Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1904-03-17
people as this question Of government
regulation Of TRANSPORTATION rates. The

ASS~A~e>S
day that the cost of transportation is
actually tax which must be paid by
every man, woman and child upon eve
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 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 rev.
enue of $142, 100000 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-
pie realize that, in consideration of
valuable franchises and privileges re-
ceived from them, the law holds tho
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 evade
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 will
certainly force itself upon us as q
vital issue in national legislation.
GAS evidence Of the feeling that now
exists it is necessary only to point to
the fact that the present congress has
before it concurrent resolutions passed
BY eight state legislatures petitionine
for this legislation; like petitions from
over forty national, commercial and
manufacturing organizations over the
country, such as the National Grange
Patrons of Husbandry, supported by
twenty or more state oranges; the Ne
ttonal Grain Dealers association, the
National Hay association, the Millers
National association, National Live
Stock. Lumber, Grocers', Shoe and
Leather, Hardware and Cotton asso
ciations and about 175 local boards OF
trade, chambers Of commerce and man
ufacturers' organizations, embracing
within their memberships over 100000
of the leading shippers of the United
States. Such pressure is surely strong
enough to interest any member of the
national legislature who is earnestly
DESTROYS of serving the needs and wish
es Of the people.
"since the opening Of the special ses
sion of the Fifty-eighth congress last
November and up to the present date
the Congressional Record reports nu
merous petitions and memorials filed
every day, with the exception of three
issues, I believe, bearing upon THU
subject. Under such circumstances II
d strange that reluctance should bt
avinced to meet and solve the question
The opposition that we are encounter
ing merely demonstrates plainly the
mower of obstruction welded by the
railroads."