The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-11-30
LOWER RATES FOR
GRAIN BIG FACTOR
Freight Reduction Urged In
Minneapolis Hearing
FARM CONDITIONS BAD
orth and South Dakota Farmers
Testify Before !. C. c. Probe;
Six States Represented.
ASSOCIATED Press Dispatch

Minneapolis, November 26.-A
North Dakota farmer, on the stand
in opening the hearings held told the
interstate commerce commission
special investigating committee to-
day that reduction in freight rates
on grain would have a stimulating
moral effect, induce the grain grow
ers to remain on the farms and en-
nance their material possessions.
The state of South Dakota came
into the hearings with plea for
greater interstate reductions on
South Dakota rates than granted
either Minnesota or North Dakota.
because Of the intra state rates at
fecting those states.
The hearings are In the So called
Kansas case, which Is to be COM
pleted probably tomorrow when the
commissions committee Is to begin
its general, nation wide inquiry into
rates on grain, grain products and
Kansas case is identical with that
of the proposed general investiga-
ton and evidence offered In the
Kansas case is to be used in the
other investigation. according to
Commissioner John Esch, who Is
presiding over the hearings.
Six States at Hearing.
Attorneys for various railroads and
representatives Of the states Of
North Dakota, South Dakota, Min
nesota, Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa
are sitting in with the commissions
investigators and participate in
cross examination.
According to Mr.. Esch. the hear.
Minneapolis Saturday when the
committee will move to Spokane,
San Francisco, Phoenix, Atlanta.
Chicago and Washington.
Mathew Duffy, farmer residing
forty miles west OF Devils Lake. N.
D., was the first witness called. He
was examined by Frank Milhollan.
railway commissioner Of North Da-
kota, and cross examined by COM
missioners and attorneys for rail-
road companies.
Farmers Condition Bad.
The witness said he had been,
North Dakota farmer for twenty
FIVE years and that he was engaged
in mixed farming, including the
raising Of grain. He began raising
WACdly OuS WGnb lnb0 oAAE4
farming twelve years ago. he said.
"The wheat farmers condition Is
bad" the witness said. MANY OF
the farmers are unable to pay their
taxes and interest on loans, and We
are finding It difficult in our county
to keep the schools going. The tar
|mer pays eight per cent on loans
on farm and 10 per cent on cattle.
One storekeeper told me the other
day that unless something is done
at once for the farmers they will
walk on the farms. Ny own broth
er who had been farming for six.
teen years, left his farm q short
time ago because he couldn't make
It pay and he is now in town looking
for q job.
Must Encourage Farmer.
"The farmers need encourage
ment. II the rates are lowered, It
will have splendid moral effect,
and IL they are raised 1t win be
calamity"
Attorneys and commissioners tried
to show that lower rates on borrow
ed money and other factors entering
into the farm problem might be more
beneficial to the farmers, but the
witness each time in answering
questions, held that lower freight
rates would be the greatest factor
in lending encouragement to the
farmers.
Freight Expert on Stand.
D. L. Kelley, South Dakota rate
expert, opened a fight before the
commission for greater reduction In
freight rates In that state than in
adjoining states.
"We are joining with other -wes-
tern states to obtain further reduc-
lions in grain, grain products, and
hay rates." he said. "We contend
that these commodities are being
compelled to bear an undue portion
Of the total transportation costs,
and also were told that the condi-
ton Of the farmers on the whole is
still so bad as to make reductions
in rates essential, If the farmers are
to continue to operate when freight
costs represent such an important
factor in operations
In addition, our South Dakota
rates are so much higher than Min
nesota and North Dakota, that we
must have even greater reduction.
The present rates from Minnesota
points to Minneapolis and Duluth,
the most important primary markets
in the country. are based on sched.
ules of the Minnesota railroad ana
warehouse commission as q result or
enactments of the Minnesota legisla-
- ~ - all -