Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-11-02
SHELDON IS MADE WELCOME
Candidate fer Governor Has a Warm
Greeting from 0msha Audience.
HTsA Popular CHORD ON RAILROADS
Given some solid Facts on How to
Obtain Relief from the Present
CoRdition---Other Candi-
dates speak

WANEA aNeAh
(Continued from First Page
the revenue derived does not pay expenses
The railroads would not bring the matter
to a test in court as lorg as they were MAX
ing money and they would resort TO the
courts only when their rates had been whit
tied so low as to bring no interest on the
money invested.
Passenger Rate Question.
III the democrats don't intend 20 do any
thing with freight rates. and 1 cannot see
that they do, l anticipate that the railroads
would not kick very much on a 2-cent pas
senger fare forced upon them, for what
they lost I'm passenger fares they could
make up In freight charges. The opposing
party makes a big howl about 2-cent pas.
senger fare. Do they think the people do
not know that the republican candidates
want 2-cent fare? I say that when We
abolish the free pass we shall have a
s-cent rate.
Right here as in freight rate matters,
comes the consideration Of the railroads
with small earning capacity There is a
railroad between O'NeiIl and Sioux City
which does not pay operating expenses and
a., dividend ON investment BY the consti-
tuition Of the United States you cannot
make that railroad carry passengers at 2
cents a mile or freight at less rate than
Il is now getting. Yet that is what Mr..
Shallenberger would try to do, and I say
his plan would prove futile His maximum
rate law would be knocked out in the courts
at the protest of this railroad or another in
similar condition. What we propose to do
is to empower the railroad commission to
say what the rate shall be on this road
and that one. and the other one, Then our
republican commission will say to the
Union Pacific and Burlington and other
roads with big earnings that they must haul
freight for so much a mile and passengers
for cents mile. but II will excuse the
road which is not now paying expenses.
BY such a plan only can railroad rates be
regulated in Nebraska.
"The national government has blazed the
way and created commission; now II
you want to cooperate with the national
government you will create a railroad COM
mission and get results.
what Did Democrats DOg
"The democrats talk about raising rail-
road assessments, but did they ever do
anything when they had chance? When
Crounse was governor the railroads were
assessed at s2S,OOOOOO, but when he turned
over the administration to the fusion party
the assessment was reduced by 100000
and remained there until a revenue law
was passed by a republican. legislature
The republican Board of Equalization In
1904 raised the railroad assessment to
Sl6.OOOOOO. an increase of 50 per cent. while
at the same time the increase on all other
property, was only So per cent"
In this connection Mr.. Sheldon paused to
declare himself in. favor of taxation OF
railway property for city and village pur-
poses, and the audience cheered the senti-
ment He told. the old, old story of how
the railroads had refused TO pay the taxes
on their Omaha terminals, and he reminded
the voters that he had stood with the
legislators from Douglas county in trying
to make the railroads pay. rs
IF this is any issue, and you men know
It IT," said Mr., Sheldon, why is Il the
democratic platform has no word of criti-
! cism on the railroads for refusing TO pay
their taxes?" sa
: Home rule Mr.. Sheldon passed by with a
/ sentence, but he expressed himself plainly.
II see no reason why Omaha and South
Omaha should not be allowed to govern
themselves" ne said.
Bound 90 Have Reform.
"The people are aroused and they want
REFORM said Congressman John L. Ken
nedy, when he was introduced by Chairman
Mike Lee
Were going TO have it. too" shouted
someone from the back Of the room.
You bet" yelled two or three from the
front
''Well, Sheldon can help you regulate
freight rates from Nebraska points to
Omaha, and If I go back TO congress
assure you l will see that they are regu-
lated to Kansas City" answered The
speaker.
Mr.. Kennedy urged the necessity of send
ing republicans to the Legislature from
Douglas county, and his words met will
applause. He urged the necessity of send
ing a republican to congress to uphold
Theodore Roosevelt, and at the mentor
OF that name the audience became WILDLY
enthusiastic.
i COWeII IL Modest.
Robert Cowell modestly forgot to talk fo
himself as railroad commissioner when b.
took the platform, but he spoke some gco'