The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-18
Acting Gov. Laaghton Thinks
1t Unconstitutional.
SAYS n IS CLASS LEGISLATION
Inaicts Hardship on Shippers in the
Neighboring States.
Charges More fer . Short Thnn n Lnrr
Haul -Wsnla Dsseouraes KasIrssA
Building ReisefFrsm Iaterssat~Ccn-
1ission-Flimsy Defense u Bad Deed.


ernor L21ghton- il vetoang the wxsson
rsilroad bib reducing freighfs tHouse biIl
Sa. 40, gives four reasons:
fzrsf-Ths inv is unconstitutional. he-azse II
e1ass 1egssasz7un- It fare-x the yzr9durer ct
waerfz 6our. harley and .niTlx.uas ara sis-
crlInansfes Arsszxf the producer of other prod
EcS assc against the other tzsxzeus Of tsn- state
wne lnsr desire TO ship any 1her elsss OF sreaghf
ever the lines CT co1nmoa CARRIER within 1ae
kfAfs II places railroaa cc.npauy IN saeh
posluen as 90 riolate section l. of article l. OF
lnt srsfe constitution. Wh5fsh yrescrlfses that
NO Discrimination u tharges ca facilities for
transportation shall be made a,y euy railroad er
oioe- trans sortafie1 eHsn anny bs.ween places or
pefsunk II . also IN direct vlnls-iar Cd seefdor
- oi Hr1snle y OF the eaugta7ut which pre-
scrlbeS thai The legislzf1re shall pass
izEs establishing reasonable maximum
rates OF charges fer the frxakporrs-
correct aonses and 10 prevent dssc-fminsti0n
sna sxf1rzien In the rGie Of freight" Instead OF
EfFezfing rAiK discriElaErion between rxtes Cd
1rsikhi- the Ma, by irx expressed terms. dis
er1zn112ies II the most pzlpsise manner. Again.
the Legislature IN passing this hill has nos pnased
Inv establishing rcasunable maximum rates
of charges for the transportation oG passengers
and freaEbt- bGf il rus passec hll essa tsish-
ang naximrn rate Cd charges fcr certain COM
nodlfitk or produrts- The sc1 in fberefore in
pain zne open violation CT the ,ruSisjmx herein
Quoted In serfion is OF xr1iele Is af the cpuxtu-
fon- u being unconstitutional. IL requires
neither legal EufherIfy nor fErther argument 30
justify the assertion shsa il should NOT become
Q law
Seuond-There sse Other valid legal grounds
why such law should not De paased. The con-
gress ct The Tuiied StRfex hek rrrxied gn inter
state tnEnInsrce commission which has ysywer TO
reTrizte freight rates and adjust the grievances.
II any there be. winch are attempted 10 he nd
5ssted fs the ball under consideration An ar1
such as this NOT Only 6iscr1ninafes against en-
lzeas cd the stsie, bnf Il disS-iminatex against
citizens in the neighbur1ng ssxses ut Idaho snc
Montana who produces the same commodities n
those xue7tloned IN the hill, Hud who are com
pelied n ship such products 20 Cnnsf
points ius transportation 10 market ca
suffer lnm by shipping them
. greater distance 70 Enssern pointk Cumucr
cszrsers- under this Act- charge the producer of
whesi, harley. foEr xpd millstHds who reside IN
Nrzztana and Idaho Q much greater rate than
the producer ct the same commodities IN this
state Under the laws os ccmitr between the
states. ana under the principle which knoald
gorezn iegixlEtion in al masters where state
power is hrouxbs into conflict with the fsdersl
Ixwes, il II but justice and right that the Ierlx-
latirE and executive power oi . state should m
lar ~ rnsxlble aszikf the tztizers Of its MISTER
stafes and the Legislative and executive yscwer
al rhe Inlted SfAeU in gHnxan1eespg TO rresccs
4he GitiEens ei sach sister aztz1cs acasuz1
unjust diserimsnar5er and fnir1urernenf upsa
Legislation already ygcscsdhed br congress for
their protection In ny oyinSyn The law. instead
OF taking sufh q ceurses materially 1nJurtx and
curfxils the rights OF the citizens Of the sss1er
states IA protecting themselves iron xnch dis
elimination, and II certainly conflicts with the
provisions Of the Act OF congress known Ms the
Interstate commerce act Il becomes fhereby an
infringement upon 1huHe rules nf policy ana lsw
witch should always exist between ias stEtex
and the STATES and the United SrxteA II in.
therefore, specially within The province OF the
executive ei q state to advise against thf enact
mer1 OF such law.
7hird-As matter in puslie poiicy it il IN
Wise IN this, that II directly diserlnlnxtes a.
cRlities as against the other counties md 10
catafies OF cur sfxtc The ra1es prescribed affeca
.-wheaf- barley. -four er other niIlstufs~ yspra-
toes melons or hay only II excludes grocer
les, hardware, lumber. coal, minerals and al
precious metals. and ofher commodities and
yrosucss II ID. therefore, a 6irer1 s5uw
d; the Development of the industries
which produce the commodities abpVe
referred 20. il does MT afford, IN mr. orinien.
The relief which fhs fsrIner seeks hE1 is levsrly
designed 20 affect the capitalist; the warehouse
snan. The elevator owner and the maDsv lender
whe advances money On The growing e-oyz
Fonrrb-H yreseribes q greater charge for .
less THAI fos 7aneev hsnl II hxes M general
maximum of charges. b21 solely q Giserzmiua-
ton as aEainsf aIs other commodities in Igyer
OF -four, potatoes, rnillstUfs. hay, wbeai and
harley. IN liz operation IL xo1ld ABSOLUTELY
prevent the construction of new lines Of Iuea1
roads The necessity io- wtlich Is 50 apparent n
developing the immense natu-ai resources OF