The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-01-14
Railroad Legislation.

and important piece OF legislation 10
be passed by the present Legislature IA
a statute regulating the freight and
passenger traffic on our railroads.
The majority of the legislature and
the executive branch OF this admins.
tration stands firmly pledged to the
people Of South Dakota by theplatform
adopted at Huron on July 14th last to
enact the measure known in this state
as the wheeler BILL" being a copy Of
the Iowa law which has successfully
wilhstood in the courts every assault
made upon it by the counsel for the
railroad corporations. 1t is probably
the best Of it's kind on the statu,.s Of
any state in the Union.
This measure needs no introduction
10 the legislature or the people. 1t was
matured long prior to and INTRODUCED
in the session of the fourth general
assembly and after a terrific struggle
was defeated by the pernicious corpora
ton lobby which has infested the cap
itol at every session of the Legislature
since the organization OF the state. The
hCNNoSils " liz VA ~ law
governing the railroad carrying traffic
has been painfully apparent for many
years and the people have been FREE
Cuently promised the relief asked for,
but up 20 thep resent time the prom
ises made have been recklessly broken,
and the lobby, which has controlled
party Caucuses and conventions, die
tating nominations and appointments,
hnc tsnnnlonftrr lnAfnI thn v,l1Sn do
mands and successfully defeated every
effort to overthrow its domination.
This lobby cannot flourish unless it
finds public servants who can be fooled
or bribed. 1t will be unable to bring
its baleful influence to bear upon egisl-
I8t!0n If the measure to which we are
'mnly committed is passed without
Q delay, and | therefore recon-
with all the emphasis at my COM
H., that this measure, which has
--~u so we'll digested and so carefully
passed upon by u ablest lawyers, be
enacted during the first week OF the
present session, to the end that it may
not be attacked from without by
amendments and riders which would
destroy its vitality, and in order, furth-
er, that the remaining time may be de-
voted to other important legislation.
The demand for the passage of this
law is the legitimate fruit OF railroad
abuses. The rates paid by our farmers
on products exported and merchandise
imported ere SO greatly in excess Of
rates paid in other states for the same
service that our producers are deprived
OF a fair profit on their labor. Gu cit
les and towns are so Disseminated
IN nj I IN n,v~- ~y.sl~
points that commercial growth in our
midst is impossible. l ashall not take
up our time by a tedious recital Of in
dividual instances, but inquiry at any
railroad office in the state will prove
mat rates on corn to all points in the
central part Of the state are greater per
bushel than the first most OF the corn
in toe southern part OF the state. This
entirely prohibits internal commerce
and forces the shipment Of corn to the
Chicago market when many times it
could be more profitably sold in the
state. Again, the coal rate is exorbi-
tant to a degree. The rate to Sioux
CITY from the nearest mine, a distance
OF 43O miles, is $1.76 per ton, while
the rate to Vermillion, only 33 miles
further is $3.50 per ton. These exam
Piles might be multiplied indefinitely.
This unjust discrimination aginst the
people of South Dakota should teach
every n the necessity OF restrictive
measures and should prompt the legis-
lature to speedily redeem the pledge OF
relief given the people.
The rates charged for passenger SER
vice are no less exaggerated than the
frelght tarins. It costs no more to
build n operate roads in South Dako-
ia than in Iowa and Minnesota, yet the
rate Is greater. 1t should be reduced
10 conform to the Iowa rate, and mill
cage books or other tickets in any
mans hands should be good until used,
when properly signed by the company
issuing them. The people are far more
patient in enduring extortionate char
ges. determinations and political inter-
ference from corporation counsel than
the railroads have a right to expect.
But there IN a time when forbear-
ance ceases to be q virtue. We are not
now asking anything unreasonable
from the railroads. We are merely
contending that they should be willing
to share the reverses and prosperity Of
the people who patronize their lines.
We are cot proposing 10 cnmrel them
w opNlo'S 'hieA Iu'uS at a loss, put we
DO insist that that they shall discon-
tinue the practice of assessing against
their customers rates which will yield
profits over and above operating ex-
penses on millions of dollars Of watered
stock. We are satisfied to pay them
remunerative rates on an honest valu-
alton, but protest against paying hand
some profits on capital never invested.
II we are accused OF being hostile to
the railroads we are justified In reply
ing That u duty compels us to insist
upon justice for all the people, and I'M
dor THO nn1tor, A. -