The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1923-07-20
Rankin Talks ON
Railroad Rates
Compares the Freight Rates in Mon
tana With Those of Other
States

On Saturday, July 14th, Attorney
General Rankin, accompanied by
Sheriff Billy Woods, and Attorney
S. M. Doyle, of Glendive arrived in
Circle. This was the first visit of
MIR. Rankin to McCone County and
he spent several hours in becoming
acquainted with the Circle people.
In the afternoon he spoke at the
Farm Bureau Picnic at Heide's grove
upon the subject of Railroad Rates
where for nearly two hours and
half he held the close attention of
those present.
The Attorney General has just fin
ished conducting a hearingl before
the State Railroad Commission in
suit brought for the purpose of Sc
curing more equitable freight rates
for the shippers of the State and is
certainly well versed upon the sub
ject. He carried with him a large
number of charts from which he show
ed comparison of the Treignt rates
in Montana with those of other
states, the amount of taxes paid by
the railroads upon their property in
Montana as compared with the taxes
levied in other states, and the amount
of revenue derived from the opera
tion of railroads in Montana as
against the amount received in other
states, and clearly showed to the
people present that while the rail-
roads in Montana were paying less
taxes than in other states. at the
same time they were getting better
returns on their investment in this
state, and Montana by paying exces-
siye freight rates is carrying the bur-
den OF other states, thereby making
up IN revenue from Montana that is
lost by railroads IN operating in the
neighboring states.
President August HamIau then
made a short talk and assured Mr..
Rankin OF the cooperation of the Nc
Cone County Farm Bureau and the
Summit FaTme1s. Club in his efforts
TO secure more just freight rates.
After the speeches Mr.. Rankin,
who is very much of an athlete, join
ed In tie games and sports conducted
at tae picnic and came out somewhat
bruised but smiling.
In the evening the Attorney Gener-
al spoke to an audience from Circle
ana vicinity at the Princess Theatre
upon the same subject He was in
troduced by Mr.. B. N. Stoney and
again talked upon railroad rates and
also upon the problem of securing a
railroad in McCone County. He said
the time had passed when the resi-
dents OF this county could hope to
SIT IDLY by and expect the road to be
built; that II we wanted the road 1t
was up TO us to fight for it. He sug-
gested that petitions be circulated
ln this County and other counties of
the state to initiate law authorizing
the State Railroad Commission to
compel railroads to extend their lines
FOR distance of forty or fifty miles
in cases where it could be clearly
shown that such extensions were
necessary. He stated that this would
mean a great deal of work and some
expense, but that if the residents of
McCone County were determined to
organize and really conduct the prop
er campaign that there was no doubt
in his mind but what they could get
the road.
Mr. Rankin, accompanied by B. N.
Stoney, f. G. Massar and Homer A.
Hoover deft Sunday for Burns where
he spoke before a large audience.
The Attorney General won many
friends during his short visit in Nc
Cone County, and his untiring eff
forts to secure lower freight rates
in the State should receive the sup
port of all.