Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1897-03-05

the means nor the inclination to prose-
cute their rights in the courts of law !;
but as they held that they could only
pass upon individual charges, and did
not have the power to revise the com.
panies' tariffs, the companies were
virtually in 4 position to become guilty
of more extortions in one day than
the commission could investigate in n
year."
Governor Larrabee then traces the
steps taken by the people Of Iowa in
remedying the defects of the law then
in force, and further says
"The demand of the people for more
equitable rates and n more thorough
control Of the railroad business in
creased from year to year. Repeated
attempts were made in the general as
sembly to secure the passage of an act
looking to that end, but, owing to
shrewd manipulations on the part of
the railroad lobby. every attempt was
defeated. There are always, of course,
a large number of members who repre-
sented districts not well supplied with
railroad facilities. They, as a rule,
honestly opposed restrictive legisla-
ton, believing that such legislation
would check building, and that, COM
petition could be relied upon to correct
abuses. OF those members who had
less positive convictions many were
retained as railroad attorneys, and
were thus made serviceable to the
companies. Other members with
political ambition were fattered or in
timidated into subjection, and bribes
in disguise, such as passes and special
rates were not infrequently resorted
to to strengthen the railroad following
in both houses Of the general assembly.
Railroad corruption did not pause
here. 1t is a notorious fact that large
sums of money were paid to venal pa
pers of both parties in consideration
of an agreement on their part to defend
transportation abuses and exert their
influence against progressive railroad
legislation. The vilest means we're
often restored to by these sheets to OBJ
tain their end. Public men who had
the courage to avow their opposition
to existing railroad abuses or to favor
most perfect system of State control
of railways were misrepresented, ridi-
culed, traduced and denounced as dem.
agogues and socialists by hypocrtical
editors, who prostituted their politi-
cal influence as long as they enjoyed
railroad stipends, and who at intervals
people for the purpose of extorting
from the railroad companies new
and increased subsidy. But truth
cannot long be surpassed. The masses
OF the people may be imposed upon
for time, but even the shrewdest
rogue will eventually be compelled to
surrender. In time even rather I'M
sophisticated voters learn to place a
true estimate upon the motives of the
editors, whose policy, as one of them
expressed it in the authors presence,
was controlled in the counting-room.'
Railroad politicians gradually lost
their influence, and the symptoms of
public discomfort greatly increased.
In the political campaign of 1887 State
control of railroads became one of the
main issues. Both of the great polit-
ical parties in their platforms had de-
clared themselves very emphatically
in favor of such legislation as would
bring railroad corporations under COM
plete State coutrol, and with very few
exceptions the various legislative dis.
tricts had nominated only such men
as candidates for legislative Offices as
were known to be in thorough accord
with the masses Of the people upon the
railroad question.
"The election resulted in an even
more complete defeat of the railroad
forces than had been generally
anticipated. Yet no hasty steps was
taken when the general assembly con.
vened.
A large number of bills contemplate
ing railroad reforms in varions ways
were introduced, but. the material
presented was carefully sitted by the
railroad committee and a committee
bill was framed which incorporated
the best features of them all. The
committee listened patiently for weeks
to the arguments of the representa-
tives of both the railroads and the
shippers. \
Never before had SO formidable a
railroad lobby assembled at the State
capital. The danger signal had been
raised, and not only were the great
political manipulators of the State
called into requisition, but experts
from adjoining States joined them in
besieging the Legislature. The dogs
of war were let loose from all quarters.
A legion of hirelings were jealous to
show their servility and loyalty to
their lords. The daily and weekly
papers of the State in the service of
the railroad companies teemed with
arguments from the pens of railroad
attorneys, and their columns were
profusely supplemented with editorials
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