The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-11-29
Tuesday, November 90, 1904.
THEIR DAY is COMING.

sginning will be fruitful of lively
a mes for the railroads; not because
yedications point to an abnormal in
.ease in traffic and a consequent ur-
ent demand upon transportation and
ackage facilities, although business
-omises to be more than usually
RI bod. Liveliness of another kind
M emingly is in store for them. Legis-
sSo'tive bodies will be responsible for
SCie strenuous days apparently ahead
snt them. Chief of these will be con-
-ess, If the demands Of the people
about all the states and those Of
sArde governors of three in particular
@ceive heed or consideration. The
tier have been in conference with
n e president, urging upon him the
aded suf greater power for the inter
cate commerce commission and re-
seresting that he make recommends
N I'D congress in accordance. What
/, asked is q law giving the commits
IN the authority to fix rates to re-
mace those believed to. be excessive,
S1fer a thorough investigation by the
olmmission, the rates made by the
admission to remain in force and
roiect until the courts have been given
@Slcportunity to pass upon them.
when the law creating the commits
) was enacted it was believed that
lat. body was in possession of the
,vwer now asked to be vested in it,
mt the United States supreme court
sntld otherwise. Since then the COM
ission has been able to do little
lore than nothing, being powerless to
fmedy evils as to excessive rates or
Mher abuses, no matter how glaring-
ID. Although the mergers it was pur-
ohsed to create have been declared H.
gal, nothing prevents the manage
tents of competing lines of roads
syom arriving at an understanding
Sowing for it's object maintenance of
lAtes. This is being done and the ques-
on of competition, which formerly
rcted as a safeguard, has been elimi-
ts,,1tated and the public is powerless.
Sci In addition to probable congress
ssonal action, there is the likelihood
legislation by the states. Here
- Montana the people have many
grievances against the railroads, and
hey are insistent in their demands
n relief. Determinations as unjust
j it is unreasonable is practiced and
hose who suffer from it are helpless.
1 many instances freight rates on
srtain articles received from the At
.ntic seaboard are twice as much as
AZ charged for the some class of goods
estined to Pacific coast points, al.
lough the distance is but little more
nan half SO great. Then there is the
natter of local rates. The men of the
Yellowstone valley know how outra'
sou these are. Because they are
Maintained at prohibitive figures the
roducts of this section are prevented
ON hiding their natural market
saihe ranchers and gardeners of Idaho
#eItah, California and Washington are
HI ermitted to ship their products tt
lutte and the other of the larger cit
BIS on the west side of the state fol
sbiibout one half what is charged on the
hsane class Of freight if shipped from
n A HHaGEAa|
billings. This is m~anifestly wrong
md should be remedied. The stock
mem have their wrongs. They are
uuorced to pay "all traffic will bear
when they go to market and must
e,wait the pleasure Of the railroad com.
1banies in the matter of providing
hem with cars and then submit tt
aeedless and expensive delays er
aoute. Demurrage is charged if cars
sre set out and it SO happens that The
Ibipper is not prepared to load, bu'
Is given no recompense II he ha:
a. 1917. ~o~I,v So ~h3~-o~% GOD