The Forrest City times., 1897-01-22

trial If It's enforcement is cor,m,,to, 10 fair-nlinded, intelligent and firm men, of approved integrity. no fear need be induiged as to .ts coniio,,anc. oy subsequent legislatures.
 The policy being one aimed ot ina apolitioh ot abuses protected by the most powerful corporations operating within our borders. it is quite impor- tant to surround the commission in the tentative period of it's existence with as few opportunities as possible Tor diyerting the commissioners from a desire. or depriving them of the mo- tlve for discharging the duties imposed upon them in an energetic and fearless manner. For this reason I think if to be indispensable that these positions should not for some years to come be made merely political prizes. to be competed for as political offices are now. l am quite decided in the belief mat the duty of appointing the con- missioners should be deyolved uDon the governor. and he should, as a fair means Of preserving the independence and efficiency of the board. be invested With the power of removing at any time any commissioner who. in his opinion, is inefficient or corrupt. There Is no fear that any governor who may hereafter be inaugurated will abuse this power. The public have the guar anty of his fidelity furnished by his prlde and ambition. as well as that Furnished by the fact that very few Of our governors have ever been guilty of any very disreputable act. If the commissioners shall be. made elective at any time before the utility of the system becomes so apparent that re- sistance to 1t has ceased. it is among the probabilities that a powerful opI o. sition, such as entrenched abuses can marshal when their wrong are being resisted. may develop and result in electing persons who will strive to make the system odious. as was done Tn one of the adjoining states. Where It IS necessary to overthrow the entire party in charge of the state govern ment in order to accomplish this. the undertaking is so large as to deter those who would not hesitate to or ganize against the mere candidates for commissionerships.
 The salaries and expenses remain to be considered. This service is one which will require for its proper per formance the best and wisest among cue citizenship. One of the principal objections publicly urged by the rail- way interest is that the salaries named in all bills offered at former sessions were so low as not to be sufficient to command the services of first-class men. Under existing conditions, this objection can be obyiated. and ought to be. 1 think that the annual salary of each commissioner should be S4 900.
 These salaries and all expenses incl dent to the existence of the commits sion, should be paid by the several railways in some fair proportion. The supreme court of the United States says that this method is not only legal, but that 1t is just In determininx what rate will be reasonable for any particular company to charge. all of it's legitimate outlays are considered and sufficient allowance will be made to cover all sums paid on account of the commission. Whatever sum any rail- way may, therefore. be compelled to contribute to the expense of maintain ing the commission will be treated as an expense rightfully incurred, and reimbursement on account thereof will be allowed. In the end, therefore, the expense involved i'll supporting the commission will devolve upon the peo- pie who patroniZe the railroads. and for whose protection the commission was created. This is but just The supreme court of the United States has said so, and you are not likely to i'm pose any very onerous burdens on cor porations while applying its doctrines.