The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-05-29

has issued to the press Of Washington an
address of some length appealing to the
people to stamp out of existence the
railroad lobby.
The governor believes the first stem
should be to turn down railroad manipu
lators at the primaries and in the coming
them at the coming elections.
He also expresses the belief that state
railway commission is necessary for pro-
tecting the interests of the state.
The governor disclaims any hostility
TO railroads in their proper field of action
He believes they should be treated with
exact fairness and their rights respected
and there should be no legislation intend,
ed to annoy and hamper the Legitimate
business of the railroad companies.
Regarding Railroad Commissions.
The attempt to regulate railroads and
to cure the evils complained of by direct
legislation has proven a failure, the gov
ernor says, and has almost universally
This system has passed beyond the ex-
perimental stage and has become, quite
generally, an accepted agency of admin
istration Commissions have been estab-
lished in at least "a of our states-a fact
sufficient to show that the best thought
of the country has decided in favor of
the commission system as the most eff
cient means of regulation.
On the whole, the results have been
beneficial-rates have been reduced and
a better understanding and kindlier
feeling have been brought about between
the railroads and the people.
Keep Out Of Politics.
A commission composed of broad
gagged, honest men, clothed with the
necessary power to fix, regulate and con-
troll freight and passenger rates, to pre-
vent unjust Determinations, and to in
quire into and remedy such abuses as
may be found to exist, would, in my
judgment, be of inestimable value to the
state Such a commission, uncontrolled
not actuated by any spirit of hostility
against them, could and would treat both
the railroads and the people fairly. 1t
than two members being taken from the
dominant political party.
Objections to Railway Commission.
Railway commissioners are objected TO
because railways will attempt to corrupt
if three honest men, above corruptive in
fiuences, cannot be found in Washington,
then self-government is failure and the
state admits that her citizens are dis
honest and willing to be debaucned
Another objection urged is that, If the
railroads do not corrupt the commission,
roads Sow w or wnat TIVE way raft
could do this is left delightfully."- indef-
mite. The commission, even If so inclin-
ed, could not deprive the roads of the
right of appeal to the courts-and no
reasonable law would attempt to deprive
them of that right of appeal-and the
courts would not permit a reduction of
rates to such an extent as to prevent the
roads from earning a fair return on their
investments. Illinois. Iowa.. Georgia,
Texas and many other states have regu-
lative commissions, and. to all outward
appearances, the property of the roads In
these states has not been confiscated.
railroad building has constantly increas-
ed in those states and the roads have
been prosperous.
Evils Of Giving Free Passes.
The governor vigorously attacks the
that all men accepting them are biased
in favor of railroads He does not con-
denim individuals, but the entire pass
ers of the lobby so lavish in the distribu-
ton of free transportation? Do they
give out of pure delight in giving? II, So
whom they desire to influence or controlg
The governor charges that the pass
system extends beyond the circle of state
officials. Delegates to political conven,,
tons of all parties. are sought out and
given tickets.
State Constitution Against Passes.
The governor directs attention to the
state constitution, article r. section 20
regarding passes, sas follows:
Our state CONSTITUTING. article XII, sec
ton 20, uses this language:
mo railroad or other transportation
company shall grant passes. or sell tick tic
as sold to the public generally, to any
member, of the legislature. or to any
State ne ans RnnS o snail
laws to carry this provision into effect
This constitutional command should De
obeyed:; A law should be passed making
it punishable by fine. Imprisonment and
forfeiture of Office for any public official
to accept a free pass. or ticket. or to
than as sold to the public generally,
And any one connected with any rail-
road, or any other transportation COM
pass pass or Ticket, to any pubic Bic oficial
or selling, or offering to sell to HIM
ticket or pass lat discount other tna ,s
be punished by fine and Imprisonment
What the Governor Thinks Of the Railroad
Lobby.
Governor Mcbride says Washington has
long been infested with an insolent ana
corrupt railroad lobby; and one OF tle
most potent weapons for evil in its hands
is the pass system. This lobby is no.
recruited from any one party aion nk
and file, may be found republicans anu anu
democrats and populists. 1t is recruiteo
from all political parties alike; or rathbe as
no party. For the railroads first-Ior
itself second.
Ine people or the state are not uide
ouainted with this lobby. Those VINO
have observed it's workings closely know
that 1T is tireless in its efforts to prosua
tute conventions and legislatures to tne
service of the railroads. and to incline
our public officials in favor of the manu-
that feeds it.
Says Lobby Has Done No Good.
In all its life this lobby has never per
formed single act conducive to the pup .he
lie good. On the contrary. rotten TO tne
very core. IL has persistently sought ~
corrupt the individual and to undermihc
public virtue. Its pathway is marked ~
broken pledges-base betrayals of trust