re-
marked:
Il want to say to you, you're not
going to help yourselves any"
The door slammed and he was
gone.