The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-04-04
ATTORNEY GENERAL
RANKIN SEEKS DATA

Attorney General Wellington d.
Rankin is gathering data from all
portions of Montana covering the
freight rate situation in the state.
He has filed a complaint before the
board of railroad commissioners of
Montana in which it is charged that
the present feright rates maintained
by the several railroad within the
state are excessive.
A letter has been sent out by the
attorney general asking that infor-
nation be sent to his office by farm
ers, stockgrowers, merchants and all
those who are interested in securing
better freight rates for Montana
shippers. A hearing will be held on
April - at Helena, when evidence
will be submitted by the attorney
general showing the necessity of re-
Guction in freight rates. The letter
asking for information reads as fol-
lows:
Helena, Mont, March 80, 1923.
Republican Courier, Bozeman, Mon
tana-Gentlemen:
The office of the attorney general
has been for a long period of time
engaged in collecting data and de-
tailed information upon which to base
an action before the board of rail-
road commissioners of Montana to
obtain a reduction in the ~intrastate
freight rate structure in effect in
this state.
AS attorney general, l filed a COM
plant before the board of railroad
commissioners against the twelve
carriers by rail in this state, ask
ing for a Horizontal reduction in the
~inrrastate freight rate structure ir
Montana, and alleging iii the said
complaint that the increase granted
TO the carriers in August, 1920, haC
created and produced, and does nov
produce, many undue preferences am
unjust determinations between local
tiles within the state of Montana, am
between persons within said state
The complaint also alleges tina
"such increase in freight rates re
suited, and now results, in the i'm
position of unjust, unfair and un
reasonable rates and charges for tn
services rendered by such carriers
and works a manifest injustice upol
the producers Of raw materials, an,
upon consumers and shippers o
freight and the people of Montana a
a whole, and retards the development
of the resources of the state"
The hearing to determine whethe
> the rates shall be reduced will be hei
!. at Helena, ON April 10, 1928.
This is a matter of the creates
: Importance to this state and 70 &c
people, the magnitude of which ma
be measured in millions of dollar
annually, and is a matter in whic
, the farmers, stockmen, merchant
. and consumers are vitality interested
The cooperation of all such person
, is earnestly requested, to the en-
that the board of railroad commi;
sioners may have before them a flu
and complete survey of the condition
now existing in the state.
An expression upon the subje;
: from the farmers, merchants, STOCK
: men, and men from al walks of lii
" is very necessary. A letter write
. to this office by each of such PEI
sons, in his own words and style, tel
ing of the freight conditions as the
exist and his view of the effect
: thereof on his particular interests
business, as well as on the generl
conditions of the community, WI
serve a purpose of great value at Il
hearing. These letters may consi
A of an informal discussion of the ST
uation, and may include hearss
statements as we'll as statements
the writer's own personal experienl
and the experience of others with
his knowledge.
In fact, let the letters conta
whatever the writer knows, or h;
heard of, which pertains to freigl
rates in Montana, that he feels is pc
tinent. The usual technical rules
evidence do not apply in a hearing
this kind, and such letters can be pr
scented to the board for their co,
sideration and to give them a cor
~prehensive view and underestimate
of the situation throughout the stat
In a spirit of fairness TO the raj
roads, we will always admit that the
are entitled to a fair return on Il
money actually invested by them, b
no more In the same spirit, v
must insist that Montanans are e
titled to the same treatment at I'll
hands of the railroads, as to rat
and service, as accorded the Peep
~ e MI n-I-L- nAs-----A- HI.