Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-12-02

9 SATURDAY, December 2,
toned and hundreds of similar trou
bles. is to air the facts and bring them
to the attention of the public. Public
sentiment is mighty power and no
railroad could continue policy OF
maintain rate that appeared in the
Judgment of the public palpably I'm.
fair or discriminatory
These grievance boards are intend
ed to be merely preliminary or inform
al They would, in fact, constitute
the first sieve into which all troubles
and complaints would be thrown.
Neither railroads nor aggrieved ship
pers would be bound by the action of
these boards, nor would this proceed
ure prejudice the case in future legal
action or in any manner interfere with
subsequent proceedings, if desired or
necessary. personnel of the boards
would be guaranty that fair treat
ment would be accorded to everybody.
Technicalities and fine points would
not be given consideration. The ship
per would make statement of his
complaint and bring in his evidence
to prove his contention. All facts
bearing on the case would be admis-
sable and there would be no ruling out
of this or that for any cause so long
as it had a bearing on the complaint
at issue The railroads would be ac-
corded similar privileges and oppor-
tunities.
Senator Delivers scheme is an elab-
Grafton of the Presidents idea of the
square deal. These boards would have
but one end in view, to-wit: the CIV
ing Of a square deal to railroads and
shipper. There Is no disposition on
the part of the public to withhold from
the railroads a good profit on their
money invested. with an additional al
lowance to provide for maintenance
and replacement. A shipper who de-
nanded a rate that would not permit
this would have no sympathy from the
masses of the people.
May Go Into Bill.
1t may be that this plan of Senator
Delivers will be Incorporated into the
senate bills, or 1t may be introduced
as an amendment and considered later.
Colonel Hepburn is serene in regard
to his political fences The sensational
stories sent from Des Moines to east
ern papers to the effect that the peo-
pie of the eighth district are up in
arms and preparing to retire him to
private life. do not disturb the colonel,
neither is he disquieted over the cir
culation of petitions to Speaker Can
non urging him not to reappoint Mr..
Hepburn as chairman of the commit
tee on. interstate and foreign COM
merce. Thus far no petitions appear
to have arrived. although here it is
within four days Of the beginning of
a new session Of congress. The
speaker has his committee assign
ments practically completed Only a
few places remain unsettled and the
craftsmanship, of the committee on in
terstate and foreign commerce is not
one of these.
The strange and unaccountable fea-
ture in connection with such a pro-
gram as some people in the eighth dis
people Of judgment. would engage in
counseled with some person familiar
with conditions and procedure in a
matter of this kind. The speaker APP
pOlutS MSlllDSiS W COIElnllIeeS DSCdllSS
of their fitness for the positions.
Speaker Cannon has known Colonel
Hepburn for a quarter of a century
He knows his great ability and expert
ence. He knows he has been chair
man of his committee for ten years
and that he has served with great dis
tfnction. That the speaker should be
Influenced hairs breadth by petitions
from the eighth district is so ridiculous
as to DO farcial. The men who are
circulating these petitions will at least
gain some valuable experience for
their labors, if nothing more.