New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1915-10-13

"Su uloI duu SSCOuu place, DIS W0ll aS
the grand sweepstakes. No other state
can show such a record.
CONTROLS RATE AND SERVICE
Railroad and Warehouse Commission
Prevents Determinations by Rail-
ways and Telephone Companies.
BY Charles E. Elmquist, 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 a term of six
years. Originally its jurisdiction was
confined to the supervision of COM
mon carriers, but succeeding legisla-
lures have increased it's duties. At
the present time it's activities extend
to the control over the rates and SER
vice of railroad and express com.
pan1es, telephone companies and stor.
lge 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-
qu1re the publication of reasonable
rates.
Prescribes Lower Rates.
The Commission prescribed class
and commodity rates in 1906 REPRESENT
ing an average decrease of 1874 per
cent in the former and 10 per cent in
the latter. These were Irrigated and
sustained in the Minnesota Rate
Cases, as result of which the people
enjoy lower rates and the shippers
have been paid refunds amounting to
about $2,75O, 100000 up to the present
time.
In 1913 the Commission made and
Tor all classes and commodities NOV
Ing within the state and they are now
being used by all Of the railroads ex-
oept the Chicago Great Western and
the Minneapolis & st. Louis.
Regulates Telephone Service.
Many questions arise affecting sta
tons, agents, spur tracks and the ser.
vice given by freight and passenger
trains. The control over telephone
companies was effective on July LIST
and over storage warehouses on Octo-
Der LIST. The law is very broad and
gives the Commission ample power to
regulate service, prevent discrimina-
lions 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
gestigation and hearing. In respect to
telephone and storage companies the
work of the Commission is necessarily
In formative state, but there is no
question but what the regulation will
be beneficial to the public and corpora
lions.
Controls Weights and Measures.
All scales, weights and measures
used commercially in the state, in
eluding track scales and the scales
upon which grain is weighed, are I'M
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 it's grain in
Bpection department grades and
weighs all grain that enters or leaves
the terminals and also gives the sans
service at many mills and elevators
ut interior points. The employees are
obliged to get fair, average samples of
grain from the car and the inspectors
PISS judgment upon the sample with
out knowing the ownership thereof
The grain is weighed by men who are
under a $5,C0l00 bond to the state
and who are dbder 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 IL
eensed by the state and the Railroad
and Warehouse Commission is per.
uaitted by law to Investigate any COM
plants that mey be filed by interested
parties and to make such decision %
6ustice and equity require.