Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1891-02-16
WHO SHALL COMPOSE THE RAII.
ROAD COMMISSIONS

fatlOnS want either n commission
that shall serve them or commits
sion that shall not do anything for
the people, in either case Il purely
ornamental, compliant, do-nothing
body, that shall only be burden to
the taxpayer. Then, there are the
politicians who have no further in
terest in the commission than tltt it
has offices to be filed with loli ical
strikers.
All three of these elements are
hostile to Il good efficient railway
commission. The first oppose a
commission on principle. The second
do not want any commission. The
third want commission only for
personal purposes. Between the
three it is bard for the people TO Sc
cure Il good commission.
Yet, the people should give the
commission fair show. a railroad
commission and the legislation con-
nected Herewith is a growth. In
Oregon it is in its infancy. It's early
years have been surrounded with
difficulties, such as no commission
ever labored under. The hostility
of the executive has blocked them in
their labors, and checked the growth
of the system. The commission
system is now fairly upon its feet in
Oregon, and ifthe present members
had their two years to serve over
again, they could render IL service
far more valuable to the people and
more satisfactory to themselves.
The first year or two of any railroad
commission are years of experience
and practically of schooling to their
work.
Members of The legislature, no
matter what their primary ulterior
interest, cannot afford to favor an
ignorant or inefficient commission
The great expense Of commission,
the great powers proposed to be
lodged in their hands by this new
legislation, forbid tits. a com
mission ignorant of the details
of the work before them, unfa
miliar with the technique of the
transportation question, is as bad a.
a commission composed of weak men
Dr tools Of the corporations. a new
com mission composed of untried
men is to be avoided.
The proposed new legislation is.
commission legislation.
1t was all asked for or sug gges!ed by
present and former commissions
The Geer bill was outlined by Com
missioner Slater and contains the
'esults of his many years experience
md devotion to the transportation
problem. Not a provision in that
dill but has been enacted into the
codes of other states,
md fully tested in the courts. Th,
pills to give the commission mor
power are commission bills. Theil
intent, purpose and execution car
'nly be properly uuicrstuod by
men who have served on the com
mission, or men familiar wi II the
problems commissions have to face
There is no escape from the cUnclus
on that the state should not be de
rived OF the experience gained by
ctual service, and the knowledge
ca uired in the details of The wDrE !
y the present commission.
Present commission has not only |
familiarity with the labOrs OF the |
f1ice, but has been tried in "a crucial
manner, in the case Of the Labish
'reck. All the pressure the South
rn Pacific road could bring to bear
oIld not swerYe Messrs. Faull, Col
il aud Glow II hairs breadth in the
erformance Of their duty. They
squarely, and yet with
erfect fairness to all sides, defended
ublic interests and decided against
lat corporation in accordance with
le facts. By so dong they incur
ID the displeasure of that corpor-
ion and it will no doubt use all its
tluence to defeat those men
ne representatives OF the {
Ople should sustain them. TO
low them TO he struck down now
to allow corporation to triumph |
er public otli cials for honestly do
2 their duty as they saw it at a l
Dst critical time, when the eyes of q
e whole state were upon them 4
assrs. Colvig and Glow should be :
elected. Mr.. Fault declines to Ii
ain serve. i
rbis JOURNAL is not advised what K
rty caucuses may do in this mat
=. 1t only presents what it be-
yes are the just interests of the a Z,
Dple, who have a right to the 7
,st efficient commission possible. Il
has not learned that there is any o.,
position to Mr.. Colvig, His con- OF
uance is conceded.
/ Is understood that Hon. J. II. r,
.ck is being pressed as democratic il,
mber Of The commission. 1t Is di
publicly claimed that MT. Black =
any special qualifications for this A
ce. II democrats consent 10 this I
viii merely be concession to an q
ee-seeker, which will result In Z
placing an efficient, tried aud true