Omaha daily bee., 1884-08-13
The Constitutional Amendments.


The Constitutional Amendments.
Minden Reporter.
1t will be seen that we are publishing
the governors notice of the vote to b,
taken this fall on the changes of the con
stitution, which will appear till election
day as per contract.
We take this early opportunity to say
that the first change proposed as relating
to the salaries of members of the legisla'
ture, we approve and shall support, for
we have always maintained that the la
borer is worthy his hire and the pay nov
given is niggardly, hardly sufficient tt
board and pay the expenses Of
members. This change will give them
$500 for the session and mileage
Iowa pays $500, 80 it is seen that this
amendment should be sustained. But
the second one, which relates to the
election of railroad commissioners We
shall oppose. First because they are
unnecessary; second, because it fastens
upon the people three more salaries tc
pay, 1 n order to give some persons place,
power and hmoney. Third, because il
virtually defers .any restriction of rail.
road traffic for nearly three years, afford.
ing the railroad ~monopolies a much
longer time TO entrench themselves, and
lay up in store the peoples substance
and fourth, because, it. is a railroad
scheme to blind, bind and mislead the
people on this much agitated question.
Iowa several years ago, passed a law
regulating railroads, through the efforts
@F th4 x-Io a@yt-N114l th4 lan,,a
%lation, but the roads resisted this law till
the supreme court decided the law con.
stitutional. But at the following session
of the legislature the railroads proposed
a change by substituting in place of the
law three commissioners, who shall fix
rate of freight, etc , which was promptly
done by a republican legislature, which
then had succeeded to control. The
roads proposed to pay the salaries of
these officials, which is $4,000 each a
year. Why did they want this changes
Because they could control three persons,
which they could not do with the law
This is what we call EARNING out" the
peoples great interest tothe care of three
men, in place of them ruling and control
ing, through their representatives, elec-
ted every two years by them. This sys-
tenn has given the people of that state
great annoyance, and 1t is known, that
they have been sold out by this system,
ever since it's adoption. 1t is but natural
that as the roads pay the expense of
these officers that they will favor their
employers first, last and all the
time.
We see that THE OMAHA BEE opposes
this amendment, which has been favor
Ing railroad regulation by law; but 1t is
favored by the Republican of the same
place, which Is conceded to be run in
the interests of railroads, especially the
U. p. road, that shows which way the
wind blows. We presume that many
republicans and some democrats who
wear the color OF monopolies, especially
their candidates this fall, for legislative
honors will favor this change. But we
cannot think that any anti-monopolist,
greenbacker, granger or alliance will so
polute their record and stultify their In
terests as to cast a vote In its favor. We
want, and need a legislature the coming
session who will have backbone and hon
esty enough to give lthe people of the
state a law to relieve them at once of
these extortions.