The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-02-28


$4,000 a year which it will cost you
to put in railroad commission at
the behest of Durhamism? Have you
stopped to consider the price-or the
returns on your money?
Rather than this, l am inclined to
believe the majority of first voters
for a railroad commission were swept
off their feet by the continual rush
of Durhamism and McBrideism and,
dazzled by the glittering mirages of
the tall tower theorist, dashed into
the commission fight, firmly con-
WINGED that a railroad commission in
Washington would bring about a mil
lenum of low prices for foodstuffs
and necessities.
But this will not happen. 1t will
not make difference of $50 cents"
to the consumer, if the railroad com.
mission could do all that frantic
Durhamism has claimed for 1t. 1t
would not cheaper the cost of one
single article to you and I of the
wage earners and the household-un-
less those reductions in freight rates
were so great as to give birth to new
competition.
Because we have our grocers' trust.
wholesale and retail, our meat trust,
our cracker trust and our milk trust.
The local trusts would keep up the
prices just the same and the benefit
would not come to the consumer
The only persons to be benefited
by wholesale reductions--which the
state commission could not make
would be the wholesalers and-to a
degree-the retailers, who would get
the benefit of the lower prices in COM
petition. But it has been demon
strated that very little of the bene-
fits In the fiuctuation of prices on
foodstuffs has been given to the con-
sumner.
1t Is not fight of the consumers.
1t is n fight of the wholesalers and
jobbers; and these latter do not want
a railroad commission which will
give all of the advantage to the job
bers Of the western portion of the
state.
An all around, wholesale reduction
of interstate commerce rates would
have to be made before the benfits
would reach the consumer. Yet 1t
will be the consumer the small tax
payer, the small home owner, who
will be asked to pay out that 100000
year for the support of political
body of railroad commissioners.
True II may be figured out that
under certain conditions the selling
price of staple may be fractionally
lowered in it's wholesale price. But
you are asked to pay for this infini-
tesimal reduction $4,000 annually
for what?
TO GIVE THE COAST JOBBER
THE OPPORTUNITY OF CURTAIL-
ING YOUR WAGE EARNING POW
Err HERE IN SPOKANE BY DES-
TROYING THE SPOKANE JOBBER!
With a state railroad commission
the i'll results are certain. The bene-
fits are speculative and uncertain.
Let me ask the theorists what any
railroad commission has done that
has worked substantial good to the
people? What has the interstate
commerce commission done?
That interstate commerce commits.
sion has been In existence for II
years. For nearly two decades 1t has
existed as numbering, ponderous
body of donothings.
True II has secured the conviction
of few subordinate railroad officials
vx,hn OH hN Ar1A 90 hnir GU
periors to favor some big corporation
with Illegal rates. But did that bene,
flt the common people1
The first conviction secured under
the interstate commerce law was O
lasting blot and stain on that body
When Arthur Street, as assistant
general freight agent OF the Michigan
Central. was convicted of rate cut.
ting. a great injustice was done to
one Of the noblest. best men In tn,
railroad business.
Mr. Streets hundreds of friend.
were increased to thousands when hi
was convicted.
Why?
Because every one connected with
that outrageous conviction knew thai
Mr.. Street was not guilty, morally
but that his superior, General Freight
Agent Mackay of the Michigan Cen
trail. was the man who ordered tn,
rate cutting-and who escaped pun
ishment.
President Harrison never did n bet
ter act Of Justice than when he is
sued a pardon to that quiet, UNI
assuming gentleman. who had beer