The state herald., 1893-01-20
OUR NEW EXECUTIVE.
GOVERNOR wAlTe's INAUGURAL


It the Broadway theater, Denver, Tuesday af-
ternoon before the Legislature and vast audi
ence OF private citizens. His address was
listened To with the closest attention and
many Of bis suggestions were heartily APP
plauded. II was as follows.
! Gentlemen of tho Senate and House Of
fRepreaentatives--wc nre assembled to wit
ness the inauguration Of the state officers
chosen 1t the late election. My honored
predecessor. Governor Routt, at the opening
OF this legislative session, submitted his
biennial message, referring infinitely to the
financial situation OF tho state government,
and the condition of the various state I'm.
stitutions. and, agreeing rs do with most
of his Recommendations. I nm relieved In
good part from any extended consideration
of these subjects. II tho newly elected
state administration represented a policy
liko that Of the preceding state administrA-
tion for number Of terms. this inaugural
address might well he brief bnt. since the
late election has occasioned II change In
men and measures, It is but reasonable that
some reference should he made to the
! prIrciples and the policy which viii influ-
encc the present state ADMINISTRATION.
THE RAILROAD QUESTION.
There ia nothing Of greater Importance to
the people Of Colorado than the railroad
question. There Is no issue that for
longer period has engaged the attention of
the citizens Of the state. or upon when
the public sentiment has been so united.
and none IN which fewer practical conccs-
sions have been made 10 that sentiment. A
lsy was passed in 1851 creating n railway
I tuAs>nrsnion IN ihIs state, Nv. -'rlus sha
commissioner only advisory power The
Fifth general assembly 0ss'), In opposition
to the recommendations Of Governor Eaton
not only refused TO amend the law, as
to gtve power 10 the commissioner to Fix
rates. but also denied any appropriation for
his support.
Governor Adams, In his Inaugural address
Of January. 1887. called attention to the
railroad question and invoked legislation,
such as would be lust alike 10 the railways
and the people. The following Is from his
reference TO rnilroad matters In that al.
dress:
'sThera must be no discrimination he.
tween communities or individuals There
must be no favoritlsm which gives pros
pcriiy To one concern. and inilicts bank
ruptcy upon It's competitor. All patrons OF
railroad should he treated with lbsoluTc
equality. and this equality II to he dclcr.
mined bv locality and cost Of service 'Ihesa
are bat tho principles " common honesty
and business fairness. and to ihrir opera
ton tho railroads Should not Object
Again In his message 'lsSpl iic renew N
In tn strongest tcrus these recoinnienda
tions
Governor coopcr in his inaugural address
Ian, 4 1881. made similar rerommcuda-
the Republican state platform adopted IN
1850 ~ follows:
~. We favor fair hut stringent icSisia
tion respecting tho railways IA Our state
"wc declare ibas roos, rebates ana M
determinations should bn prohibited, and
tho prohibition rigiily enforced hy heavy
penalties, We also demand legislation
that will prevent tho charging OF exor0,
tnne rates.
awe also demand legislation prohibitn:
nil officers. indelal, legislative and exec
utivc. from accepting, directly or indi.
rectlv. railway passes or free tickets, and
In his biennir message dsoil Governor
Cooper renewed these recommendations.
Nevertheless. Tho Seventh general assem-.
bly gave no heed 10 the recommendation
of either Governor Adams or Governor
Cooper, or Ia tle Instructions Of the Ito
publican platform of ISIS.
Governor iioutt In his inaugural address,
January. 1891. addressing the Elgntn gen.
eral assembly, renewed and cndorsfd u
the strongest terms. tho railroad polio
recommended by his predecessors aud
quoted In full from the Republican state
platform Of 1870. as follows:
'Kesolved. That the Interests Of the poo
pie Of tho stnfu require OF the next lel,s'
iaturc the passage Of n wise aud jude /. 81
railroad law, one. In Its terms, that wil -
fus. and fair b1fh 10 the people and o.
tho railroad corporations. that we believe
the public welfare viii he hest promoted
BY the appointment Of II railway conifuis-
sion composed OF three men. thorough.
acquainted with tho commercial and ecu.
monte conditions of the state. aud that. a.
tho end that tho rights OF IN. people may
bo subscrved. and the interest OF the state
fostcred. we demand that whatever faii.
road law II passed shall invest such com
mission with the power 10 revise inc rnIcI
OF tho carriage OF either passengers VI
frcighG"
a.. H.. Z
plank Of the Democratic party Of Colorado
adopted IN isA,. which Substantially de
handed the same railroad legislation.
Neither the Republican nor Dem
ocr.uin party IN ihls state. to my
know ledge, at aus state or even count,
convention. has ever repealed. amcnd,i al
changed In the slightest respect this posi-
ton upon the railroad question. Bui thl
Eighth general assembly, In defiance 81
both the political and non partisan senti-
ment Of the state. refused TO enact any rnii'
road Legislation whatever.
During the past year new political par.
~ appeared In tho Held, aud with ngrres
sivc aud wei i,1nci political principle
swept the state Mt the late acrglon. Thls
new party, represented b. the present stale
administration. Is well known TO 10 AZ
least equally rs,ilcsl with either OF the old
parties a. T., railroad legislation. and tho
Acre-sions Al thu lat. siestlon fIom III. Two
old parties which Increased the new pariA
IN one year from about i,VD electors Ia
over 62,OOD. was In part occnsion"i 10y q
general dissatisfaction among iha Vuters
for tho reason that both the Seventh AM
Eighth general assemblies had ignored the
last demands II the people for relief FROM
ertravngant and unjust railway 'A-rrsini
nations.
The right to make tariffs and -oforcr
their collection Is inhcreii; IN any railway
system. hut the RICH, directly or indirectly
| for any railway To rrhaio portion ~ i,r
tariff. and thus discriminate between It,
customers In thu collection II ii- revenues.
| u right which no civilized government
o.slns, and no sovereign has dared q, CT.
er,s,., for oeulur.cs. II til. congrrs. of the
! rnited States should cnoc law which
4 established On any comnoiiiy one impost
duty for thu cry Of New York. aud DIFF
| f-rsnt duty for other cities, or one duty
for one nrin aud another duty for another
nnn. NO uinrrr how Sigh, IN. difference.
| the people would resort To arms " no,-l
| be. nthsr than submit YET such has hren
ih~ cuaditon VI railway Hffsirs in COLORADO
fer years.
The right Ia discriminate 10 bold y
ctaisisi and Ia. br-n wnntoniy exercised.
10 csroa1p munins districts 81 p<x ton
dAaredn htsEN on silver on 10 Denver
By she oAr.lo,d. and the shipper loAfl~ th'
cars. ~ Thu u eisimrd "a be rhe lowest
ps9ibla rase 81 whica silver ORC oan h,
+ ssr:sspor,ei TO Denver NJ proft. and this
y q rate wfihsh comrrls the bulk Of tht
/ ore a an ordinary silver mine, across M.
range. ito 60 o~sr III" dump, ~ no, payinr
| shivpnS cIps1ses.
| n the anna time tho same railway com.
pany iaiAss It's own ccai At It's own expense.
| taoAa ~ ears. ships II ~ mile. TO iia own
| e6op evsps unioads and cokea the roai. re-.
iosds and transports the coke over the same
| mosniaiR range and roui. II transports thu
| silver ore. and sells III. coke At Denver Al q
| pr toni or course. the coal.cok. transpof
tAtion y At . smAii pronl aud the trans
| Doftsuep u an ratravaEnnt rate. but ~hni
| HSAt IN railway company, upon any cor
rest business principles. 10 e,rn up II.
ADtoutivs pfonis on roai and coke by over
ehR6sa on silver orsf And why should tb'
silver producer. who has no Interest In 81
ssaAsstioe with coal mining. pay . spccin
taR FAR ths hrosdt a. 4 railway ar ,oaI mn