Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-28

DeI9Ee the introduction of his bill that
such an act would be void denying
the railroad companies standing in
court and unconstitutional. Therefore,
had that bill been enacted into law, 1t
would have fallen to the ground Just
like the law Of Minnesota fell to the
ground.
House File 373.
When House Files 373 and s74
We're up the same question arose and
their constitutionality preserved by
making the rates prescribed prima
facte reasonable. but the burden of
proef rested upon the railroad COM
panies. They could come into the
courts and claim they were confisca-
tory or unreasonable: The result has
been that this law has stood the test
OF investigation. It is considered a
marvel to all Of our surrounding states.
How was 1t enacted with such ease in
both senate and the house? AS mat,
ter Of fact the members of the senate
at that time were less radical than
those OF the house. They were fearful
that House File 374, which proposed a
schedule OF rates might pass and to
avoid q record voted unanimously for
House File 373. Therefore, make
this claim that had it not been for the
determination of the house Of repre-
sentatives of the twenty-second gen
efal assembly to force through effec-
tiye'railrpad legislation the present law
may have failed to pass. The vote in
the house for House File 374, was a
large one. but a minority of twelve,
Mr.. Cummins Included, voted against
IL, Now Governor Cummins, at that
time attorney of the G., R. /. & P, rail.
way, says that he favored House File
S7S on its merits, and that she was
then Simon pure anti-monopoIist
We hare every ground to claim that
but for our action in the house the
state OF Iowa might today be deprived
OF the advantages of the railroad rate
prescribed by the railroad commission
There was another railroad meas
ufee which we. deemed vital-absolute
" necessary to carry into execution
house file 373. We. took from the
governor the power of appointing the
railroad commissioners and gave the
people the right to nominate and elect
them. Well, do they know that each
NC&h1AAcoAoACl AoS W oPpCoA W LtlS
people for return to Office and must dc
his duty.
cunn,ins' Railway Record.
What kind Of record did my col
league have on that proposition?
would like to give, you the book and
page. Mr.. Cummins voted against the
election Of railroad commission by
popular vote as shown on page $50 OF
the. house journal. There is your
great friend Of the common people
gentlemen Let me stop there and
refer to the record again. Let us take
some Of this gentleman's reasons fol
his candidacy. The Standard Oil com
pany with John D. Rockefeller at its
head Is an immense trust. Yes, gen
tlemen, that is true But is that any
reason why A. b., Cummins should be
reelected or continued in Office fol
seven years? Is it, gentlemen? The
u. s.. Steel company is likewise. a mon
strous trust which should be held ii
check. Mr.. Gummins has been gov
ernor OF Iowa for five years, Has he
accomplished orsdone anything In the
matter of suppressing the evils com
planned of in that time? No. Will he
do anything in two more years, gen
tlemen? Can he as governor of the
state Of Iowa do anything? Can any
one answer? believe every one oi
YOU, gentlemen, stand with him or
those propositions. What does his ap
peal mean? 1t is simply piece of ar
rant demagoguery and nothing more
If President Theodore Roosevelt can
not with the legislative authority o.
the, United States government, clothed
as he is with the Sherman law, sup
press those great combinations, car
the governor Of the state Of Iowa, dc
so? Has that anything to do with
this election of governorship for sever
years? Let us analyze this man ani
his record. want to refer to little
practical legislation right here. And
1 am going to give you the book anc
the page want to refer you to chap
ter 81 Of the Laws of the Twenty-Sec
i'd General Assembly. It is an ac1
the punishment of pools and trusts
i'd conspiracies- in other words II
as the first trust law enacted in the
ate of Iowa. and was enacted tt
4 eek or prohibit such conditions II
r state. 1t was known as Senate
te Ne. So. Here in the record of the
tate upon that law in the house, page
Via Of the house Journal, we find thai
Wss Hon. A. B. Cummins, this illustri
friend of the people, voted against
E trust law. CLaughter.) There
sntlemen, you can find the fact
mere 1t is of record. Now why un
sr heavens haven't these facts come
Z, light before? I don't know. We
ave all been busy; we have, been op
losed to factional pc litics. We, haven't
ad anything else for five years.
Some of us are getting tired Of
hem and believe that men should
'tand upon their merits. am not
;eeking Office at your hands or at the
lands Of any other constituency and
IAN afford to tell the truth. / am go
ing to give you further fact, ani
quote from a speech delivered by the
Hon. A. B. Cummins at Mount Ayr
Here it is. In discussing the insur
ance scandal don't believe he dis
sussed it here. Here are these words
? which he is reported to have said:
Don't you know that it would sbe 8
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