Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-06
The IOWA RAILROAD LAWS.
Two Very Interesting Communica-
tions on the Subject.
A FEDERAL OFFICIAL SCORED
The Presidents Attention Called 60
the Recent Unwarranted Attack
or United states Commis-
sioner Taylor.
Interesting Documents

DEs MONIES, Ia, Oct. 81 Special Tele-
gram to TnE BEE The following letters
have just been made public and are self
explanatory: 4r.
DIS MONIES, Ia, Oct. Ito the Presi-
dent, Washington, District of Columbia
Dear Sir: notice in this mornings papers
and abstract from tho report from tho COM
missioner of railroads. in which Mr.. Taylor
is quoted as saying: TN some states, notably
in Iowa, 1t Is undoubtedly truo that laws
have been enacted and enforced which are
unjust towards railroads and injurious TO
| the public interests and which ought to be
! speedily modified or repealed" 1t appears
| TO me that MIR. Taylor Is indulging in re-
| Elections upon Iowa entirely unwarrantod.
| do not think that congress, in establishing
the office OF commissioner of railroads, con-
tempated making hun the censor Of
state legislation. IL Is not true
| that laws have been enacted and enforced in
| Iowa which are unjust toward railroads or
| injurious 10 the public interests, MIR. Tay
| lor's official testimony to the contrary not
withstanding. The laws to which he refers
| were passed by the unanimous vote of both
branches of our general assembly, which
ought to be some indication of their wisdom.
| Considers Commissioner Taylor's statement,
If correctly reported. an insult to tho people
| oil Iowa, who are certainly competent to deal
| with their own affairs and have sufficient
| sense of justice to protect all interests
| within their jurisdiction. / cannot believe
| that YOU will approve Mr. Taylor's course. l
| am, sir, your obedient servant,
| WILLIAM LARRABEE.
| BURLINGTON, Ia, Oct 3, 1S99-Io the Sec
| retary of the 1nterior-Slr: 1t is unfortunate
| that your commissioner OF railroads should
| go out of his way to attack the Iowa railroad
| law. That law received the unanimous vote
| of both houses of our general assembly and
| the approval of the governor. 1t is supported
| and approved by both of the political parties
| in this state, and so far from being injurious
to the interests of the people or the railroads,
| 1t has been decided benefit to both. IL has
| given new impetus to the industrial and
| business interests Of the state and the earn
| ings of railroads have been better under it
| than they were before. 1t ls true that the
railroad companies fought the law for a
| while, and there is STILL doubtless. some irri-
| tation on their part: but they were beaten in
| the courts and are. now apparently
obeying the law with reasonable good
| faith. If your commissioner had
examined the law and Its working before
condemning it think he would not have
| committed so grave blunder. Our present
! republican candidate for governor as mem.
| ber of the senate, was one of the laws
| principal supporters in the legislature and is
now making his canvass largely on that rec
| ord He declares the law to be the best
state railroad law in the United States, and
| gives 1t his most earnest support upon the
stump, dlUer trldI, rs ne ulu IL placing III on
our statute books He will be elected, but if
| he took the ground of your commissioner he
would be beaten by an overwhelming major
| ity. / do wish the presidents commission
ers--Tanner, Taylor, Roosevelt, ct .omne
genus-would let him announce the policy
OF his administration. The people have
great confidence in the wisdom and the pat
rotism of the president and his cabinet. but
the vaporings of some of the subordinates
have made republicans very tired. Very
respectfully yours,
..-., CHABLEs BEARDsLEY.