Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1930-10-09
EDITORIAL)

Ue bTtOhS-IOIC14lCAl ID" A1NI W OS
enacted by the Minnesota legislature
in 1921 is one Of the worst pieces
of special privilege legislation pat
upon the statute books in the state,
and has been the means of causing a
great deal of dissatisfaction. It
was backed up by the Lowry street
car interests and had for its purpose
the transfer of jurisdiction Of street
railway systems in the larger cities
of the Minneapolis, St. Paul.
and Duluth-to the Railroad and
Warehouse Commission instead of be
ing under the supervision of the re-
spective city councils.
Naturally the street railway COM
pany would rather do business with a
body of only three men than the
larger city councils. The city coun-
ellis are also closer TO the people than
the Railroad and Warehouse Commits
sion.
Senator Brooks, one of the authors
of this obnoxious bill, was a former
partner in the Backus-Brooks Lumber
Co.. but is now dead Mr.. Coleman,
the co-author, was defeated for con-
gress, his connections with the
Brooks-Coleman law being chiefly re-
sponsible for his defeat, the political
experts of Minneapolis have claimed.
Under this law the street railway
company has been able TO raise street
car fares first TO &C, later TO SC, and
now Zoe cash fares.
Just after the passage of the law
the stock of the street railway COM
pany rose in value from 3612 to So
and then dropped back TO about 40.
Much stock changed hands and all
sorts of rumors were afloat TO the
effect that members of the legisla-
ture had bought heavily of this stock.
When the stock dropped back to 40 the
st. Paul Daily News announced-that
thousands of dollars had been lost by
Legislators who had plunge
While the bin was proposed and
was under debate and consideration,
the ST. Paul Daily News published the
following editorial on January IS,
1921:
ROBBING MUNICIPALITIES
THAT a business man made con-
tract with you to deliver certain
commodity over a period of years:
THAT he made a great fortune off
this contract;
That in spite Of the favorable
terms of the contract (for him) he
never made an offer to lower prices
or give you any of the benefits he
gained;
THAT finally a time came when con-
ditions made the contract not so pro-
fitable TO the business man;
That he went TO the Legislature and
begged the lawmakers to break his
contract for him
Citizen. were true, what would you
think of this business man?
You would consider him a short
sport, a hedger. just plain yellow,
would you not?
The Twin City Rapid Transit Co.
is. doing just these things. 1t is try
ing to sneak through the Legislature
a law that will permit it to tear
up its franchises and laugh at its
contract with you.
The Brooks-Coleman bill permitted
just that. Street railway franchises
are contracts between company and
city. For many years they were very
profitable contracts TO the Twin City
Rapid Transit Co.
The war changed things for the
company as it changed things for you.
Did you, Mr.. Citizen, go to the leg
islature for aid? You did not. Then
why should the company ask the leg
islature to make scraps of paper out of
its contract?
IF bill permitting the state Rail-
road and Warehouse Commission 10
control local utilities was passed. il
viii be just as disastrous to the small
Ter communities as TO St. Paul. Min
neapolis. and Duluth
You who live in smaller cities OF
Minnesota. how would you like il if
your gas or electrical company were
permitted to tear up its contract with
your city?
How would you like TO have your
city officials sheared of all power?
The passage of the Brooks-Cole-
man bill viii establish a precedent
that viii ROB the people of all control
of utilities The movement was
started four years ago with the tele-
phone companies. 1t won't end unless
a COLT is handed il right now, until
every right is taken from the NUM-
cipality The way to stop if is watch
your senator and your representative
see that they protect your interests
Question every step they make
Organize to prevent this big cor.
poration killing.
Its up to you"