Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-11-29
Republicans will Keep Pledges.

platform in the next session of the leg
slature in form for action so as to
achieve as much as possible before ad-
journment, possibly, in April.
1t is their desire that the coming
session shall make record that will
commend it to reformers and result in
re establishing full confidence in the
republican party.
Bills are already being drafted for
introduction next January, to carry
out the pledges in the republican state
platform adopled last June.
LAWS AIMED AT RAILROADS.
The republican party platform calls
for the passage of about dozen re-
form measures. Among these are five
which are aimed at railroad companies,
and are intended to give the travelling
public cheaper and safer transporta-
ton, encouraging trolley competition,
prevent such corporations mining coal,
and for the confiscation and sale to in
dependent competing companies of
abandoned railroad beds and the work
on them.
The most important of the bills re-
lating to railroads will provide for the
creation of railroad commission of
three persons, to be appointed by the
governor. The duty of these commits
sioners will be to enforce the laws
against railroad companies, to prevent
discrimination in freight and passenger
rates within the state, and to prevent
partiality being shown to shippers of
freight. They will be clothed with
power to hear complaints and compel
railroad companies to comply with reg.
ulations based on laws for the benefit
of the travelling and shipping public as
a whole. They will exercise authority
similar TO that conferred on the inter
state commission for the regulation of
transportation within the state.
FORA TWO CENT FARE.
1t is proposed to pass law limiting
the rate of fare on all railroads to two
cents mile. Lawyers express doubt
as to the constitutionality of such
law with reference to the Pennsylvania
railroad as they hold that its charter,
which gives it the right to charge three
cents a mile, is in the nature of con-
tract which the legislature cannot set
aside. The matter is being investigat-
ed by the lawyers for the republican
party, and decision will be reached
before the opening of the session. A
bill will be presented to forbid the
charge of $40 on mileage books, in ex-
cess of two cente mile.
There is no diversity of opinion
among the republican state leaders, as
to the introduction and passage of
measure giving trolley companies the
right of eminent domain SO far as may
be necessary for their successful build
ing and operation, and the right to
carry freight, as the republican plat
form sets forth: "In order that the pro-
ducts of the fields and farms may reach
the market at the least possible cost
and Inconvenience" This legislation
is demanded by farmers all over the
state, and it is predicted that the rail
road companies will not be able to side
track it as they did in previous years
ToPRoHIBIT RAILROAD MINING.
An effort will be made to pass q con
stitutional bill to prohibit railroad and
transportation companies being engag-
ed in mining coal. This is forbidden
in the seventeenth article of the con-
stitution, but the companies engaged
in this business never accepted the
constitution of 1874, and it is doubtful
whether they can be reached by the
proposed legislation.
The republican party is pledged to
pass an employers liability law. Cor
porations and large employers have
heretofore been able to prevent the
enactment of law which would make
them liable for damages to employees
injured during the time of their en-
ployment. If drastic bill of this
character were passed it is held by labor
leaders that there would be fewer acci-
dents in factories and large establish
ments, because employees would take
greater care to protect their employees
A law which will extend the provi
sions of the Shern act to county officers
and their employees is included in the
reform legislation proposed. This law
will apply to county officers all over
the state.
PLANK NOT TO BE NAILED.
A bill to prohibit mercantile apprais
ers holding any other federal, state
county or city office, was recommended
by the republican state platform.
A law which will meet with the ap
proval of the country members as i
will mean more money for local pur
poses, will be one to return to tn,