Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1904-12-01
R. R. COMMISSIONS
SINCE ELECTION REPUBLICANS
TALK COMMISSION.
1t Now Appears That it Was a Commission Law
Such as Turner'S Election Would Have Been
Enacted That Was Opposed. A MsadiLaw
Will Suit Everybody-and Nobody.

The Seattle P.-l., which 40 strenuously
opposed the railroad commission idea
during the campaign, devotes it's leading
editorial Tuesday to assuring the public
that the coming legislature will provide
TOR such y commission. Even the P.-I.
10 compelled to recognize the 10000 in
denendent republican voters on this
question, but it is extremely doubtful
that commission law of any benefit TO
the general public will pass at the com.
| ing session OF the legislature.
speaking on this subject, the Colfax
CoMmoner Wisely says:
There is an old proverb, Beware of
the Greeks bearing gifts which can
easilysbe changed to fit present condi-
tlons in this state as follows: Beware OF
the west side senatorial aspirauts offer
ing railroad commission support
1.-The sudden and violent friendship for
the railroad commission cause evinced
by Addison q. Foster, Samuel II. Piles
and John J.. Wilson is suspicious, to say
the east. Hitherto their acts and utter
ances have been hostile to the policy.
When Governor Mcbride was fighting
two years ago to have his party redeem
it pledge to pass commission bill he
did not receive any assistance from
these gentlemen. When he carried the
fight into the state convention held at
Tacoma last May, they were arrayed
against him and assisted the railroads in
defeating his nomination, and in keep
ing declaration for commission out
OF the platform. They evidently thought
that very few republican mem bers of the
legislature would be elected in the coun-
ties where the commission sentiment is
strong. and figured upon controlling a
caucus made up almost entirely of west
side legislators. Now they are confront.
ed by the fact that there will be about
40 republican members from the east
side, most of whom claim to favor q
commission bill. In these 40 votes lies
the secret OF their sudden change OF
heart. Without these 40 votes not one
OF the senatorial aspirants can control a
caucus. Without part of those 40
votes not one of them can be elected to
the United States senate, and their as.
sumed friendship for the commission
policy is simply bid for east side sup.
port.
"How high they will bid remains to be
seen, but it is not likely that they will
90 higher than their railroad hackers
advise. There are commission bills and
commission bills. The railroads would
not oppose commission bill like the
one which Oregon adopted and repudi-
ated because it failed to give relief. They
do oppose a bill clothing commission
with sufficient power to be effective.
They would like to see bill passed, so
drawn that 1t conld accomplish no good |
results, and would simply disgust the |
people with the principle of commls.
sion.
1.-THE republican members of the legis.
lature from Eastern Washington, who |
really favor an effective commission, !
should be very wary of the overtures of |
the senatorial aspirants, and should re |
fuse to compromise on any measure less |
strong and radical than the Tolman bill. |
This advise is not offered to them as re. !
publicans but as real friends of the com.
mission policy. Better no commission |
bill at all, than one which will he salts.
factory to the railroads and unsatisfac.
tory to the people,"