The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-03-15

rules governing shipment Of livestock.
Having failed to convince by reason
able and honest argument, the stock
men of the state are now determined
to look elsewhere for redress. and
hope to find it in legislation of the
sort that obtains in various of the
neighboring and nearby states. They
believe that relief from many OF the
ills Of which they complain may be
found in a railroad commission, even
though such bodies are not always
regarded as infallible or possessed OF
a moral fibre strong enough to resist
the temptations and Establishments
sometimes exercised by the corpora
tions whose conduct they are supposed
to regulate. They are hopeful that in
Montana a body OF that kind may be
organized that will prove itself SUI
perior to the ordinary run.
So far the state and it's people have
dealt generously and justly with the
railroads. They have been given ev
erything within reason for which they
have asked. In return they have
given but little. Such reductions as
they may have made in their passen.
ger and freight rates have been
prompted not SO much by a desire to
lessen the burdens of patrons as by
the exercise of business sagacity. Be.
fore the reductions were made careful
thought and consideration convinced
that they would ultimately result in
an increase of traffic that would more
than compensate for the slight de-
rease The experience of others was
the guide in this instance and iudg-
ment proved to be right.
A long step in the direction of pro-
per railway legislation would be taken
if both political parties OF the state
were to insist upon absolute freedom
by their candidates of obligations to
the railroads. This could be easily
secured were they in county and state
convention to adopt planks in accord
with popular demand and then pledge
their respective candidates to unre.
served and absolute declination of any
of the usual "courtesies'' and compel
on the part of those for |
whom the pledge was given. Legis-
lators could then assemble without a
sense of obligation to the railroads.
They could act honestly and in com
pliance with the wishes of those whom
they represent, free from the guilty
that brides in the form OF
free transportation were lining their
pockets. But it should not end here
Declaration should be made in favor
of a law making it a penal offense for
any public officer, whether state,
county or municipal, to accept a
pass from a railroad, and the party
successful should see that a law of
that kind was passed.
When all has been said that may be
said in favor of the prevailing custom
Of railroads to give free transportation
public officers, the fact still re-
mains that it is only n form of bri- |
berry. The passes are not issued as
a mark of friendship or as a manifes-
tation Of respect for the office. They
are given to the man who may fill
the office at the time, given. with
intent and the hope and ex-
pectation that should opportunity pre-
sent itself the holder will reciprocate.
proof of this were demanded it
would be furnished by the fact that
the men who are the subject of such
do not enjoy the rights
and privileges they confer beyond the
tenure Of their official positions. When
they cease to be such officials they
also CEASE to ride without paying
fare.