The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-04-27
RAILROAD REGULATION
Strong Statement Of the Case by Ex-Governor
Larrabee

To The Editor of The Independent: The re-
cent election of Judge Dunno mayor of Chicago
upon a platform favoring municipal ownership
and operation of street railways indicates the
growth of public sentiment in favor of govern
ment regulation of public utilities, and gives
much encouragement to people in other states
who are demanding relief from the abuses of
corporation management
The fair-mnded individual is willing to take
his chances in the struggles of life with other
individuals, but when he comes in competition
with the great modern corporation combining the
energy of thousands of persons, and in control of
an immense aggregation of capital, under the
direct supervision of few active and perhaps
INSCRIPTIONS men, he is led to realize that the
contest is an uneven one and he finds himself
and more compelled to look to the govern
ment for the protection Of his liberty and indi-
vidual interests. The old laissez faire policy Of
government fails to secure to him an even race
in the battle of life. The evils that he has to
contend with natural outgrowth of the
changed conditions that now exist.
The constitution of the United States con-
ferred upon congress the power to regulate COM
merce among the states, but under the let alone
policy of early times, congress has practically
delegated this regulation Of commerce among the
states to few traffic managers who are in con-
troll of the public highways of the country These
with closed doors, their officers receive larger
salaries than officers of the United States govern
ment, they are not under bond or under oath, and
they ignore entirely the interests Of the public,
and adopt such measures as will in their opinions
enable them to levy the largest tax that can
be collected with the least friction, upon the
commerce of the country. This little band of
irresponsible officials is exercising vastly greater
power of taxation than was ever exercised by con-
ha itc 1ouio nv do
vices from fifty to one hundred and fifty millions
OF dollars per year until the tax amounts to over
$20OO,000.000 per annum, than three
times the total revenue of the United States gov
eminent from all sources.
We have in all cases provided by statutes for
the limitation of the amount of taxes to be col
lected OF the people by national state and munich
pal ofhcers, but there is no law in existence plac-
ing any limit this tax that is levied on our
interstate commerce by this privileged class of
persons, save that which the laws of nature i'm
pose despotism
Why congress surrendered this power to ir-
responsible parties is easy of explanation but it
is unnecessary It should, however no longer
delay the resumption of it. The arguments
against it and against increasing the powers of
the interstate commerce commission are all ille
Ultimate and futile. They are made by persons
who have wilfully and continuously violated the
laws, and who by their violations have been
largely instrumental in building up the great
trusts and monopolies against which there is
now so serious and universal complaint
There is to the average mind seeming in
consistency in sending poor devil who robs
hen roost, or who steals a postage stamp from
the postofice to the penitentary for term of
years, and at the same time call into consulta-
ton with senators and representatives the men
who have taken, illegally, hundreds of millions
OF dollars from the people, and to solicit their
advice as to what the legislation upon this i'm
portant subject should be.
It may seem strange that congress has per-
mitted this condition of things to exist long,
and that congressman have disregarded the thou
sands of petitions, memorials, and resolutions
that have been presented to them for many years,
concerning this subject, but when we consider the
weakness of human nature and the fact that they