The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-11-09

10 appoint, and did appoint, expert account
ants to go over the books of the railroads
to ascertain what the gross earnings of the
railways were. The purpose was to enter
all rebates as part of the gross earnings
and to collect them 1t was found, in spite of
crooked bookkeeping, that the shippers who
were opposed to rate regulations were recev-
ing rebates. long list of rebate accounts
was sent to the legislature by the governor
but in each case the name of the receiver of
the rebates was omitte-. Thus no shipper
knew whether he had been discovered" or
not. This uncertainty was really very en-
barrassing that forthwith every one of the
big shippers withdrew from the state CAPT.
tai and ceased openly to work for the rail-
roads AS result the bill soon became a
law No one should be deceived. man
VINO is avowedly against fair play is profting,
or expects to profit, by play that isn't fair
Henry Gassaway Davis, democratic candi-
date for vice president at the last election, is
opposed to railway regulation, and in speech at
Elkins, W. Va he stated his position as follows:
Considering how largely railroads enter
into the affairs of every citizen, there is
but little cause for complaint in their man.
agement. Rates, on the whole are reason
able, much less than in other countries, and
with regard to freight, bear fair proportion
to the value of the commodity transported
What dissatisfaction exists is principally with
the trunk lines on account of discrimination
against individual enterprises. localities and
lateral roads. There has been a good deal Of
discussion lately the question of rate
making and railroad ownership by the gov
eminent One seems to be a step toward the
other. Should the government undertake to
regulate the revenue of railroads, the power
TO do which is denied by many of the best
legal minds OF the country, it would practi-
cally be one set of people managing the prop
erty OF another and would discourage the fur
Their building OF roads. The ownership OF
railroads by the government would be detri-
mentaI to the interests Of the whole people
1t would stifie competition and retard the de-
veopment of the country, which is so de-
pendent upon the activity of private canital
1t would also create great political machine
OF over million workers to be used by the
party in power AS far as tried in this conn
try, where the conditions are very different
from ose abroad, municipal ownership of
railroads has been a failure. The people, in
some instances, were taxed to help paw their
running expenses. Cincinnati owned the Gin
clnnati Southern railway, tried to operate it.
lost money and then sold it; and Baltimore
after many years Of futile ATTEMPT to RIM
it at profit, sold the Western MARYLAND rail
road" 80
If our little one-horse state commissions
try to regulate railroad rates. the CORPORATION
lawyers invoke Hamiltonian princinlas donv
that the state can interfere, and initiate the
magnitude OF federal Jurisdiction sTnter.
state commerce" becomes the battle crv with
which state commissions are put to rout If
we happen to elect president whom the
corporations have not branded as one of their
cattle, and the president declares for federal
regulation of railroad rates. the corporation
lawyers invoke Jeffersonian prnciples assert
the independence of the states and saw IN
Uncle SAM Keep on the grass" You have