, 1886-02-18
succeed.

ticent enterprise TO publish the news
the public demand. cannot fail to
succeed.
We are inclined to think the legis-
lature made a serious mistake in
falling to pass the Dewar bill to
create railroad commission for the
regulation OF freights, fares, etc. The
government has aided railroad con
struction by Il liberal donation OF
land, on the theory that such a
course was necessary in order to OBJ
tain adequate transportation facilities
overland to meet tho demands OF
commerce. 1t is therefore right that
the people, the real sovereigns of
power, should exercise a supervisory
control over the public carriers thus
established, On basis of equity and
common justice to the prevention OF
monopoly oppression and e1tortionate
rates. Such is the price the railroads
ought in jEstice to pay in return for
the substantial aid they receive from
the people. It may be early enough
for the next legislature to create
such commission, but we certainly
think this issue ought to be recog-
nized at tie polls, and tho people
should be permitted to express their
Judgment upon it. 1t is already
notorious that 4 railroad lobby, armed
with free whisky and fast women,
exercised an undue influence over
some of our late councilmen-two of
whom, if reports be true, are already
transferred to citizenship in Oregon.
What has been done cannot be IN
done, but our voters can see to it
that able, representative trustworthy
men be sent to the council next time.
When we published. as q matter of
news, what was common talk, viz;
that Collector Beechor had been con-
fronted in the Z. S. Senate by dan-
aging testimony in the shape OF aft
davits sent on against his integrity,
and that he had gone to Washington
to face the music, the Port Townsend
Can had spasm almost, and init
mated that we were actuated by spite
against the gentleman. Since then
that paper has had a picnic all to
itself, getting into furious rage
and now it demands in rash agony
that these charges be produced. II
ever any man had occasion to pray tC
be delivered from his friends, thai
time has come and Mr.. Beecher is
the man who should certainly tele
graph his over jealous, foolish organ
to keep still. 1t has been currently
rumored time and again since Capt
Beecher ran the Evaugel that there
were several crooked transaction!
by which different persons in Sar
Juan county and elsewhere had beer
victimized in sums ranging up int
hundreds of dollars. Whether or no
Capt Beecher is gully of dishonesty
there are many who honestly thInl
he is, and to challenge such persons
to production of proofs is inviting
a public scandal that certainly wouit
be anything but gratifying to thu
Collector and his friends. As far a
tho ARGUS is concerned, it is no
dipping into any democratic mug
wump fight, and it is willing -tha
| Mr.. Beecher should stand or fall OF
his own merits, It has certainly
shown him fairness, courtesy and 1
full measure of eommendation in tn,
past, and it certainly is no
moved by a spirit of unfairnes.
toward him at this time Presiden
| Cleveland Is having hard time will
his unfortunate appointments, from
cabinet officers down, and when any
turmoil occurs in his official house
hold we can afford to hold our nos,
and wait for it to ''blow over"
London has her bread riots, Ire
land her evictions, Russia her nihilis
crimes and Germany her government