The Ely miner., 1915-10-15
CONTROLS RATE AND SERVICE
Railroad and Warehouse Commission
Prevents Determinations by Rail-
ways and Telephone Companies.

Ry Charles e. EImquist, Railroad and
Warehouse Commissioner.
One of the important branches Of
our state government is the Railroad
and Warehouse Commission. This de-
partment has been in existence since
1872, and consists of three members
who are elected for term of six
years. Originally its jurisdiction was
confined to the supervision of COM
mon carriers, but succeeding legisla-
lures have increased its duties. At
the present time it's activities extend
to the control over the rates and SER
vice of railroad and express COM
panies, telephone companies and stor-
age warehouses. Broadly speaking,
no corporation can change rate, rule
or regulation without the consent of
the Commission, and the Commission
can after investigation make and re-
quire the publication Of reasonable
| rates.
Prescribes Lower Rates.
The Commission prescribed class
and commodity rates in 1906 represent
ing an average decrease of 1875 per
cent in the former and 10 per cent in
the latter. These were litigated and
sustained in the Minnesota Rate
Cases, as a result Of which the people
enjoy lower rates and the shippers
have been paid refunds amounting to
about $2,758. .080.09 up to the present
time.
In 1913 the Commission made and
published distance tariff freight rates
for all classes and commodities mov-
ing within the state and they are now
being used by all Of the railroads ex-
| cept the Chicago Great Western and
the Minneapolis & st. Louis.
| Regulates Telephone Service.
Many questions arise affecting sta
tions, agents, spur tracks and the SER
vice given by freight and passenger
trains. The control over telephone
companies was effective on July 1st
and over storage warehouses on Octo-
Der 1st The law is very broad and
gives the Commission ample power to
regulate service, prevent discrimina-
tions and enforce reasonable charges.
Some of the large telephone companies
raised their toll rates before the law
went into effect, and this placed the
burden upon the Commission of deter
mining a reasonable rate after an in
vestigation and hearing. In respect to
telephone and storage companies the
work of the Commission is necessarily
| in a formative state, but there is no
question but what the regulation will
be beneficial to the public and corpora
tions.
Controls Weights and Measures.
All scales, weights and measures
used commercially in the state, in.
Guiding track scales and the scales
upon which grain is weighed, are un.
der the control Of the Commission.
Skilled men travel over the state test
| ing platform and smaller scales and
weighing devices; railroad track
scales are examined by experts who
travel with 100000 pound test cars
and sufficient heavy weights. Grain
scales in the terminals are constant
ly supervised to insure their accuracy.
The Commission through its grain in
spection department grades and
weighs all grain that enters or leaves
the terminals and also gives the same
service at many r'ills and elevators
at interior points. The employees are
obliged to get fair. average samples of
grain from the car and the inspectors
pass judgment upon the sample with.
out knowing the ownership thereof
The grain is weighed by men who are
under a s5,000.00 bond to the state
and who are under close supervision.
Information concerning the loss of
grain in transit Is furnished shippers.
This service is of utmost importance
to the producers and dealers because
it insures fair and impartial grades
and weights. Practically the same
service is given to hay and straw
which reaches the terminals. All
commission merchants who deal in
grain and agricultural products are Ii.
censed by the state and the Railroad
and Warehouse Commission is per.
mitted by law to investigate any com.
plants that may be filed by interested
parties and to make such decision al