The Caldwell tribune., 1905-12-23
The Winning
Oratiolls
Continued from page y

Uhat SeSAAS " S%~A D0@ oAu
han we are getting. y x
IN this wholesale lopping-off
vbich the popular fancy demands,
.e and our neighbors are not the
onlv parties to De considered. The
,ailroads, offensive as the associa-
tiop may seem, thrust themselves
heside US at the bar, and demand
aiust:ce." They too, have "affec
ions and passions" they, too,
are fed with the same food. and
hurt by the same weapons as we
and our neighbor; if you tickle
them do they not Taught if you
nrick them, do they not bleed? if
vou poison them, do they not die?
Disastrous, indeed, would it be
to all parties if the railroads should
die. Unfortunate and detrimental
if they are driven from the ap-
ptoaching trial discouraged and
begeared. We believe that to give
the Commission power to fix rates
would be unjust to the railroads.
for the reason that to control the
rate is to control the earnings Of
the railroads. I have been won
dering how many of the business
men of Boise would be willing to
invest in the proposed electric line
that is to connect the neighboring
towns in Boise Valley if the U. S.
Government or the state Legislature
we're empowered to regulate the
earnings of the line.
At Caldwell, we are putting up a
new -four. mill. The town furnish.
es the site and lays the foun lation.
Mr.. Britt arranges ior the stock and
running expenses. But does he dc
that with the under standing that
the town council has the right to
say at what price the -four is to be
sold. That, regardless of the cost oi
wheat, the expense of labor, fue1
and repairs, with no provision fol
possible accidents, he is to stick tC
an invariable rate, and meet his
expenses as best he can? The
councilmen and the citizens are toe
we'll aware of the value to Cald
well of such an enterprise to hedge
it in with destructive restrictions
x X X X
1t is therefore the opinion of the
business world that fixing thu
price will affect the earnings of al
enterprise. But the earnings o
the roads do not justify a reduction
In 1903 their earnings, according
to the report of the Commission
were less than q per cent. Thel
total income, according to this re
port, was $444. 4.ooo,o Now wit;
a capital of $I2, 100000, 900, thu
net earnings are 81 per cent. Fur
ther, a reduction of one mill OF
the rate per ton per mile woul(
eliminate dividends. The divl
dends for 1903, as stated by tn
Commission, were $I66, 200, ,ooo
while the freight carried amounte'
to 10000, 900, 900 tons. Multi
plying the number of tons by on
mill we receive $173,ooo,ooo. Tha
is, reduction by the Commission
Of one mill would cut off the divi
dends of the railroads and abou
$1,000, 900 of income besides.
In the next point which I shaI
present, I wish to show that tn
exercise of this rate making poWe
by the Commission will involv
grave dangers to our commerce.
system. In the first place. such II
stltutions as banks, insurance CON
panles and colleges would be a
fected.
In the second place, the fixing
rates would result in rigidity
commercial transactions.
Railroad securities. according
the testimony before the Senat
Committee, wonld be much IN
paired by taking the rate-makln
power away from the carriers.
need not remind you that the d.