The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-17

United States water WAYS, have an in
tiuence in this matter. which cannot be
overlooked nor disregarded.
There are those who beileve that gov
ermental ownership viii solve the diff
ficulties, as tine dividend problem viii lie
out OF the way, thereby Kidding Us of
the cupiditY of stockholders, and the
cunning of the railway managers. The
success of the government in its
financial operations regarding the Union
Pacific railway has led many to doubt
the wisdom OF government ownership.
There are statesmen who believe that
the.solution of the railway commerce
question cannot be solved as long
as the United States has "
interstate jurisdiction. The federal laws
are commerce, comprehend; only, cross
ing sta lines. The state laws ara oper-
alive only in the state. The United
States constitution SAYS to each state:
This far and no farther shalt thou 20"
State laws paramount in the state, and
certain ubiects lose all force as they at
;empl 10 cross the border. As a chained
mastiff we are sovereign within the
chains length: beyond that we are
puppets.
The third clause OF the eighth section
of the United States constitution is as
follows: Congress shall have power
''To regulate commerce with foreign nations,
and among the several states, and with Indian
tribes"
The Tenth amendment to the constitu-
ton of the United Slates~is as follows:
Article X"
1.-The powers not delegated to the
United States by the constitution, nor
prohibited by it to the states, are re-
served to the state respectively, or TO the
people,"
These two sections define the power of
congress; limit the power of state.
All will admit that two governments,
regulating commerce in the same state,
must ever be the source of annoyance,
and, in many cases hardships.
The nature of state government pre-
cludes the idea that a states laws can
ever be permitted to have any effect be-
yond the state. the nature of the United
States government is such that it is in
harmany with our ideas to permit con-
gress to legislate on commerce through
out the United States-and IN the states.
If the states are too proud of the right
to regulate commerce in a state; too
jealous of congress to surrender the right,
then this conflict will rage as long as the
government stands-congress exercising
its interstate rights, the states their state
rights. And yet there are those who
believe that the surrender of the right
by the states to congress TO regulate
commerce in the states will not disrupt
the government or result in any evil TO
the state. In the opinion of the writer
al Of i,ri, !
most barre of good results. the surren-
der of it may solve the railroad trans
portation question. The addition of Two
words to the third section above quoted
would give congress this right as fol-
lows:
ITO regulate commerce with foreign
nations, and among (''and I'M the sew
eral states and with Indian tribes.
In this age of advanced ideas of pa
ternalism in government resulting in
the ''Bull-butter bill" the frantic en-
deavor to have non-option dealing
bill, and the new scheme of having con-
gress build county roads for bicyclists-
it seems that the regulation of com
merce by congress-''among land in) the
several states" is natural and easy
step to take.
The condemnation of the interstate
act, the abuse of state legislators, threats
to future legislatures will avail but lit
tie. The fact exists that there
Are toilsome years lightened by hope-and
freighted with fears
twiXt us and even the base of that
mountain of commercial prosperity to
the summit of which we aspire.
Deliberation, wisdom, constitutional
laws, fearless railway commissions and
patience are all necessary. ~