Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1883-02-08

kind uLder railroad corporations, the
remainder being citizsns of this state
who are engaged In the different pur-
suits If industry and business of the
country.
Your committee believe the proper
and only legitimate relation OF rail.
roads and telegraphic companies to the
people, Is that of Common carriers,
whose only duty it Is to receive and
with all reasonable sps ID forward to
their destination all persons, freight
or messages entrusted to their care;
provided just and fair rate of freight,
fare or fee is paid or secured for the
seryice and risks attending such trans.
portation.
Aud your committee recommends
that laws to contine these corporations
to the uses and purposes above stated
b. passed. We have tound it impos'
able to draw out from the gentlemen
who have the direction and manage
ment Of the railroads In this state,
sny material facts of which
tho public are not we'll &C.
quainted; and when pressed to
full and complete explanation of all
thtir conduct and management, also
the reasons for some Objectionable
features In their policy, they refused
to make such explanations on the
grounds that The states, as states, have
no jurisdiction over them, and plainly
| doclsre that these are matters over
which and to which congress alone has
any right or power to control or in
qulre into.
We fad, from the evidence adduced
in the examination of witnesses, that
many unjust and inexcussble abuses,
and wanton exercise of powers, are
exercised by railroad managers, which
are subversive of that friendly feeling
and good will which should exist be-
tween the people and railroad corpora
| tions.
Your committee finds facts In the
testimony taken to warrant them in
reporting that the corporations doing
business in this state are continually
using improper means to control the
business of the state, by trying to die
tate who shall ship grain or sell coal
in the towns along the liue Of road,
and by classification of freight based
upon the value of property in the mar.
kets where aold, and placing rates on
such & rods which deprive the dealers
or first owners of due advantages of
the laws of supply and demand which
honestly belong to them, and not to
the carriers Of the property.
Your committee also finds that the
railroad companies OF the state, while
protesting to obey the law generally
known as the Doare tub law, have by
change In classification of freights,
evaded the true and just meaning of
the said law, and while doing this
have continually, by their officers and
agents, endeavored to prejudice the
business men Of the state against said
law as the cause of higher freights in
the state, when really tho cause of
such higher rates was change in the
classification of freights made by these
companies, apparently for the very
purpose of evsding the law.
Therefore, we would respectfully
recommend that just, yet positive re-
strictive laws be enacted to the end
that al the people brouid have equal
and exact freights, one with another,
and all the advantages and conven.
fences the public can derive by reason
of the high ways which are created by
the people, and this being, or under.
stood to be government of the peo.
pie, by the people and for the people,
each and every one should be made
secure in the enjoyment of every bless
Ing, or convenience, on an exact equal
ity. Your committee believes that by
a conspiracy called pooling, the rail-
road companies owning and CONTROL.
ing competing lines are depriviug the
people of proper business competi-
tion, which in many cases was paid
for by the people by bonds voted to
these companies to obtain such compe.
tition. They also deprive the people
of these advantages, when the govern
ment gave them vest estates of land,
that the people might have this prof.
competition. -,
Your committee rer.mmend that
congress- be memorL.nzed by this legis.
lature to abo.e such pooling, if pos
sible.
Your committee would further re-
port that system of free passes has
grown up, by which the railroad COM
panies, by giving free transportation
to officers, jurors and members of
political conventions, has led the
people to believe that their officers
and delegates are improperly infiu.
enced In favor of those corporations
who furnish them with such passes.
That these passes have been used as a
means of seeking favor of their officers
and law makers, there can, as we be-
lteve, be no honest doubt; and your
committee recommends that any offi GER
or other person accepting position of
trust, in which all persons, or any
community, are interested In the re.
suit of their deliberations, should not
be allowed to accept or use, while o.
cupying such position or office, any
pass or different rate than that given
to the general public at the same time
and place, to the end that confidence
may be as perfect between officers and
their constituents as possible.
Your committee would also recon-.
mend that constitutional amend
ment be submitted to the people, 80
that department can be created In
the state government to supervise and
enforce the obedience of large corpora
tions to the laws within the state; and
We also recommend that there be es-
tablished under the present constitu-
tion bureau, to hear and examine as
to complaints against these corpora.
tions, and report to the proper au.
thorities. And also, that said bureau
may perfect and announce just and
| nrnnar rata of frairht tariff 10 ha naId