Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-04-17

Is found to be exorbitant or oppressive
1t gives them the power to name q
reasonable rate, hence the name Of
the rate bill. There is no difference
of sentiment in the republican party
of the state of Iowa on the question Of
this rate bill; the faction that now
seeks to divide the republican party
OF the state can claim no precedence
on this question; the whole republican
party OF the state is in accord on it.
| NOW as to the railroad question as
a state issue, it reminds,me somewhat
OF the chapter Of the q historian on
snakes in Ireland, which briefly recit
ed that there are no. snakes in Ire
land" There is no state railroad
question in Iowa; that was settled
some seventeen years ago to the en-.
tire satisfaction Of the people of the
state. Many of our citizens right here
as well as all over the state, will bear
me witness of the contest in the legis-
| lature at that session over our present
railroad law; 1t was bitterly opposed
by the roads, and the writer well re.
calls spending many days in Des
Mo1nes aiding the railroad commits.
sioners and our representatives both
in the legislature and senate, with
the information, which resulted in the
passage OF the present law empower.
Ing the state commissioners to revise
and make rates within the state. The
writer was, then criticised for. his
course, but he exercised the courage
OF his convictions in what he believed
to be right.
Messrs. J. T. Hackworth, F. w
Simmons, Thos. D. Foster, S. H. Har
per, Jno. w. Edgerly, William Dag.
gett. and others in the mercantile and
Industrial pursuits in the city. also
gave their time and money in promot.
| ing this law.
Our representatives who were aided
and abetted by the influence Of these
men, were Capt. j. G. Hutchinson in
the senate and James r. Burgess in
the house; these men spared no exer-
ton in bringing about the legislation.
This wise legislation which was
cheerfully accepted and fairly inter.
preted by the railroad companies when
II once became law, has been of in.
Unite benefit to the state of Iowa; 1t
has built up our manufacturers, it has
fostered the wholesale mercantile in.
dustr1es in the local centers of the
state, building up and increasing the
population of these centers. One OF
the best evidences of this is illustrat
ed in our own city OF Ottumwa, which
Is now flourishing and growing city
of $4,000 people, whose wants have tc
| ha Sl1nn1in6 from, "a
rounding country thus furnishing q
local market that brings the producer
| higher prices than any distant mar
ket, because it is consumed at home
The operation of the Iowa railroad
law has been singularly free from liti
cation in the seventeen years In which
it has been in force. Our railway
commission, in almost every case, has
been enabled to settle all disputes
4 without reference to the courts. The
best evidence of the working of thu
! law is that the railroad question has
been entirely eliminated from parti
san politics. !
| Our present chief state, executive il
seeking the nomination for a third
term, at the hands of our party on {
supposed railroad issue, whether it II
a state OF national issue, we are lief
to decide from his speeches. Hi.
| speech in Ottumwa, to which listened
carefully last fall, consisted wholly o
his complaint of the treatment re
ceived at the hands of Senator Elkins
chairman of the railroad committee o
the senate, at hearing before tina
j committee, and was largely a bitter de
nunciation of that gentleman. Now tn,
question is, has the governor an issu,
on the national railroad question diff
fering from our delegation in congress
or does his grievance consist of a bit
from West Virginia? A nominatio,
for third term to the office Of cover
nor in the state of Iowa, is against al
the traditions of the party from it
foundation and should only be consid
cred, if at all, in some grave crisis o
condition, within the state or nation
Why a personal quarrel of the COVER
nors with Senator Elkins, or anybod,
else, should furnish such an occasion
fail to see.
1 Are we dissatisfied with the cours
of our present representatives in con
gress on the railroad rate question
Men could do no more than they hav
done and are doing to support tn
4 President in this great measure. Wha
ground then is there for our governo
to antagonize these men and wherein
does he differ with them?
This whole deplorable factiona
movement on the part of some of ou
Il friends is antagonistic to our delegs
ton in congress, who are fighting tn
hattie of the people for the rate hill