The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1921-09-08
GOVERNOR FIGHTS )
FOR L0WER,Rlz:$
MINISTER CHARGES r. ROADS
WITH DEMORALiZING
AGRICULTURE
SAYS FREIGHT RATES CONf|SCATORY
Claims North Western Railway Is
Trying To Evade Taxes in
Its New Lawsuit.

Governor w. H. McMaster is going to
to secure lower railway rates on farm
produce. After an extensive investi-
cation, the chief executive of South
Dakota has gathered facts showing
that it is impossible for the agricul'
tural interests to survive if something
is not done at once.
In answer to a letter from Governor
Shoup of Colorado, stating that Col
orado had filed a petition asking that
order IA be rescinded, Governor Nc.
Master said:
South Dakota will gladly coop
crate with Colorado and render every
assistance possible in bringing about
a reduction in transportation charges.
"As a matter of fact, South Dakota
has realized for some time that pros
perity can never be fully restored to
agriculture until the exOrbitant and
unreasonable transportation charges
are materially reduced.
For several months the state rail
road commission has been aggressive
ly active IN the matter. Some time
ago South Dakota and other states
filed a petition with the interstate COM
merce commission asking a material
reduction in rates on livestock, gram
products and hay.
1--WE are informed that present rates
must be maintained in order to allow
the railroads to earn six per cent on
their investment. The present rates
in South Dakota can never perma-
nently earn the railroads six per cent
or any othe rate, for the reason that
these rates are destroying the agri-
cultural industry Of the state, az well
as paralyzing and demoralizing all
other lines of business, with the re-
suit that the business of the roads
will steadily decrease. This short
sighted and unwarranted policy will
not only destroy agriculture OF the
state, but will in the end destroy the
railroads themselves.
Nov the railroads are not satisfied
with maintaining rates that are crush
ing the life out of the greatest indus
try in the state, are not satisfied with
the arrogant, arbitrary and incompe
tent service they have rendered live
stock shippers the past two years, a
service that has financially ruined
hundreds of livestock growers of the
AA L,x -, {hny Il, hrinoinU
a court action to restrain the state
tax commission from levying an as
sessment deemed fair against railroad
property.
They claim that the tax commission
has assessed their property at 100 pei
cent Of its value, and that farm lands
are assessed at only s. per cent Of
their value, and the Northwestern
railroad with insolence says this levy
was fraudulently and corruptly made.
In the coming lawsuit, where the
North-W Western railroad seeks to evade
taxes. it will be interesting to corn
pare their sheets of physical valuation
used for the purpose of securing lower
taxes, with their sheets of physical
valuation used before the interstate
commerce commission for the purpose
of obtaining higher freight rates.
I'm other words, the North-W Western
Railroad company after exacting a
pound of flesh nearest the heart of the
farmer in the way Of a Understanding
freight rate, now seeks by court ac-
ton to saddle their just taxes upon
the shoulders of the agricultural in
terests.
Unless the present railroad man
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