The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1906-11-27
FAVORS COMMISSION
Governor In Accord With The
Chamber Of Commerce
BELIEVES IN RATE REGULATION
He VIII Recommend the Creation Of
State Railroad Commission in
Message to Legislature.

The railroad commission bill draft
ed by the Portland chamber of com
merce, will meet with hearty support
on the part Of Governor Cham berlain,
who believes in railroad commission
and, says the Portland Journal, who
will suggest to the legislature in his
message that commission be created
and that it be given power effectively
to regulate and control the railroads
and correct abuses under which Ore
gon has been suffering for the many
years now past. 8
1t is the opinion of the governor
that should commission law be en-
acted. and he is hopeful that the legis
lature will see the necessity for such
action, the chief executive of the state
should be held responsible for the do
ings Of the commission and that he
should have the power Ito summararly
remove any member of the commits
sion who for any reason led him to
believe that the interests of the people
were not being safeguarded.
'tThe result of such an appointment,
with such powers, would in an ensu
ing election centralize the railroad
and antirailroad fight upon one person
on the whole ticket, and it would then
be left for the people themselves to
determine whether they desired man
who would favor commission vested
with full power or were opposed to its
creation. In other words, it would be
a straight out railroad and anti-rail-
road fight, if occasion for it ever
arose.
"As TO the powers the commission
should have. they should be absolute, =
continued the governor, possessing,
in so far as constitutional provisions
would permit, the same power as q
court.
1.-The bill has been submitted to
me, said the governor IN speaking Of
the draft which has been prepared by
the transportation committee of the
Portland chamber of commerce. IT
favor a railroad commission In this
state" continued the governor, with
the responsibility for its appointment
and for its failure to act vested entire
| ly in the governor, so that he will be
held responsible for its action or non
action. In order that the responsible
ity be vested in him he should, in my
opinion, have the summary power Of
| removal, so that IL the commission
fails to act he can FIJI the place with
men who will carry out his wishes
'sThe bill which has been prepared
hy committee OF the chamber Of
commerce has been examined by me
and it seems to ms that it covers all
| the points necessary to regulate the
operation of the railroads within this
state.
The governor then came out fiat
footed for the creation Of a commits
sion by the legislature aud stated it as
his intention ito suggest and support
such an action.
II intend to recommend the cre-
alton of commission in my message
to the legislature, he said, and /
am of the opinion that bill will pass
substantially in the form of the one
to which have alluded.
'4I believe that with such a COM
mission, vested with such powers,
the question of the car shortage and
| generally of equipment could be
speedily regulated and that dis
| crimatory rates could be practically
abolished.
Complaints are continually COM
ing to me from various parts of the
state Of failure on the part of the
railroad companies to furnish cars
even for perishable property. Take
an instance. Yesterday | received d
letter from a gentleman on the line oi
a railroad running into Portland. and
not very great distance from the
city. charging that be had invested
money in potatoes that necessitatet
the use of 80 cars for their removal t,
market. The writer further elaine,
that although he had repeatedly ap
pealed for cars be had thus far beel
: furnished with only one, and tina
. Chere were no prospects for more
Other complaints along the same lin
: continually reach me, and this is on
b of the serious evils which an efficien
Q railroad commission can proceed t
: regulate.
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