Omaha daily bee., 1884-11-20
RAILWAY REFORM.

l. A reduction Of passenger rate
from tonr &c 0ts n mile TO three cento
mile ON all. the main lines, il not on al
branch short lines, with a rigid adher
enco to not more han four cents il
case 81 necessity on these branch lines
2. A FIVE cent reduction on oil graft
gong to distant markets as q necessity
Of the depressed price Il products unde.
= existing commercial conditions and thD
%uneKampled bounty Of the crops in GU.
state.
3. A sharp and decisive, but Away.
reasonable, reduction of rates on shor
hauls, especially on live stock, in thu
common interests of the farmers, thu
people and the railroads.
We heartily concur with the Omahi
Ucraid in the demand for railway TART
revision. 1t is high time that the people
Of Nebraska should have rolief from tn,
excessive exactions to which they have
been compelledto submit for fifteen years
IT at this late day the railroad manager,
concede that tho grievances OF the peopl,
of this htate have been we'll. founded VIZ
shall rejoice. If, however, tn,
herald is simply playing rail
road stool-pigeon as it has
done for years, and a sop Is to bo thrown
to the people just before the meeting of
the legislature In order to prevent rail
road legislation, we shall not be very
thankful to Dr.. Miller.
The people of Nebraska adopted a con
stitution in 1876 which commands the
legislature to enact laws prohibiting ex-
tortion and discrimination by railroad
and telegraph companies. That part of
the constitution has been a dead letter
for nine years. Legislature after logisla.
ture has adjourned without providing
the safe guards which that body is sworn
to create for the protection of the patrons
of the railways. A subsidized press, a
corrupt lobby and q system of whole
sale bribery, are responsible for
the legalized robberies from which
the people Of this state have suf.
cred for years. 1t is only because
The people have revolted against the polit.
cal tyranny of the bull-dozing henchmen
# the rail ways, and the truculent knavery
# their hired editors, that a halt has finally
,een called and a wholesome reform is
p~parently being demanded and intro
.uced in railway management. The ad
ent of Charles Francis Adams and Mr.. |
in the management of the Union
'aoi6c has already produced some good
and the BEE has reason to believe
hat the patrons. of the road will appreciate
he reforms which they have inaugurated.
q the recent election the Union Pacific
Exhibited a commendable regard for public
by dropping politics and attend.
ng to it's legitimate business as q public
1t is to be hoped that the Bur.
managers will likewise recognize
he propriety of giving the people of Ne
a chance to govern themselves
without undue interference by organized
of convention packers and strikers.
Coming events cast their shadows be.
ore. The Omaha Herald evidently |
ices a''shadow" of railroad toll reduction |
II answer to the just demands of the
through tho fearless and un-
press, and it is trimming its sails
20 catch the coming breeze. 1t Is decid-
,dly refreshing, however, for that pa per
% say:
AS independents of railroad corpora
ions of all sorts and sizes as we are of
lemagogues of all colors and complex
ions, now that five months of the clangor |
Of political contention ceases, we take up
The subject of railroad reform, and de.
in the interest, and for the good,
Of all, railroads as well as people, tn at
ust reforms be at once conceded by all
railroad managements in the state.
Since when has the Herald become in
dependent of the railway corporations?
it since the Union Pacific has ceased
to pay DR.. Miller a royalty On the Dillon.
vile freight transfer Is it since tho
profits of railroad job printing
have been cut down to a nero song by
being given out to the lowest bidder, in
of being awarded to the Herald
and Republican, at their own prices and
without allowing any competitionl
Who were the demagogues The men
who honestly and fearlessly advocated
railroad legislation to prevent oppressive
favoritism and discrimination, or
the brass collsrod payroll editors who
were growing rich out of tho
partnership in eating houses, and subsi-
dies of all kinds2 If there is to be a 70.
form In railway management and reduc.
ton on tariffs the people will certainly
hot be under any obligation to the apollo
gists for all the wrongs that have been
perpetrated through all these years by
bosses and %monopolists. Fur.
thermore, if the railway managers honest.
ly intend to give us lower rates they can.
not object to a law which will prevent
them or their SUCCESSORS from raising
them again.
WESTERN CATTLE INTERESTS.
There ia no industry in this country
that la of mora imnortanca to-day tho,