The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-09
KEEpTSc FAITH.

The Tacoma Ledger says that the SEN
ate rs to be congratulated for slaughter
Ing the Helm BILL" 1t il difficult to UNI
derstaFHl wherein lies the cause for con-
graduation. The Republican state con-
vention declared In favor OF such leg
isIation as will control and effeciivey
carry out the constitutional requirements
for the passage OF laws regulating
fre,uhts and fares" Gov. McGraw IN
his message to the legislature spoke as
follows upon the subject, and his re-
marks In this connection met with cor
dial approval at the hands of the people:
..our railroad legislation has been tenta-
tive and triiiing, owing to the prevalence
OF the idea that the Adoption OF any
measure attacking transportation reve-
nues might cause losses on operation ana
Investment, which would IMPURE the best
interests Of the state In discouraging the
construction OF new lines or the extern
sion of existing ones. SO long as the
question of the regulation or railroad ana
general transportation charges Is ap-
preached ia a spirit of moderation and
with the purpose TO do exact Justice De-
tween the corporate powers and their
patrons, 1t Is not TO be apprehended that
the public will be accused OF any narrow
yisioned hostility or prejudice to the or
cantzed capital represented In transpor,a-
ton companies. The genius OF Wander
bit long ago taught us primarily what
ths Hungarian zone system has fully
demonstrated In later years-that mini
mum charges. charging the horizon OF
freedom In exchange and commercial IN
txk frrr
volume of traffic as makes the sum of the
small profits greater than the net Income
from the higher rates which serve resiy
To restrict internal commerce and depress
the values OF communities made poorer
by the waste of products they can neither
usa nor send TO market. The legislature
should amend and improve the present
rate law so as to afford the public the
utmost relief consistent with honesty and
fair dealing, and make ample provision
for Its absolute enforcement. Complaint
Of evasion is now common and apparent
IL justified
rrhese views express exactly the posi-
ton of the Republican party upon the
question Of railroad legislation. Under
such circumstances therefore there would
seem to be little cause for congrat1ia-
ton from q Republican standpoint over
the summary slaughter. OF the Helm
or Morgan hill. IL may be and doubtless
Is true that tlae reductions provided Tor
In the bin were excessive; Il may be and
doubtless Is true that some highly OBJ
tartfanshse amendments were tackled on
"a the tltl In the house by nnwise extretn-
ists or actual opponents of the bin with
shs Intention OF making the hin so OBJ
noxtous that tha senate would reject IL.
,s may be and doubtless Is true that the
bin al originally drawn was framed IL.
the interests of the farmers and grain
dealers Of Eastern Washington and mill
,atrSi against the interests OF the short
hauls' districts os Western Washington.
All OF these things may be admitted.
and Yet the action OF the senate Is not
justified. There should certainly be sum
Gent constructive craftsmanship In the
senate 10 have SO modified ana amended
the bin "a 10 have oaSta'ed these eeiec-
tions. The extremists. the men who
were eiasnering for unreasonable and CA
cessive reductions. should have been
given the opportunity 30 Vote for res-
Sonahlo and equitable measure IL they
haa refused 10 support such a measure.
shea the responsibility would he placed
with them. as IL is. however, the ma
iority OF the senate are responsible for
defeating at, legislation upon n question
upon which the state convention ef the
Republican party. the governor Of t6e
state ana an overwhelming majority of
the Republicans In the lower house had
declared themselves Ia no uncertain
terms.