Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-01-19


our constitutional provisions, and believ-
ing that the enunciation, by those inter-
ested, of the doctrine that the peoples
best protection is to be found in 1.-The en-
lightened self-interest of the captains of
industry" had not repealed those prOvis-
ions, nothing was left to be done. as
viewed by the attorney general of the
state and myself, but to bring suit to
test the question. Accordingly suit was
brought in the name of the State OF Wash
ington against the Northern Securities
Company and the Northern Pacific and
Great Northern Railway Companies, and
the action is now pending in the Supreme
Court OF the United States. An appro-
priation to defray the expenses OF this
action will be necessary. AS each Of you,
as well as myself have sworn to support
the constitution of the state, and as We
are informed by the head of the legal de-
partment of the state that there is reason
to believe the constitution is being vio
lated. there should be no hesitancy in
making the necessary appropriation. l
would recommend an appropriation of
$l0,OGO or SO much thereof as may be
necessary. You may rest assured the at
torney general will not permit the eXpen-
diture of a single dollar not absolutely
necessary for the proper presentation. of
the case on the part of the state.
Anti-Pass Bill Needed.
In regard to free passes the language
of our state constitution is as follows:
Section 80, Article IL: 1t shall not be
lawful for any person holding public Office
in this state to accept or use pass, or
to purchase transportation from any rail-
road. or any other corporation, other than
as the same may be purchased by the gen.
eral public, and the Legislature shall pass
laws to enforce this provision.
Section 90 Article XII: No railroad or
other transportation company shall grant
free passes or sell tickets or passes at a
discount, other than as sold to the public
generally, to any member OF the Legisla
ture or to any person holding public office
in this state. The Legislature shall pass
laws to carry this provision into effect
The Republican state platform says:
I'VE are In favor OF the passage by the
next Legislature of an anti-pass bill in
compliance with the provisions OF our
state constitution"
The Democratic party in its state plat
form makes this declaration:
I'VE favor legislaturagto carry out the
imperative mandate Of the constitution of
the state forbidding the giving to or re-
ceiving by public officers of free passes on
railways and transportation lines"
The practice of giving free passes has
been highly detrimental to the public SER
vice. Not single valid argument can be
adduced in it's favor. Free passes in the
hands OF an INSCRIPTIONS lobby have been
potent instrument in seducing public
officials from their allegiance to the peo-
pie. and in throttling legislation not salts
factory to the railroads. The mandate of
the constitution-the pledges of both poll
teal parties-the personal honor and in
tegrity OF members of the Legislature. all
unite in urging the passage of a stringent
anti-pass bill.
Railway Commission.
The most important matter to come be-
fore you at this session is the question of
establishing railway commission. The
Republican state platform contains the
following plank:
I'VE are in favor of the passage OF a
bill by the next Legislature establishing
railroad commission to consist OF three
members, to be appointed by the govern
or, no more than two to be taken from the
dominant political party, said commission
to be clothed with power to regulate
freight and passenger rates, to determine
the value OF railroad property for pug
poses OF assessment and taxation, to pre-
vent unjust determinations, and to in
quire into and remedy such abuses as may
be found to exist
This plank was inserted IN the platform
after full, fair and free discussion of it's
merits. After a majority of the conven-
ton had declared themselves in favor of
1t, 1t was unanimously adopted upon mo-
ton made by the leader of the railway
forces, and seconded by prominent OPP
ponent of the commission idea. The pol
icy of the Democratic party upon this
question, as outlined in it's state plat
form. is substantially in accord with the
declaration of the Republican party. If it
seems strange that the two political par
ties are in accord upon this question, an
explanation can readily be found in the
overwhelming public sentiment in favor
of railway commission. Neither of the
political parties, in its platform utter
ances, was actuated by any spirit of hos
tility against railway corporations, nor
are any of the advocates of a commission
in any part of the state actuated by any
such feeling. The right of the state to
regulate railroad corporations Is unques-
toned. That the only effective way to do
this is through the medium of a commits
sion clothed with the necessary power, is
undisputed. The claim that such COM
mission would be a menace to the state is
wholly unfOunded-is cOntradicted, in fact,
by the experience of every state in the
Union having regulative commission.
The history of these commissions conclu-
sively proves the following propositions:
They serve to equalize and reduce rates;
to do away with discrimination and to
correct other abuses: to bring about
better understanding and feeling between
the people and the railroads. They in no
way interfere with the development OF
state, or the building of new railroads, or
the extension of those already in opera
ton. On the contrary, they have very
materially assisted in the development of
the states in which they have been estab-
lished.
When confronted with this evidence,
some of the opponents of the measure
are driven to the statement that three
honest men, competent to administer such
a law, cannot be found I'm the State of
Washington. This is an insult to the
manhood of the state. Such charge
marks the civic debasement of those max
ing it-calls attention to their straying
from the paths of good citizenship as
nothing else could. We need not be sur
prised, therefore, to find that this tender
soicitude for the public weal-this haunt
ing fear that the commissioners selected
may prove false to their trust, is directly
traceable to the railroad lobby. Another
charge sometimes made is that those in
favor of a regulative commission for this
state are not honest in the advocacy of
such measure, but are endeavoring to
build up a political machine. l do not be-
lieve any one takes this charge seriously
But If you suspect there is any truth in it,
the threatened danger is easily guarded
against. Pass the bill with the emergency
clause and make the appontees under 1t