Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-04-18
STATE RATE MAKING.
Railway Commission Gives Out a New
Order to Companies.

N6uWdy SStuItISSIOH WIVES SOH q NC"
Order to Companies.
Pierre.-The state railway commits
sion, taking advantage Of new legis-
lation both state and national, is TAX
ing a long step forward, or at least at
tempting to do so in an order recent
ly issued. Some time ago the COM
mission issued Order No. 6, relating
to commodity rates with this state;
No. Z, relating to carload rates on
grain and mill stuffs, and No. 8, re-
lating to coal in car lots within this
state. All of these orders have been
held up by court procedure pending
the decision of the United States SUI
preme court on the Minnesota rate
case. Now the commission sends out
it's order canceling all the rates fixed
in the previous orders, and, to get
down to a basis for rate making which
may be expected to stand any test,
they have issued an order to all rail-
way companies operating within this
state to within sixty days after the
receipt of the order supply the COM
mission with:
The original cost of construction Of
all their lines of railway within this
state.
A complete detailed statement of all
stocks issued by such roads, giving
date of issue and amount OF same, and
purpose for which issued, with amount
realized from same if sold, or disposal
of same if not sold.
A detailed statement of all outstand-
ing bonds, with the realized
from the same. if sold, or disposal of
same if not sold.
A detailed statement of operating
expenses for the years ending June
50, 1909, 1910, 1911 and 1912.
A complete detailed statement of
all earnings from all sources for the
same years.
A detailed statement showing the
segregation of operating expenses and
their assignments to South Dakota as
between state and interstate traffic,
according to methods commonly used
by said companies in their own bust
ness.
A like statement in regard to earn
ings of such companies.
A detailed statement showing the
division of earnings and operating ex-
penses between freight and passen-
ger business.
A detailed statement showing an
nual salaries paid all general officers
and heads of departments, including
superintendent and assistants, chief
engineers and assistants, directors
and assistants; in fact, salaries Of all
officers of such companies.
After such information has been re
ceived, filed and analysed, a date will
be fixed for a hearing on rates, at
which each company operating in the
state will be required to be represent
ed and furnish the commission with
full information touching upon the
freight rate situation in South Da.
kota.
Under the recent act of congress- re.
curing railway companies to secure
their test of state legislation and
board orders through the state courts
before they may take the issue into
the United States courts; and the fur.
her state legislation which requires
railway companies to make their case
before the commission, and prevents
hem from presenting any new matter
in the courts on appeal from the or
ders of the commission. 1t is expect
ed hat with the information to be
secured from the railways that a def
lit.- basis can be secured for equita,
BILE rate making, and getting down tC
a bottom which has some real foun.
dation.