Bisbee daily review., 1905-12-27

vcit'S PrOcrastination In Calling
 Special Session Helps I.-.1.. .-...s.
 The railroads have al1ldIy coin
 nenccd their campaign of intimidation
 and bribery of the house of represent
 ltiyes to defeat legislation or govern
 aient control of unreasonable "a tes. At
 this time of summer holiday travel the
 railroads claim they are deluged with
 requests from congressman for passes for their families and friends for their
 vacation trips. At least one of the pres dents of the big eastern systems, says
 .he Washington Times. has given in
 structions that no free transportation
 should be issued to those national leg, islators who were in favor of the Esch-
 Townsend bill in congress-"
 The Times further says:
 In response to every application for transportation by those who showed hos tiiity to what the railroads wanted there Is sent q stereotyped letter calling atten- tio2 to the fact that for years the rail- roads have submitted to a system of petty bidCAlualA leFfeu py nallOnal ana state legislators and that the matter was ai- lowed to go on the theory that when the roads were in danger Of being hedge6 about by congressional enactments the officials of the lines would need only to hoist the distress signal and free pass Friends would flock to the rescue
 Now, the railroad managers know that nearly every Republican congress- man voted for the bill to give the inter- state commerce commission power to fix reasonable rates because he knew that it would not be considered, much less passed, by the Republican major ity in the senate. It was necessary in consequence of the universal demand for such legislation for the Republic ans to he on record on the side of the people and at the same time do no req! damage to their friends the railroads.
 When the caucuses and conventions occur which nominate congressman. that vote can be pointed to as showing that the candidate for congress had obeyed the voice of the people.
 This refusal or passes by the rail roads is intended to bring the law makers face to face with what may be expected in the future Those con gressmen who promise to vote against such legislation in the next congress will of course receive all the passes for themselves and friends they ask for. and. judging the future by the past. there will be mighty few Repub- lican cORgressmen who will not prom ise to vote to defeat all antirailroad To make showing per haps some more rebate legisla ton will be enacted. as most of the railroads favor such a law, or. like the Santa in favor of their friends.
 Since President Roosevelt made that startling decision that only the rail road corporation could be proceeded against for offenses against the re bate law and that railroad officials could offend with impunity no anti rebate legislation is feared by the rail roads, for what Is q fine of $500 or S1 900 to a corporation that handles millions. President Roosevelt in pro in calling a special ses- sion of congress to consider the neces- sary legislation to control Unreason- able railroad rates, has helped the raii- roads, Intentionally or unintentionaliy, more than anything else that has been done If no extra session is called the vote on the railroad bills can be post Doned until after most of the Repub- Ican members of congress have been and then. being the can lidates of the party. the whole weight of the administration must be exerted to elect them, however they vote oa the railroad issue
 In the strong Republican states CT districts the only chance the people have to defeat a congressman or sena- tor is at the caucuseS for delegates to and legislative conver- dons, q nomination in such districts being equivalent to an election.
 In the close states and districts there will be the option for the voters to support the Democratic candidates if 1 he Republican candidate is tarred | with the railroad brush, so that the | 'ailroad issue may determine the po- ltical complexion of the next congress | f the present congress does not pass | he legislation that the people are de | handing so loudly. But to pay their | are as the common herd does is a | that the Republican lead rs will hardly consider, and the rail oad managers know It.