The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1906-03-08
66s Nebraska Independent

II
nzzry VIII PIT the corporations z,
arms leng4h and gre the people q
better chance AZ their government
Al the6e Laws have En0rs Or less
% % with the political control u the
state government When we have
them well under way we can then bet.
ter leglEiate for the people. We need
a. once and there should be passed.
Fifst-A Law reducing passenger
rates 10 two cents per mile.
Second--A Law reducing freight
rates and generally 70 control the rail.
roads with respect To transportation
facilities, charges and determinations.
Railway Taxation
Third-Then We need some legisls-
ton TO make The railroads pay their
iugt share " taxes. All the good feat.
ures Of the present law should be re-
tanned, but the county assessor feat
IRE should be repealed The state
board ~ equalization and assessment
asseEses The property Of the railroads
The county assessors are supposed TO
Assess the property Of the people. But
the county assessors are absolutely
under the control Of the state board
and the state board may Gust from
Office every county assessor in the
state II he does not do the boards
bidding. This means that under that
law the taxing power Of the state is
IN those I'VE men constituting the
state board Of equalization and assess.
ment. This board generally IN under
the control Of the railroads. Let us
repeal the county assessor feature OF
that law and give the people back
theif own ASSESSORS.
Republican Failure
But who shall do this work. The
republican party, not only in this
state, but In the nation, is the party
through which the corporations have
outraged the people and robbed them
Of their rights. II could not divorce
Itself from the railroads even IL IL
wanted 10. Look at the government
at Washington. The only thing that
gives popularity to the administration
there Is the advocacy by President
Roosevelt OF democratic measures ad.
yocated by Mr.. Bryan in 1896 and 1900
In the light OF subsequent events IL
mas been shown that Mr.. Bryan was
not only right In his struggles all these
years, but II looks now as though the
people VIII have to make him presi-
dent before we can stay the pluto
cratic tendency OF the times. / am
glad, however, that President Roose-
welt has taken up the fight for rate
regulation even though he does have
20 get upon democratic ground TO do
u. But more significant still is the
Tact that democrats In the senate are
united In standing back of the presi. |
dent while majority OF the repub.
licans on the committee are against
the president. Without the democrats
The rate bill would not have been re.
orted without amendment and the
bill itself now Is committed into the
hands OF democratic senator n
any effective railroad measure will no
passed at all by congress the peop,- |
VIII owe their gratitude to the demo- |
Gratis for It.
Protector Of Corporations
In Nebraska the republican marty
mas always been the defender and
protector OF the railroads ana an apolo. |
sist for public thievery and corrup.
uon. While the rank and file o. the
party have chafed under this DONNA.
lion, the railroads and party bosses
nave always been able to control ana
Silence them. The republican party
IN Nebraska has always been con-
Iroled by the railroads and the peonle
ran hope for no relief from Il. Ii "a
true there are some fiurrles ON tho
surface iust now indicating Thai ,h,.