The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-05
Tacoma Bureau Of the Post-Intelligencer.

Tacoma Bureau OF the Post-Tntelligencer,
i12s Pacific avenue.
TACOMA Jan 4-Special-Ths Post
1ntelligsncer correspondent has IL on the
highest authority that the Northern Pa
ciac Railway Company viii refrain alb
solutely from maintaining agents or repre-
sentatives at Olympia during the coming
session OF the legislature. In view OF thu
past connection OF the Northern Pacific
Railroad Company with the third house"
at Olympia. this announcement viii be
read with a great deal OF interest by the
solons themselves and BY people generally.
A high official OF the railway company, IN
conversation with the Post-Intelligencer
representative today. said that the man.
agemant of the road had resolved not in
any manner TO be concerned In legislation
at Olympia The company would, OF
course, watch with much interest the at
titude OF the legislature regarding railroad
charges. but there viii be nothing with
even the smallest appearance or LOBBY
at Olympia II the legislature makes a
reasonable reduction, although the North
ern Pacific maintains that the present
rates are low enough, the company viii
submit. r. however. the legislature cuts
away all profit there Is IN the business or
freight and passenger traffic in Washing
ton, the company viii take the law into
the courts.
Eastern Washington grain and fruit
growers win. of course. be much interest
ed I'm the bill which lie being prepared by
George Turner, OF Spokane, revising rates
from the interior TO coast points II Is
probable that other bills viii be intro
duced and the legislature will be engaged
for several weeks in consideration OF the
problem. The Populists are pledged to re-
duce freight rates. and may De expected
TO carry their platform into effect IL pos
sibls. There are two sides to every quss-
tion. however. and many Populist MEM
beers of the legislature can be counted on
TO oppose any measure that Will reduce
fares and rates below profitable point
In every legislature In the past the
genus CRATER" has been well represented
at Olympia, If not In the legislature. at
least as a member of the third house
This individual will be disappointed IL ne
expects to reap a harvest from disposal
of Influence to the railway company
during the consideration of the freight re-
duction bills. To these people the COM
pany will extend 1.-The icy hand" with
frmness that will seem appalling.
The decision OF the company officials
or the Northern Pacific TO send no repre-
sentatives to Olympia Is one or the evil
dences OF the changes that have gradual
ly taken place since the new company as
sumed control of the road. Another
equally radical departure from the old
The number OF passes furnished politi-
clans, public officials and employees, and
prominent citizens has been reduced
over 80 per cent. The result has been that
many people who have been able In the
past TO travel almost a. VIII over the COM
pany's lines in the West. and particular
~ in Washington and Oregon, will be COM
PEELED to pay the regular rates IL they
wish to journey by the Northern Pacific.
The abuses OF the pass system were not
confined simply TO members OF the legis-
iature and county. city and state officials.
The time was In Tacoma when almost
any man OF prominence in politics, no
matter to which party he belonged. could
secure free transportation without much
difficulty The number OF annual passes
out during 1896 was something enormous.
while the issing of trip passes has always
kept from one TO three clerks busy in the
headquarters building. AL this is done
away with now. Animals are restricted
TO officers of the company and employees
who need them. while the issuance of trip
passes has been reduced over half. As
one OF the local officials OF the Northern
Pacific said today, "the company Is run
ming the road for what business there is
In it, and not for glory