Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-05-01

favor Of individuals and shippers have
protited morally, but the principal and
most substantial benefit has been de-
rived by the railroads. We are now
striving for legislation to further amend
the law SO as to stop discriminate In
favor of localities and classes OF freight
and prevent the exaction Of unreason
able charges.
II believe there Is no subject before
the present congress which Is Of such
great importa nee In the minds Of tho
people as this question Of government
regulation of transportation rates. The
people realize more and more every
day that the cost Of transportation Is
actually tax which must be paid by
every man, woman and child upon ev-
erything they eat, wear or buy and
that this tax is imposed under existing
conditions not by the government, our
duly recognized taxing power but at
the will Of a few men who control the
transportation systems Of the country,
whom the government OF the United
States cannot restrain In the exercise
Of this enormous and arbitrary power
The people know that merely upon the
principle we need the money the rail
roads have within the past three years
made general advances in rates which
in 1903 brought to the lines operating
In the eastern and central states a rev
enue Of $142, 200, 600 more than they re-
ceived for the same service IN 1900.
ut does not seem proper or wise to
permit such taxing power to remain
vested entirely outside Of the control
Of our national government The peo-
Die realize that in consideration of
valuable franchises and privileges re
ceived from them, the law holds tha
common carrier and public servant
subject to the duties and obligations
very different from those imposed up
on ordinary business concerns, and
they feel that, while there exists a Ger
tain right Of control by the govern
ment over the conduct of the arteries
Of commerce. it is now insufficient or
improperly exercised This sentiment
is rapidly and forcibly growing. While
/. man may be exempt from or eyadc
payment of taxes On real estate or
personal property, he we'll knows that
he has got to pay the freight Real
izing this fact, he becomes directly
! and intensely interested in the subject
! Of government regulation of transpor
tation rates, and this question viii
certainly force itself up0n rs as q
vital issue In national legislation.
".As evidence Of the feeling that now
exists it is necessary only to point t'
the fact that the present congress has
t before it concurrent resolutions paSsct
by eight state legislatures Nctitionin.
for this legislation; Ike petitions from
oyer forty national, commercial ano
manufacturing organizations over tb'
country, such as the National Grange
Patrons of iiuSbantlry supported b..
twenty or more state ranges, tie Ma
tional Grain Dealers association, th'
National Hay association. the Millers
National association. National Live
Stock, Lumber Grocers', Shoe anC
Leather, Hardware and Cotton a&so
ciations and about 10 local boards o
trade. chambers Of commerce and man
uf: :rturers organizations, embracin:
within their memberships over oF>0P
Of the leading shippers Of the tsnitel
States. Such pressure is surely stron
enough to interest any member of th
national legislature who is earnestl
desirous Of serving the needs and wish
es of the people.
since the opening Of the special ses
sion Of the Fifty eighth congress las
November and up to the present dat
the Congressional Record reports NJ
merous petitions and memorials file
every day, with the exception Of thre