The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-28
SEATTLE. FRIDAY. DECEMBER =


Reduced Ra1Ifoao kutes'
OF the subjects engaging the attention
at this time both Of Legislative members
elect and Of the people. the regulation Of
railroad freight rates within the state Is
one OF the most prominent. The farmers
Of washington are substantially unit
for some rnodiication Of the present
schedule OF charges for transporting
wheat that Vim add TO the net value Of
their product They fes that the devei-
opssent Of the community and the pross
perous condltion Of all industry during
the past year eutitle them to share In
the shape of lower cost Of transportation.
Railroad rs4es In this state are too high
at the pfsssMt time There can be no
question that reduction should be made;
how Il am ~ erected and to what extent
1T should proceed are matters for the leg
stature to consider with solicitous care
for the best Interests Of the community
as whole. IN doing this the Repub-
lican party win be handicapped to some
extant BY ths unfortunate mistake Of the
people in retaining Gov. Rogers IN the
executive o0ice He IL there to obstruct
Rspubsican policy and Republican success
II ne can. He IL there to make political
capital for himself and ths political COM
hine 81 which he IL q part, at the ex-
pense OF the people II necessary. He owes
his elecroh IN part to the active inter-
vention Of interests wholly hostile to the
farmers Of washington and pledged to
nsht them BY this unhappy and mis-
chievcus fact tho practical efficiency Of
the Republican legislature will be condi-
toned and limited.
The Republican party has control Of both
houses Of the Legislature; and to It the
public will look for relief IT viii be well
for its lenders. and especially Tor those
who have been chosen to the legislature
soon to assemble. to outline policy and
. plan OF action. what specific bill they
decide to present N for them TO con-
slider. But IN maturing a definite plan
OF procedure. they cannot do better than
to study and fellow the declaration OF the
state platform on this subject. \. Here Is
what the Republican party directed In the
statement OF principles and policies on
which II won the support OF the great ma.
jorsty or our voters.
We favor the building OF railroads with
In our state as an essential means OF its
development and growth, and We also
favor the adoption and enforcement OF
just and equitable laws regulating and
controlling them.
This promise must be performed and n
the spiri, OF Il is followed. there will be
no cause Of Just complaint by either the
people or the railroad companies thai
serve them. II calls for "just aud sdui-
table laws" regulating md controlling
our common carriers, Those laws must.
therefore. bs conceived In spirit OF fair
lars such conditions as viii do equal Jus
,lce TO all, In the ngh, OF existing con
dltions
The first care OF the representatives OF
the people shoald be 10 avoid extremes in
either direction; to suppress with rigorous
aud unrelcnsing hand the EFFORTS OF the
sslf-secking politician ana the lobbyist
There will be bills introduced ana pushed
which srw covcrtly inspired BY those de-
siroas AT heart to defeat AL action on
the subject There will be bills offered
on the ''hold-up' principle, whose authors
intend them as an invitation to relax their
efforts for consideration. And there
VIII be bills honestly framed and honestly
advocated which are Yet SO extreme In
their terms. ia one direction or tho other.
as to make their adoption both econom-
iealls Injurious TO the commonwealth as
whole and psasically suiclaaI.
The legislature. q seems TO as can sc,
away from an these misleadings and pos
sihintlcs ~ hiandeving by carrying ous
the express terms. ~ the Republican plat
form Tho material interests Of the state
are not bundle Of Inconsistent and war
rims factors. they are parts OF one con
sisteni whole. The people need the rail-
roads, the railroads need the people.
Neither can do Injustice to the other with
out suffering The first place In the de.
velopment of this state must DO accorded
TO the transportation agencies that made
IL possible and profitable These. in thsI,
turn. viii find their highest success in ths