Omaha daily bee., 1905-08-22
THE RAILROADS AND THE PEOPLE

central City Record: There is such n
strong feeling in tho state against public
onicials being the recipients OF railway
passes that many OF the leading repub-
hcan papers are demanding that the next
candidate for supreme Judge be a lawyer
VINO does not ride on pass. II the con-
Vention should stick for that kind Of a
candidate 1t will more than likely find
Itself compelled TO leave the place vacant
Bradshaw Republican: A large number
of our exchanges have done us the courtesy
to reprint our suggestion to call meeting
OF editors to discuss the evils OF the free
pass question. The Omaha Bee and Lin
coin Star were among them. our editorial
brethren have our sincere thanks. We are
in real earnest in thinking something should
be done, and that the republican press
should be the prime and foremost movers
in this mission OF reform.
Columbus Journal: The world-Herald is
out again with its basket gathering edi-
torial chips from republican newspapers
in its annual attempt to start a "smudge"
to "smoke out" some of the republican
state officers The learned editor OF the
Senior yellow" should have discovered be-
fore this that these chips are smokeless.
He will have to burn UP those railroad
dHStbslilonI itCOlub W AuoAph ~
ministration before he can start much of
a smoke In the republican camp
Albion Argus: The Chicago & North
western paid its tax when It should but
we are informed that the Union Pacific
has not yet paid. Some of our business
men seem to think It would be the right
thing to have all their freight come over
the Chicago & Northwestern until such
time as the Union Pacific might fnd It to
its interest to pay It's taxes like other
folks While a boycott is unlawful, yet
It would be funny II all the business men
would happen to be seized with the same
idea and make a peculiar coincidence.
Alliance Times: The Omaha Bee is walt
ing to see how many Of the 991 delegates
to the Nebraska state democratic conven-
ton pay their railroad fares. 1t is to be
hoped The Bee will be able to make an
accurate count. The democrats will need
to be as strenuous" surely on the pass
issue as the republicans, and the result
of the canvas will interest everybody 1t
would be just as well. too, TO keep tab
on the republican convention. The public
is quite interested in the question as to
how much the politicians Of both parties
really mean IT,
Columbus Journal: While the railroads
are doubtless right In pointing out, that
there are dangers in vesting the rate
making power in a political commission,
yet the public would be open to fewer dan
gers under a competent commission whose
duty II would be to secure the public the
lowest possible rates, consistent with
fair and reasonable profit on investment.
than they are now under a few railroad
presidents whose salary and reputation are
in direct proportion TO their ability to col
lect the highest rates the traffic will bear.
The railroads are entitled to fair and
impartial hearing, but they may as well
save their "red flags" The people are
with Roosevelt on the question. They will
give the railroads a square deal, but they
don't want the railroads to do all the
dealing"