The Havre herald. [volume] (Havre, Mont.) 1904-1908, 1905-10-20
RAILWAY LEGISLATION.
Communicated

Sident has arrived IN Washington,
that he will specially recommend rail
way legislation. Since then have been
comments on the subject, which may
modify his views, as it would be ac-
cepting the Jetfsonian democracy to
such an extend as help the democrats
out in a way that the President did
overlook at the time he first adVO-
Gated such legislation, 1t will be well
to remember the fact that it is not
the masses of the people who desire
such legiSlatiOn-espeeially those who
are employed by such railway, as such
legislation will cause railway to cut
wages to meet operating expense. Mr..
Roosevelt claims prosperity to the
entire country. If 50, the masses Of
the people are satisfied to allow the
present rates to exist, as the masses,
who are the consumers. pay for such
rates as exist at present. 1t is is an
indisputable fact that the people at
Washington do not understand rate
making as those who have made it Il
study for years-tO enable the railways
to put such freight as cheap as pos
sible to enable the road to pay wage
earnerS such as to make it possible
for them to live respectfully and pay
other expenses of which none but
those directly interested in operating
comprehend.
Railways are well posted by actual
experience. 1t will do either one
or the other The employs wages
will be cut to meet such operating
expenses, or it will drive out railways
which contemplate coming in develop
ing the country, or causing other rail
ways to stop operating, thus placing
hardships upon the country at large,
running out thousands Of employees.
The railways have come and built up
the country, expanding many millions
before realizing any dividends, running
risks, paying into the state, county
and school many dollars, which would
never have been if it had not been for
railways developing the country. For
instance; after building the Kalispell
cutoff, property decreased two third
in valuation. Ranch property, which
was worth $1,000, was offered for
$1,000. and could not be sold after the
abandonment of the main line of the
Great Northern. This will demons
trate the decrease in valuation ii rail
ways are driven out Of the country by
railway legislation by such people who
do not understand the operating ex'
penses of railways. 1t will be we'll TIC
remember that many difficult problems
exist in our state which do not exist
in other states, and none know better
} how to meet such problems than those
who are directly interested and ex
perienced in such rate regulation. lE
my opinion such rate making by con
gress will cause hardships to the
country at large, especially the north
west, which would be unkind to many
prosperous people, who do not wish tt
change the present existing circum
stances
This will be a lick at the working
men and Union, which uphold wages
not the railway union only, but al
wage workers. The masses Of The
people, who are the working people
; are pleased with the present rate, eX
cept some local rates which can ant
will be reduced when properly brought
brought before the head officials o
such company, which is operating il
the northwest. The masses. W1lcl
are consumers and pay for freight
rates, and are earning wages sutticien
5 to pay such expenses, are satisfied
1 and if left to the vote Of the people
4 such legislation will be defeated a
=: the polls.
| Such talked Of legislation has cause'
: comment by the working people o
h the country. and many have expresses
j. themselves whether to let preSen
h conditions exist, and allow railways t
y prosper, who have developed tn
t country. If congress wishes to regt
re late such rates, let the government
buy and operate the road accordingly
d To allow American freedom, allo'
Y any and all to place their none
F. where they can make the most out
If the same, as long as it is Legitimate
g The people are prosperous; allow tt
people to vote upon such Legislation
] and you will see that the masses
% the people are satisfied, for such legi
- latiOn will place hardships upon II
- country, if the present railways cea
to operate by low rates, which WI
not allow dividends paid for mon'
. expended.