The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-08
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.


The Anderson Bill Debate @
Amended By Comnaittse.
OLYMPIA. March 7.-(Special.l - The
Anderson railroad bill was taken up In the
senate ~ q special order this morning.
The bill was read with the majority report
recommending that tho reduction be Is
per cent. instead of Is per cent, and the
minority report in favor of the passage of
the original bill. Claypool moved the
adoption of the majority report. Senator
Clsypool said:
The precedent established two years ago of
trying to meet the demands for railroad legis-
lation BY the ''h0risontal reduction" method
was, to his mind, the most perniciOus sort of
legislation that could b indulged In 1t was .
dangerous kind OF class legislation, also.
directed at one particular branch of tho carry
ing trade, and its result would be to benefit
only one particular section OF the state, and
that 1t the expense Of doing Q manifest iu-
justice to the railroads that had invested their
millions OF dollars In building lines OF road
through this stats. 1t was very poor policy on
the part OF new state like Washington to begin
snacting legislation that would tend to keep
out competing lines Of traffic. On the other
hand, II would be wise policy to encourage rail-
road construction BY giving assurance Of fair
rate for the transportation of freight
Senator Frink opposed the majority re-
port, saying:
have looked into this matter somewhat, and
! am perfectly satisfied that the bill a. IL came
from the house will do the railroads in
justice The farmers are demanding the reduc-
tion proposed in the original. and IL is an
nounced that tho railroads are willing 10 accept
the rates laid down In the amended bill. !, for
one, am willing TO stand BY the farmer in this
matter. since find. after investigation, that he
asks what 10 only reasonable The house bill
provides rate OF 3A3l for 50o-mils haul, and
that 10 certainly ali the products can probably
stand.
McCroskey opposed the majority report,
saying:
The roads can nov better afford 70 carry grain
to the Sound ct rate Of @Aal Per ton q the bill
provides. than they can carry it for = per ton q
they had agreed TO four years ago. The Palouse
faucher cannot make pfods Of $500 per year on
his farm OF l60 acres, even BY the combined
efforts o. the men, women and children in the
family. The charges on grain from Garfield 70
Chicago are only one-halt the rate per mile now
charged 70 tide water on Puget sound. In coli
sequence Of this discrepancy. over oue-han OF
the crop OF 1890, the largest crop Eastsrn wash.
tngton farmers ever raised, went to ChicaSo
There Wa no tune during that season when
difference Of cents Per bushsl would not have
changed the entire crop to the Sound
Belknap declared that the present high
rates were largely responsible for the hard
times prevailing among the farmers Of
Eastern Washington. and continued:
Three out Of every Ave of the fasms in his
county were mortgsgcd. The farmers are pay.
ing exorbitant rates on all classes OF merchan-
disc from Portland and ST. Paul. The desttuies
Of thousands OF farmers are resting upon the
adoption or rejection of this bill.
senator Smith Of Whitman said:
Iwiii have little to say in addition 70 what 10
contained In the minority report which have
signed am satisnsd. too. that every membsr
of the senate has already made up his mind a.
10 how he viii vote on the question. and any
thing that might b said at this late time would
have no effect ~ to the anal result Two years
ago this senate adopted similar bin providing
for reduction OF the freight rstes. but for some
reason, probably best known 20 the rxs.sosd
companies themselves. II was vetoed by the aes-
ing governor. Gov. Ferry was out OF the ssats
q the 0ass ed vAsa - ysssrned - vas -