The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1897-02-13
FRElGHTS AND FARES
IDAHO LEGISLATURE nArrLEs
WITH A VExED PROBLEM.
RilI In Regard TO Fees OF County
OflAcers Also Develops Con-
siderable Opposition.

Boise, Idaho. Feb &--The railroad bill
| introduced In the house by Randolph of
| Latah. which was hnally recommended
| for the purpose Of securing substitution
| OF a modified measure. Is stringent in its
provisions. II makes q pages, and covers
almost every conceivable feature OF the
| business Of the common carrier. The bill
/ provides that no railroad company shah
charge more than cents mile for pass
engers from one point TO another within
the state. and that not more than cent
a mile shall be charged students going
| to or from any OF the states tnstitu-
tons Of learning.
The maximum freight rates In agFlcul-
tural products are fixed at three-fourths
| Of a cent per ton per mile for distances
exceeding 800 miles and cent per ton per
mile for distances exceeding 2U0 miles ana
not exceeding 800 miles. Ia cents per ton
per nile for distances over 100 miles aud
less than 30. cents for distances over
30 and not exceeding 100. and ga cents for
all distances over 10 miles and not exceed
ing 50. provided that no charge for haul
Ing In carload lots shall exceed 50 per ton
from any point within the state TO any
other point within the state.
The schedule of maximum freight rates
provided Is to apply whether 1t be over
one line or over two or more connecting
lines. The long and short haul OF the
interstate commerce law Is also a feature
OF the bill.
The strongest support for the bill comes
from Latah county, where tho people
claim the railroad rates are excessive.
Those who live along the oregon Short
Line In the southern part Of the state are
generally bitterly opposed to the measure.
This company has shown lenient dispo-
sition that il much appreciated by those
patronizing the lines. While the bill hnds
some supporters among representatives
from the southern part Of the state who
are either populists or popullstic In their
tendencies. the business men and tho
masses OF the people generally are unal'
terabiy opposed to Il. and want to sec the
whole subject dropped. II does not seem
likely that any such measure can DO on
acted into law.
i The Fee BIII.
| A subject that attracts quite an much
attention as any other. II. indeed. II Is
not the foremost In tho minds OF Iests-
lators. Is that OF amending tho law re-
specting fees OF county officials. The
senate took the initiative on this subject
and almost from the beginning OF the ses-
sion has been labortng over a bill intro
duced by Senator Davis Of Oneida. The
senate Is evenly divided on the subject.
and the bill. az Il stands, making a cut
Of nearly 50 per cent In the more import
ant fees has so many opponents that TIA
passage Is rendered uncertain. As often
a. It comes up u wrangis arises over some
feature, and postponsmsnt results, At,
ter a comparatively rruitieaa session In
committee Of the whois. motion was
carried that the subject bs referred To
committee composed OF Keller Of Han.
mock. Ballantins OF blaine and Davis OF
Oneida These members represent three
schools OF opinions developed during tho
session
The debate has developed a great diver
sity Of Views and astonishing contgartaty
of Information. The most pronounced al.
vocates OF tho bill insist that they wsrs
elected on platforms piedEinE thefn 10 the
enactment Of just such a measure This
class maintain that their county ON gLilz
especially the ahcrifls. are all paid ex0r.
blthnt salaries. The oppOnents OF the
BILL on the other hand. though In many
cases rayortns REDUCTIONS insist that
shertns do not receive any such compen-
satlon as charged Senator Rich OF Bsar
Lake county. for instance, stated in &c.
bate that officials In that county acquired
wealth while In Office. A letter was To-
Gently published here. however. over tho
signature OF the county clerk OF boar
Lake. showing that II was absolutely nee
essary for The county to make up th5
minimum salaries provided by the coua,l-
tuition In tho case Of the sheriff. tho
amount that the county thus had 10 pay
was N1. The letter further stated that II
no time since the organization Of the
state has the sheriff reached his maxi.
mum. excepting in 1890.
peculiar feature of the statements ad q.
vanced in debate has been the latsrprgtl.
tons put upon reports showing tho gross
amounts paid shsrins. II was asserted
for instance. by Senator Davis OF boise
county that the sheriff Of hts county 70.
celved only t1lOO last year A supporter OF
the bill produced statement shouln,
that tho sheriff was allowed yils5 for ths
last quarter. II was afterwards shown
that all the sherir's travelling expenses
and some other Items had to be- deducted
from that sum to arrive ut his actual
compensation. and that tho net revenue of
his Office for the year. both for civil and
criminal buslnsss. was only tl0ss. I2n IL
this having been paid by tho county IN
making up his minimum.
While the popullst members are as q
whole in favor OF sweeping reductions In
fees. II Is noticeable that Senator Young
of Shoshone county IL among the oppo.
nents Of this measure. The senator's OPP
position Is directed entirely against Tn,
provisions respecting the sheriff. but nj,
mind Is SO clearly made up on that sub
ject that no will vote against tho entIro
bill rather than have II go through a. Il
Ii. The Offices Of Shoshone county are
filled by popullsts, II IL not intended to
convey the Idea that Mr.. Young il guldsi
by partisan feeling In the matter; ha has
simply had an opportunity to learn what
the exact facts are. and his mind IL clear.
ed Of purely partisan sentiment when no
comes to consideration OF the subject.
ASSESSED THE STOCKHOLDERS.
| hittitas County Hank ShaFea Ove,