Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-01-16
R. R. COMMISSION
TWO iuROAD COMMISSION
BILLS INTRODUCED.
Either Of Them Would be Acceptable to East.
ern Washington. George Turner Endorses
the Rockwell Bill. Opinions Of Other
Prominent Commission Men.

That the two railroad commission bills
introduced in the state senate are both
good measures, either of which would be
acceptable, saws the Spokane Spokesman
Review, is conceded by commissi, al
vocates here, though an insstance is
indicated that the commission be ap-
pointed in full by the governor and
arbitrary power be given the commission
in fixing conclusive rates, charges and
classifications on railway service, pend.
ing civil action in the state courts
Speaking Of the bills. Senator Turner
said: 81 consider the Rockwell senate
bill for an appointive railway commits
sion good one, judging from its abstract
in the Sp kesman. Review. 1t is wise,
conservative measure and embodies the
pertinent requirements. Following the
provision for commission of three, ap.
pointed solely by the governor, the
essential clause appears in section 8,
which provides that all action between
private parties and railways, brought
under the law. and all actions for the
enforcement of penalties provided in the
act, will be held conclusive, as prescribed
by the commission, pending civil action.
can make no adverse criticism on any
feature of the Rockwell bill.
"1n regard to the railroad commission
bill introduced by Senator Boone,
would not care to express an opinion on
it without complete abstract of the
measure before me-"
F. I. Post, of Spokane. said: ri would
not care TO express decided opinion on
the Rockwell bill without a careful
study. but. as understand the bill,
think it is a good one.
"In regard to the bill introduced by
Senator Boone, if it is in accord with
che Preston law presented in the senate
four years ago, it is a good one. am
familiar with and approve all the pro.
visions of the Preston law. A measure
of this kind is Of the utmost Importance,
however, and ample consideration should
be given to make it the best"
H. Rosenhaupt, who was member
OF the house at the time the Preston bill
came up in the senate. said: "The Pres.
ton law was presented to the senate by
Harold Preston and comprised what he
considered the best features Of the rail.
way commission bills of all the other
states. l considered it good measure,
and had it not lost out in the senate by
narrow margin, would have supported
1t in the lower house. It had ole weak
feature in my opinion. Governor Rogers,
the incumbent, was democrat, and it
was assumed at that time that the pro.
vision for dividing the appointment OF
the commission of three between the
governor, lieutenant governor and state
auditor was designed to make the bill
partisan measure, as the last two officials
were republicans. Such division in
appointment would have lacked re.
sponsibility.
"The Tolman bill, which preceded the
Preston bill in the same session and was
lost by a greater margin, was much the
same, except that it placed the whole
appointive power in the hands of the
governor.
81 think the Rockwell bill a good
measure, and it contains many of the
best features of the Texas commission
bill, which is generally regarded as the
best among the state railway bills"