The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-28

adopted by the committee reflect the gen.
crAl sentiment OF the members OF the
general assembly that not a single vote
was cast against u IN either house upon
It's flnal passage Since the adjustment OF
business under this law there has been
less friction between the people and the
and so satisfactory has Il proved TO all
that no one. not even a railroad man, has
20 this day asked the legislature TO re-
peal the law or any part OF Il. The act
contains no new principle Of railroad
control. Ey far the greater part OF It's
provisions were taken from the old law.
Nearly every one az It's features may he
found either IN the Interstate commerce
act or upon the statute books OF other
states, IL provides that charges must be
reasonable and just. that no undue pref
errnce or advantage shall be given 70 any
railroad patron. and that equal facilities
for Interchange OF traffic shall be given
90 ali roads. II prohibits pooling. a great
er charge for shorter than longer
haul, the shorter or any portion Of II be-
iug included in the longer. and discrimi-
nation against any shipping point II re-
Qn.rcs that schedules OF rates and fares
shall be printed and KEEP. for public In
spection. and that no advance shall be
made I'm rates or fares once established
except after ten days public notice: and
Il empowers the board Of railroad COM
missioners 20 make and revise schedules
for railroads. the rates contained In such
schedules TO b received and held I'm all
suits as prima facle reasonable maxi
aitiss and means OF enforcement
II must not be supposed that by The
passage OF this act the legislature dis
claimed the right 20 fx absolute rates. it
simply chose this sxpedisnt because IN
the present tentative stage Of rate reGtl-
lafion u seemed most efficient
There has been much misunderstand-
ing concerning the Iowa law. Mary sup
pose that the Iowa commissioners have
power 20 make confiseRtory rates FOR the
railroads. While in fact they can only
deemed and taken In ali courls OF The atata
as pFirfa facie evidence that thew are
reasoua be and fusf maximum rates until
the railroads snow that they are not.
They are sc liberty 20 20 into court any
day and show this. II they are able Tnev
are. however. careful not 20 undertake
this. for no one knows better than they
do that the rates fxed by the comnls-
sioners are liberal FOR tke railroads.
There are nine states besides Iowa
ln y efra The power 20 tx rates has h~en
contefrcd upon railroad couifn4s@ faraers
8is feature of the law Vas therefore far
from being a novel one. yef 20 pruvisloa
of lhe ack ~a@ previous 20 It's passage
Fo fGfioualy opposed oF suNseafars % ~
an etuhhegalt resisted as fAiS Ral}reaN
managers realized thas a surrender og tha
ftEbf 20 make their own rates was vtrtt-
ally s1irfendev q the power 90 practice
"Gsv Iarra6es continued. II - seen
tfat Foe Tears. or rather tire pretended
fears - the railroad rlR3aEers tAat tNe
railroads we're eHtir9iT eroundle4s as a
result Of the laN railroads Hsve heam ahfa
lo decrease iheir sross ea~ninss - vel
as tleir nr19ts. Teey Aavc seen euaeaea
% eiVe empl0Ttaeai 70 8 I1rEar F-ry SEP
W feeo H1d there hHs hHrn no neeasfav,
Tor them 60 carry ont ere dishonest threat
- decrease che waEns % thuir snsu}agax
Had it rot beer ,er their increased - rr,-
mss tu fawa tas icsseS rseeUs5v sustained
"a otter states - several q ;ae through
lifHs worf3 haFn made { islpoeesa,a t1r
fNera g declare fHa dividends q ef-H, - az