The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1913-06-19
Railroads Expected to Fight Re-
turn Of Excess Charges.
EXTENT OF VICTORY IN DOUBT
eStrong Belief Prevails That Carriers
Are Not Ready to Accept Verdict
of Highest Court.
Especial Correspondence

st. Paul, June 17.-How the state
of Minnesota won the right to
regulate those transportation lines
within its own confines, with due re-
gard for the law of conhscation in
the prescribing of rates both for
freight and passengers, which victory
removed from threatened oblivion the
old and much debated question of
states rights, is history now but it
is still live topic in state capitol
circles. Handed down better than a
week ago by the United States SUI
preme court the decision still has
those who guide the dest1nies of the
state by the ears and every one con-
cerned swells with pardonable pride
when the victory is mentioned. But
what bothers now is will the roads
accept the verdict of the highest
court in the land; have they other
time consuming devices up their
sleeves, and will the state be able,
to make the roads disgorge the mil
lions of dollars in the shape of ex-
cess fares and freight rates taxed the
travelling and shipping public under
the protection of an appeal that has
been over four years before the vari-
GUS federal courts? Former Attorney
General E. T. Young and T. D.
O'Brien, who laid the foundation for
the victory, which Is nationwide as
far as the scope of it's Importance is
concerned, are confident enough to
believe that the 2-cent fare and the
reduced commodity and merchandise
rates, which were the bones of con-
tention, will be in effect within the
next ten days and that the millions
of dollars of excess paid by the pub
lie will be recovered, but there are
others not so sanguine. The expect
ed "kick back" of the excess paid by
the travelling public, they say, will
not come without a fight. OF this
excess the return of probably $1,OOO,-
900 is in measure certain, as the
legislature of 1909 took precaution to
make it so in a law which it passed.
But as to excess fares and freight
rates paid, of which there is nothing
to show beyond a brief memorandum
on the companies books, they think
it is lost for all time. Perhaps the
state can compel its return to the
state treasury under the law of es-
cheat, but that remains to be seen.
What ever may happen, however, 1t
was a great victory and the railroads
reluctantly admit it.
!. \ 4
Mention Of Ed Young, former attOr-
ney general. and the one who, with
Tom O'Brien, Senator Durment and
others, laid the foundation for the
victory of last week, brings to mind
what might have been had this de-
cison been handed down last year in
stead of this. His title now might
be governor instead of plain counsel
lor at law. 1t may have slipped your
mind, but Ed suffered bit Of martyr
dom when he stood for a fine for
contempt of court in attempting to
enforce the rate law in the face OF
the injunction preventing its enforce
ment. His punishment brought him
considerable advertising, but with a
half dozen others who aspired to Gov
ernor Eberhart's shoes he ran against
the primary law and that settled it
In the old days of the convention q
victory like last week would not
have gone unreWarded. Those respOn
sible would have been invincible. The
bigger the fight waged against them
the stronger would be their support
!: !. J.
Touching on this same primary
law and the passing of the old day:
when two terms in office, as far a:
the state end is concerned, was re
garded as the law and three term:
an evidence of popularity that car
red with it something to be talked
about, opinion is general at the stat
capitol that the next election will OF
fer little in the way of new faces
The return of all the present incum
bents if they see fit to again maxi
the race is regarded as certain. Tn
vesy logic of the primary is agains
a change and there are plenty of tn
wise ones who will bet on the prOpC
sition. Governor Eberhart is consid
0IS(l DIS CClLd IL ue Wallis d 1SCul
ticket. If the field is not larg
enough his friends and the thousand
of officeholders who are his creatio
can provide it at a small expense
Secretary of State Schmahl has
cinch, so has Attorney General Smit
and State Treasurer Smith, while a
to State Auditor Iverson as long a
the state primary law is on the book
all he has to do is to pay the re
quired filing fee and sit down.
!. !. !.
Last week the Grand Army of tn
Republic of Minnesota held it's annus
convention at the old state capitt
and the feature was the attendant
Of the national commander. A recel
ton was held in the evening at tn
big marble pile on Capitol hill an
the affair might have been one of tn