Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1879-05-02

watchful Of the companys interests
afterwards. The opponents of the new
instrument could be divided into three
great classes--frst, those religionists
who have hitherto been in the habit OF
obtaioing appropriations from the State
for purely sectarian purposes; second,
the men who under the old constitution
have avoided their just share of taxa
ton, and desiring to escape it in the
future as they have 10 the past, very
naturally oppose the new one; third,
those who are interested 10 the rail-
road. The first class always having
controlled large number of votes in
the large cities. have been able to send
men to the Legislature who were
pledged to strenuously endesvor to OBJ
tain church appropriations from the
State. and under the old constitution
they hare nearly always succeeded in
their endeavors, proof of which fact is
the vast amount Of church property in
San Francisco at the present time. The
new document expressly provides that
no aid shall be obtained from State,
county or town for purely sectarian
purposes. and consequently the opposi.
ton of this class. A glance at the as.
ses.ment roll would explain the dislike
Of the second class to the new consiitu.
ton. There could be seen the names
Of men who were millionaires. and who
would laugh you to scorn If you ven
tured the assertion that they could not
draw their check at moments notice
for 100000 or so, and opposite the
names Of these men you will see them
assessed for snch amounts az $40, 900
or $50 900 or $50, 900, the paltry SUMS
on which they paid taxes. What won.
der that the individuals WHO have so
successfully escaped taxation under the
Old instrument. are antagonistic TO tina
new? The third class Of the new organ.
ic laws opponents are the railroad men
Of the State, and the provision in the
new document which es,abl she's rail
road commission satisfactorily explained
their hostility tn it's adoption. They
very naturally still wish to continue
their accnmulati ms Of wealth unre-
stricted and controlled. and bitterly op.
pose the inauguration Of a power which
will supervise their business. regulate
their operations and fix their rates Of
fares and freights. They maintain
that the creation of such a commission
will be unwise and unjust. What
right. ask they, have the people to de
termine what shall be the remuneration
received by . corporation for the serv.
ices nf transportation? hold that the
State possesses the inherent ght Of
protecting itself from the extortions
and aggressions Of powerful corpora
tions. even if they have not been es.
tablished by the aid Of Safe and couu-
subsidies. But the Central Pacific
railroad has been built to a great extent
bv the donations Of the people, and the
authority which has permitted the
existence and aided the growth of this
gigantic corporation must control and
regulate tat corporation in the exer
cise Of its mower. lhis object could
never be effected by legislation. The
ynung senator or assemblyman who was
sent to Sacramento with instructions
from his cons ituents to combat the
railroad would en- or the Capitol with a
firm determination to do their bidding.
He would be met by man
r,vv ~
Whom he knew and resp cited. aud
having announced his intention Of fight
ing the railroad his friend would imme
distely proce d to demonstrate to him
his ignorance If railroads and oil the
principles l. volved 10 the regulation 81
their prices Of transport tim. Had he
J made study Of railroaaing No.
Did he possess any experience about
railroads ~ NO 'Ca-ld he Ok the
difference in rates Of freight caused bv
the difference between grade nr seven
feet to the mile and grade If sixty p
No. .Conld he tell the amount Of at
triton to the rails caused by the pas.
sage Of certain number OF trains in .
certain length Of time; and knowing
the sttrition. could he exnlain its effects
on the rates 2 NO. Was he able n
tell the cost of constructing railroads
the percentage Of the cost Of the wear
and tear Of the rolling stock ia year ?
No. 'Conld he tell how long tire
wood used in the construction Of the
track would live. and could he say how
often il wonl1 need to be replaced ?
NO. Gould he approximate TO the
number Of times a railroad would have
10 be rebuilt in century. and If an
could he determine how the fact would
affect the rates If freight and fare !?
NO. After this little disloeuc viii
his railroad acquaintance. the ynuni
Assemblymsn or Senator would con
clude quite properly that he knew moth
ing about railroads, and consequently
was not competent to legislate fos them
q .~n r1.,l:u~ M .c,.1l Is,v.:.. AZ.