The Red Cloud chief., 1899-01-13
ASKS JUSTICE FOR THE BEET GROWERS
Calls Attention of the Legislature to the N.-ds OF
the Various State Institutions Intentions
the Great Growth of the Dairy Indus"
try--A Short, Pithy Message

tuition .aIAkes IL mandatory upon you
to prevent by law unjust discrimina-
ton and cxtortion in all charges OF ex-
press, telegraph and railroad compan-
les in this state, and enforce such laws |
by adequate penalties TO the extent, TX
necessary for that purpose, OF forfeit
ing their property and franchises
This provision OF the constitution
which you have taken your oath to
support allows you no opportunity TO
escape responsibility. IL the laws which
we already have upon u statute
books are sufficient and only lack
penalties for their enforcement, then
your duty is plain. Penalties should
be attached to compel compliance. III
the existing laws are insufficient and
fail to establish justice between the
people and the corporations, they
should be promptly repealed and 9TH
ers enacted by you which would ac-
complish that purpose. Other states
In dealing with the ycxed question OF
transportation have In a great meas
ure solved 1t In the election by the peo-
pie of a commission with adequate
power for the regulation OF rates and
the final adjustment of differences
which might arise between the peo-
pie and the corporations. Our consti-
tuition does not permit us to SO provide
and In the endeaveor to overcome this
difficulty the legislature of 1885 placed
the burden of the responsibilities OF
a railway commission upon n portion
of the executive department., and at
the same time relieving the state exec
utiye officers designated in that act
f,Ap, thA tal,nr hu ollnxytnD than thraA
secretaries to do the work, and finally
gave the secretaries all the power con-
ferred by the act upon the executive
officers composing the commission. At
various times since 1885, th.s law has
been amended, but / think its most
ardent supporters will not claim that
IT has been either successful or salts
factory. The people for years have
asked relief from unjust and ex-
tortionate transportation rates. They
have asked bread and have been given
a stone. 1t Is n question whether pow
er which the constitution places in the
legislature can be transferred by it to
a commission. Could that be done you
might make IL mandatory upon the
railway commission to fix n just and
equitable schedule of transportation
rates and confer upon them the pow
er OF enforcement which you possess
under the constitution. Were the COM
mission an elective office, and its in
cumbents chosen by the people, then
its duties and powers could be defined
by legislative enactment. But being
created by legislative act In a round
about way to avoid the plain provis-
ions of the constitution, and to permit
the legislature to shirk its responsible
ity It can have really no legitimate
powers and consequently can only be
advisory at best. Whether the work
which the commission does in the col.
lection Of statistics, the arbitration OF
difficulties between the corporations
and the citizens of the state Is of suf'
flcient value to warrant a continuance
of the present law is for your wisdom
to determine.
The great question Of just transpor
tation rates still presses upon you fol-
solution. The law of 1898 has beer
carried through the highest court II
our country. It's weaknesses hav,
been shown by the decision Of tina
court The enactment of the law O
1893. amending the sections agains
NHt NShAh Va VIZ shittN
States pronounced, would meet tn
wishes of n large majority OF our PEG
Pile, and would be a compliance will
your plain constitutional duty. Snoult
you repal the present commissions
law and at the same time pass a jus
and equitable rate law, you would gail
the highest commentator o. a grea
majority OF Nebraska citizens. Will
in my opinion this would be a sourc
OF temporary relief to citizens, thi
great question of transportation an,
communication between the peopl
cannot be definitely settled by stat
legislative enactments. The varied In
~terests of the several states In IN
union are too closely linked in tn
bonds OF commercial union for tn
state individually TO properly adjus
the great question arising from trans
, portation and with communicable
among the people. The national GOV
eminent itself must own and operat
the highways of transportation an
the electric means of communicate
: as II does now the great postal system
l in the interests of all the citizens G
: our great common country. But unit
: such most desirable end Is attaine
$ state legislatures are obliged to affor
S all possible relief TO the citizens of tn
; state from unjust freight, passenge
y telegraph, telephone and sleeping ca
charges. Any law which your wlsdol
:, directs you TO enact upon any Of lhe'
u subjects II In the best interests Of II
y people Of Nebraska will receive II
most hearty approval.
Al The constitution places the oblig
G ton upon the legislature to apporti'
n the representatives and senators O
% ording to population, determin,
't either upon the census OF the Unit
IT States or of Nebraska. II requires tn
st zach ten years, beginning with I
ar year 1885, a census of the people shi
IA be made. The United States nal,
a an enumeration Of all the people eve
ten years, so that with the census
Tathe4s htt~f sates'and THAT Of our o,
state We have o certain data for t