The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1904-04-01

right of way for the federal govern
ments proposed canal interferes with
the condemnation of right of way for
the portage road.
The state of Oregon is under the ne
cessity of providing rights of way for
both the portage road and the canal
and it would seem easy enough to
avoid a conflict 1t begins to look as if
the vexatious delay in procuring the
right of way for the portage road is
the result of scheme to f1imf1am the
people of eastern Oregon on the part
OF the commission, which has probably
fallen under the peculiar influence that
has long prevented the enactment Of
lie cessary railroad legislation in this
state The rights of way wanted by
the state and the federal government
are owned by the Oregon Railway &
Navigation company and naturally
that corporation is not over anxious
to aid rival projects.
The opening Of the Columbia would
give water competition with the rail-
roads and that would do as much as
railway commission for large part Of
eastern Washington and Oregon in re-
ducing freight rates. But the railroad
lobby so powerful in both states, is
determined that the people of the In
land Empire shall have neither rail-
way commission nor an open river.
Oregon once had a sort of a railway
commission but it was made a farce
by the manipulation of the lobby,
which has ever since had that state
completely at it's mercy.
The present republican congress is
also under the influence of the railroads
and as a result no appropriation is to
be- made at this session for the i'm
rrovement of navigation in the Colum-
bia. Most of the senators and repre-
sentatives from Oregon, Washington
and Idaho were elected through rail-
road influence, and, of course, they
cannot be expected to turn against
their benefactors and seek to exert
themselves to secure amendments to
the interstate commerce law that will
make it an effective instrument in re-
ducing freight rates and preventing
unjust determinations to the detriment
of the great majority of the shippers
and for the benefit of a favored few,
like the Rockefellers, the Armours and
the Havemeyers.
All sorts of excuses will be given the
people of eastern Washington and
Oregon for the failure to open the Co
the aid of a portage railroad or the
building of a canal with locks from
Cello to The Dalles, but the real cause
of the delay. there is little reason to
doubt, is the sinister influence of the
railroad lobby on state and federal Of
fcials. The shippers of the Inland EN-
pire can expect no adequate relief I'M
ii. they elect legislatures, governors
and congressman known to be abso-
lutely independent of railroad influence
and thoroughly devoted to the interests
of their constituents.
There are three things needful. The
Columbia must be opened to naviga-
ton; the interstate commerce law
must be strengthened and made eff
fective for the protection of shippers;
q state railway commission must be
created to regulate rates and fares and
prevent discrimination by railroad
companies within the state. Washing
ton must have all of these to make her
people free and prosperous. Oregon
also needs all three, but she can suit
herself about state legislation None
OF these things can be accomplished
without organized and persistent eff
fort on the part of the people. The
railroad lobby never sleeps and if the
people would overthrow it they must