Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1898-11-05

The bill came before the senate for &C
ton. Performer" after "reformer" rose
to his feet and spoke in favor OF raising
the rate from $500 to 1925. A vote
was taken and the rate was raised to
1926. Not satisfied with this, these
"reformers" voted for amendment after
amendment which made the bill absO,
lutely worthless, so that no reduction
could be enforced under it. In fact, it
was so absolutely worthless that Sena-
tor Crow moved to indefinitely postpone
the bill. The Northern Pacific attorneys
then came to some of US who were inter
ested in reduction of freight rates and
said that they were perfectly willing to
grant the reduction of so cents per ton
which we could not get from the legisla
ture, and if we would bring the bill up
again they would use their influence to
bel 20 pass it. The bill was recOnsidered
and amendments were introduced so that
its provisions could be enforced-and we
found out that when the railroad attOr-
neys were working with Us for reduc
ton all OF the "refOrmers' were with US,
and the bill passed. So let us give the
credit where it il due-to the Northern
Pacific Railway CO., and not to any pO-
litical party.
1t may be claimed that only about
One-third of the fusion party in the SEN
ate were opposed to proper railroad
legislation; but it must be admitted that
the railroad company had all of their
votes that they needed.
passenger rate bill passed the house
and was sent to the senate. 1t was
amended so that it contained a cent
rate, reduction Of 20 per cent. The
"refOrmers" never permitted US to vote
it, although it was satisfactory to every
one, including the Northern Pacific Rail
way Co., as they have since shown by
voluntarily reducing the rate to that
figure.
The "reformers" wanted an anti-Eass
bill and pledged themselves to its pass
age. During the session of the legis!a-
ture a prominent member OF the iegisla-
ture mot from this county, came to me
and said: Hall, you fellows must assist
us in getting that d pass bill out Of
the way without compelling us to 90 on
record it was put to sleep on a
motion to indefinitely postpone (and |
helped the "reformers' as requested)
And | have noticed since that time that
the 'reformers' have passes over the O.
r. & n. railway, and | am compelled to
pay nv fare-another herd case OF IN
Just discrimination by a railroad com
pany.
The populist platform of this year
reads as follows: I'VE demand adequate
protection for the people of this state
against railroad monopoly by the pass
age OF just laws governing freight and
passenger rates, aud we especially de-
mand 3 cent per mile passenger rate
and material reduction from present
freight rates" All of the people, but
especially the large cities, are interested
in the reduction Of passenger rates, and
the legislators from those cities have al
ways opposed reduction on grain rates
but they pledge all popuiists to a specific
reduction of 40 per cent on passenger
rates aud leave the former to the mercy
of the men who have always opposed re-
duction in grain rates. 1t is self-evident
to anyone that an extremely low pas
senger rate must mean q high freight
rate, and thaApopulist platform is plain
pcase of the Mhitman county delegation
to the convention permitting themselves
to be "played for suckers"
Nearly half of the hold.over reform
ers" are on record as believing that the
Palouse farmer has the adequate pro
lection" on grain rates that is demanded
in the platform.
That fusion organ, the Spokesman
Review, in order to get the votes OF the
Palouse farmers for its fusion friends, is
advocating 80 per cent reduction, or
S2.124 rate on grain; but no state sen
ator from Spokane Of any party has
ever voted for any reduction in freight
rates for the PalOuse farmer.
OLIVER HALL.