The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-03-23


SMALL SPENCER, BREWER
(Incorporated)
CHICAGO NEW YORK BOSTON
Did He Know!
Disclosure that Governor LANCER
vetoed the appropriation to the state
railroad board for employment Of a
freight rate expert brings surprise,
chagrin and questioning to the minds
of many North Dakotans.
In view OF the recent history Of
freight rates in North Dakota and the
work which the railroad board has
done in this respect. 1t makes one
wonder II the governor knew what he
was doing. This thought will be fol.
lowed Immediately by speculation as
to whether he may not have known
all too we'll
The recent history Of the railroads
in this state has been q continual
succession Of applications for rate in
creases and q continual effort on the
part Of the railroad board to hold
them down. The applications for
raises In rates within the state have
been filed with the railroad board
itself. Those for other boosts have
been presented to the Interstate
Commerce commission.
In each case the railroads have
been represented by skilled attor-
neys, accountants and highly paid
rate experts Their sole duty has been
to present . convincing case to justi-
~ the collection Of more money from
the pockets Of North Dakota's farm
ers and merchants.
Through its rate experts and &C.
countants the railroad board has been
able to present the other side Of this
picture. In its hands has been placed
the case Of the shippers as opposed to
the railroads. To 1t has fallen the
duty Of defending the people Of the
state, both producers and consumers,
from unjustified freight tariffs.
The question at issue very often has
been whether one item or group of
items should be raised only fraction
Of cent per hundred pounds. Yet,
applied to the total movement Of
freight over the period of q year, the
amount involved has totalled millions
annually.
As a result Of the governors veto,
the railroads will have all the advant-
ages in these affairs in the future. It
is not inconceivable that freight costs
to North Dakotans may be increased
to the tune of several million dollars
as direct result.
Increased rates asked by the car
riers on grain alone will mean several
million dollars increase a year If their
claims are accepted. This would be
paid by the farmer in the form Of re-
duced receipts for his product.
Did the governor know this when
he vetoed this appropriation and 9TH
erwise curtailed the activities OF the
railroad board or did he know it all
too we'll?
It may be that the governor, real
izing the truth of the railroads claim
that they are in hard straits, felt
disposed to make things easier for
them. On the hustings he has posed
as the enemy Of the railroads and the
friend Of the farmer In the execu-
tive chair he has taken stand which
will permit the railroads to dig ad-
ditional dollars out of the hard-press-
ed farmers pockets.
The inconsistency Of retaining the
assistant rate expert while he lets the
chief 60. is beside the point. The real
question involved is whether the peO-
pie Of North Dakota are to be ade-
quately represented in affairs mean
ing millions Of dollars to then. They
have been so represented in the past
but they may not be in the future. II
they are not. the responsibility will lie
with Governor william LANCER. There
Is every possibility that he will turn
out to b tho best friend the railroads
ever had IN executive office in this
state, the while he treats the farmer
to ip-seSvice and demonstration Of
political pyrotechnics which make the
farmers lot worse rather than better.
A Splendid Service
"a -