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Show I RATE DECISION HURTS I if' RAILROADS. V The Minnesota rate case decision of yesterday, in which the supremo court held that the state has the riphf to H fix rnllroad charges not In confli- t H with interstate rates Is a victory for the state which strengthens the hands i of every state railroad commission in I1 J the country. Had Utah a railroad commission, i maximum rates could he prescribed in all business within the state, even in-fl in-fl eluding paBscncer travel, and the rail- roads would be unable to successfully li.J flsht against this control over traffic But the supreme court still maintains that this privilege can he tak'n from H h tfce State bj congress whenever the W federal legislative body sees fit to B bo regulate rates. This drlHinn should lead to an early asserting of that power by con-ar- -s in order to avoid confusion over , Interstate commerce which has been blended with Interstate traffic and to Ji do away with the prospective danpc ! of state politics and rate-making be- H coming closely allied, to the demor.i- lization of politics H The strongest feature of the deci sion and the point which may prove most objectionable to the railroads In the declaration that the burden of proof of confiscation falls upon th railroad. The dispatches state that as a re nult of the opinion, several railroads operating In Minnesota will pay Into the state treasury approximately $3,- 000.000 In the shape of overcharges The state legislature, taking cogniz ance of the Injunction proceedings I brought to restrain Minnesota from V putting into effect merchandisp nnl commodity freight rates promulgated by the railroad and warehouse commission com-mission and approved by the two lav-making lav-making bodies, passed a law requiring the railroads to keep books' covering cover-ing all freight charges made and to file the same monthh with the sta'c This was done to allow iersons over charged to collect the difference Hbould the state win. The reports ' demanded began with June 1, l!u)! unri since then the railroad and ware house commission has been recei. Ing and filling them. They cover ev-iTv ev-iTv shipment in the state since the date named. In order that shippers mitfht not be hampered by annoying litigation, the 1009 legislature in ar ranging for reports covering freight flhipments declared that when the case was settled and If in favor of the State, that the money in controvers tthould be turned ovr to the state nnd returned to persons overcharged. Wall street had a nervous period this morning, owIpe to the unfavorable light in which the decision was viewed by the big railroad interests, and the BtDCk: brokers Stocks which havc-bern havc-bern tumbling for six month3 or more, went to new low levels. There is a nervous feeling In the big financial centers, which started with President Wilson's radlcaj free trade dclara I Hons, and has been Increasing as new shocks, such as the Minnesota rate case decision, have been Inflicted. There Is nothing left for the rail roads to do other than urge the fed-rral fed-rral government to extend tlf power of the interstate commerce commis-slon commis-slon to well into the twilight 7,one of state rights. |