Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1905-09-14
THE COURIER
By G. r.. BRUCE
Published ON Every Thursday.
Entered at the Post once at Elk Point as ma
matter of the second class.
Subscription Price. per year. $50
The COURIER is mailed regularly to its SUBJ
scribers until definite order to discontinue is
received and all Arrears are paid.
Official County Paper.
THH ZEAL QUESTION.

4
Tie real question raised by Presi-
dent Roosevelt, which is cow up for set
tlement, is, "Snalt b.. interstate com
merce commission be clothed with sim
liar powers in refe, ence to interstate
commerce as eachst ale commission now
enjoys in reference TO the traffic la each
state by ilseli?" These powers have
been enjoyed By the state commissions
for several years, conferred upon them
by the legislaturs ofthe several states.
The conferrIng of these powers were
opposed by the railroads in the first in
stance, tho same as They now oppose
the conferring OF similar poser upon
the Interstate comm cree com mission by
congress. There is 70 difference In
principle In enc or ths other. Tne only
wonder Is that the people have been
satisfied To Leave tfe nla tier entirely in
the hands Of tl,e railroads Il / these
years. The ipters ate commerce of al
most any vt stern stat, far exceeds the
state commerce. The people are and
have been at the mercy of the railroads
in reference to all commodities classed
as interstate. It speaks volumes in fa-
vor OF the justice Of the railroads that
they have been left free TO fix inter
state, rates without interference by any
one for so long. II this power is con-
ferred upon the interstate commerce
commission 1t does not necessarily mean
that the commission will go into the
ratemaking business They will only
be clothed with power to investigate
and determine upon complaint whether
rate put up by the roads reasonable
or not. II not, TO fix a reasonable rate
which is also subject to review by a
competent court. It is the peoples
right that they have such tribunal,
and we believe the railroads stand In
their own light in trying to oppose such
law. The law would not necessarily
place upon them any new or greater OBJ
legations. 1t would simply provide an
avenue through which the people could
be heard and receive fair and just treat
ment where unjust treatment had been
There are three kinds of
discrimination that has been in the
power Of the railroads to make and have
made at their option in the past: dis
crimiuation between individuals, die
elimination between commodities and
discrimination between localities. For
merly the first mentioned was the great
evil through system of re bates. 1t is
charged that some OF our people have
had a taste OF this law and ratherliked
it. so long as they were sole benefci-
aries. The Elkins law killed it and it
is now q thing OF the past. There re-
mains with the railroads power to dis
criminate between commodities and lo- |
calities. This is a dangerous power to |
be lodged with u common carrier. By |
their favor one city might be eruined for
the benefit OF another ia the same ter
ritory. This danger will exist until i
there Is some such legislation as that
provided BY the Esch Townsend bill
We consider this the most important
question now before the people for solu-
tlon. We have confidence that our del
egati0n In congress will aid in It's set
Element, Representatives Martin and
Burke have already voted for the Esch-
Townsend bill and we furths or believe
our senators will be found aiding the
In passing proper law upon
the subject SiOatr Falls Fo1m.