the whole year and have something for a man to do. They ship coal as a dealer does, all winter. Mr. Keyes: We are where we were when you left, Mr. Cowan. Mr. Phelan: What do you think, Mr. Cowan, of the advisibility of adopting the rates now in force, calling them reasonable maximum rates under the new law, on the grounds that there are no complaints, hence no demand in the state for a reduction of rates? Mr. Gibson: While there has been no unpleasantness, yet we know the railroad law was passed by the house and senate to give the Railroad Commissioners more power than what they had, and the people as a rule expect the commissioners will go ahead and make a reduction of the rates. Now, while these gentlemen are here I would like to know from them what a reasonable reduction is, and as one of the commissioners I feel like going ahead and making a reduction. We know what the people expect the commissioners will have to do and I feel like taking advantage of the law and going ahead and doing something. I don't feel like being arbitrary or doing anything that would hurt the railroads or hurt the people in the state, yet I feel that something should be done. Mr. Keyes: I would like your judgment, Mr. Cowan, as to the attitude of the legislature as to the reduction of the rates at the time the railroad bill was passed. Mr. Cowan: I can't say as to that. I think, however, the legislature echoed simply the sentiment of the people that they were overcharged as to rates, and as I stated here today I don't know whether that charge against the company is well founded or not. It is pretty hard on any one implicated in this matter and if we don't make a change we will have to go home and explain it, explain why we didn't do it. If these gentlemen can show us by reference to figures they are paying only a certain rate per cent on the money invested in the road we can go out and explain that and I verily believe the people of this state will be satisfied; but if you can't explain that to them I believe the people actually want a reduction of the freight rates. That may be based entirely on the locality in which I belong. I would like to hear why we cannot reduce the rates 2 per cent, or 5 per cent, or 20 per cent, and why the companies can't stand it? Mr. Phelan: From all the considerations given by the commissioners to the rates, it does not look like a matter of hasty reduction. Mr. Cowan: Further than that, what the people of this state Com. Rail.-↓ insist on is the question of wheat rates. I believe they would stand a lot of things if they could but get a reduction of wheat rates, a little reduction on coal that they ship in by freight and a little on the lumber we bring in. I believe that if something could be done on those lines, I believe the people of the state would be satisfied, a large majority of them at least. I am safe in saying the people of the state would be absolutely satisfied and tickled to death if something of that kind could be done. We understand, of course, that under this act we can't do much about reaching outside of the state to touch those matters; we realize that, but if the representatives of the companies could induce the companies to do a little something along those lines, I tell you you would find the people of this state would be very well satisfied and it would not require much to put them in harmony with the railroads. These are matters that I think should in fairness be discussed and see if we can do anything. I would be satisfied if we could agree on something fair and reasonable than to have to resort to compulsion, or attempt compulsion, and as one of those present, I would like to see some agreement reached that would be satisfactory to both sides, yet give the people something they would demand unless we can show them through you gentlemen, that their demands are not proper, and in order to do that you can never satisfy them unless you can show them some figures in regard to this matter as to what your expenses are. Mr. Phelan: What we are trying to get at is something that will satisfy the people of the state of North Dakota and let Minnesota take care of their own affairs and we will take care of ours and try and get a reasonable reduction. You can't satisfy the people of this state any better than to do something on those three articles, coal, lumber and shipping of wheat; if you can do something on that it will not take much to satisfy them. I say that on behalf of all the farmers; there does not seem to be many of them here and they are relying and depending on the men whose interests are the greatest. I would like to ask the representatives of the companies if there is any likelihood of doing anything in this matter. Let us have a report from them after considering the other things. I am sure this commission would be very happy to entertain their ideas and consider them carefully because these are the important things. Mr. Hannaford: As far as I am concerned and with the limited authority I have I can't say what the company will do in regard to state rates. I know how they feel. I do not believe the commission or the people here would attempt to regulate interstate rates through a state commission. Mr. Cowan: We desire to see if there is not a possibility of an agreement on something that is fair and right and accomplish in a great degree and perhaps a little different way than what the commission anticipated. Mr. Hannaford: Now, the reduction of interstate business is such that if it was made by you, so it would amount to anything material to the individual citizens, would cut a much more extensive slice off from our revenue than anything that could be done on the local rates and I should want to make a good many figures and make them very carefully and I would suggest that the commission would not be able to do anything within a specific time and that they adopt our present tariffs and take up those matters. I don't understand that the commission once having taken up and adopted a new schedule can change it. Mr. Cowan: If passed it is confirmed for six months. Mr. Hannaford: I supposed they could; I didn't know. Mr. Newman: They can't change any special article after it goes into force. Mr. Phelan: If once adopted it must stand for six months unless changed by the courts. Mr. Cowan: Now I think that is the proper way to get at it to do it in a friendly way and see if we can't do something to satisfy these people, and I might suggest that it would not require much to do that. That would be of the greatest good to the greatest number of people beyond any question. The people of this state are entitled to have a reduction, and if we can do it in an amicable spirit it would be far the better way than having any trouble about it. But in the present condition of affairs it is not of any use for us to go home and try to explain to them that the rates are satisfactory. They believe they are entitled to a reduction and we can't explain it to them from anything we know at the present time. Meeting adjourned, commissioners to meet again at Grand Forks April 28th. Following this meeting the commissioners met at Grand Forks April 28, 1897, and adopted a schedule of reasonable maximum rates. It was further decided to enforce Section 3070, Revised Codes, as reasonable maximum coal rates and to establish the maximum passenger rate at 3 cents per mile within the state of North Dakota. On May 5, 1897, pursuant to the action taken April 28, 1897, the following notices were prepared and served on the railway companies operating in North Dakota: OFFICE COMMISSIONERS OF RAILROADS, Great Northern Railway Company, Northern Pacific Railway Company, Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie Railway, Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway and the Chicago & Northwestern Railway: GENTLEMEN: You are hereby notified that the undersigned, the Board of Railroad Commissioners of the state of North Dakota, pursuant to the provisions of Section 29 of an Act of the Fifth Legislative Assembly of the state of North Dakota, known as House Bill No. 121, did, on the 28th day of April, A. D. 1897, make for each of the railroads, railroad corporations and common carriers subject to said act, doing business in said state, a schedule of reasonable maximum rates of charges for the transportation of passengers on said railroads, a copy of which said schedule is hereto attached and herewith served upon you. And you are hereby further notified that said schedule will take effect on the 1st day of July, A. D. 1897. Dated at Bismarck, North Dakota, this 5th day of May, A. D. 1897. Attest: J. E. PHELAN, Secretary. GEO. H. KEYES, OFFICE OF COMMISSIONERS OF RAILROADS. Schedule of reasonable maximum rates of charges for the transportation of passengers on each railroad in the state of North Dakota: "The reasonable maximun rate of charge for the transportation of passengers on all railroads in the state of North Dakota is hereby fixed at 3 cents per mile." The foregoing is a true, full and correct copy of reasonable maximum rates of charges for the transportation of passengers, made on the 28th day of April, A. D., 1897. [SEAL] GEO. H. KEYES, L. L. WALTON, Commissioners of Railroads. Attest: J. E. PHELAN, Secretary. NOTICE. Complaint has been made to the undersigned, the Board of Railroad Commissioners of the state of North Dakota, that you are not complying with the provisions of Section 3070 of the Revised Codes of North Dakota, in relation to maximum coal rates. You are hereby required and directed to immediately comply with said statute, and hereby notified that upon your failure so to do on or before the first day of July, A. D. 1897, the said Board of Railroad Commissioners will commence proceedings necessary for the enforcement of the provisions of said Section 3070. Dated at Bismarck, North Dakota, this 5th day of May, A. D. 1897. (Signed) GEO. H. KEYES, [SEAL] Attest: J. E. PHELAN, Secretary. L. L. WALTON, Commissioners of Railroads. NOTICE. You are hereby notified that the undersigned, the Board of Railroad Commissioners of the state of North Dakota, pursuant to the provisions of Section 29 of an Act of the Fifth Legislative Assembly of the state of North Dakota, known as House Bill No. 121, did, on the 28th day of April, A. D., 1897, make for each of the railroads, railroad corporations and common carriers subject to said act, doing business in said state, a schedule of reasonable maximum rates of charges for the transportation of freight, property and cars on said railroads, a copy of which schedule is hereto attached and herewith served upon you. And you are hereby further notified that said schedule will take effect on the first day of July, A. Ď., 1897. And you are hereby further notified that said board, on the said 28th day of April, 1897, made a classification of all freights and property according to and the same as the classification issued by the Western Classification Committee, numbered 24. Dated at Bismarck, North Dakota, this 5th day of May, A. D., 1897. GEO. H. KEYES, |