Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1906-12-19
UNION. @GSRlS
RADicALlSM IN RAILROAD LEGlS-
tATION.

1S itoNn
The condition of the Wisconsin
state treasury, filed to overf1owing
with moneys collected from corpora
tons, from old war claims and
franchise licenses presents tempting
picture to North Dakota legislators
and already there are murmurs of
bills galore calculated to replenish the
states excheuuer at the expense of
corporate interests.
While the railroads are participating
in the unbounded prosperity of the
country they are going at a pace that
wears, so to speak. They are wear
ing out their motive power their
tracks and their rolling stock, and
they are also wearing out their en-
ployees. Now is the time when
large amounts should be set aside for
betterments and greater terminal
facilities. Threatened hostile legisla-
tion is causing a retrenchment in ap-
preparations of this nature. Whatever
is done the interstate commerce COM
mission should insist on this feature
of railway progress in the interest OF
national development and convenience
and safety of the citizens and then
caution all legislative bodies to pro-
coed cautiously and with great
deliberation in legislation affecting
rates and incomes. Especially in
North Dakota the demand is urgent
for railway betterments and increased
facilities.
Unlike the "finished' state of Wis
consin where the lands are all under
settlement and cultivation and rail-
road branches reach into every COM
munity North Dakota still has an en-
pire of territory without transporta-
ton facilities. In the western part of
the state thousands of settlers are
living from twenty to seventy-fve
miles from a railroad. Hundreds of
miles of branch lines are wanted
they are imperative to the develop
ment of the state. The railroad COM
panies should be required to bear
their full and just burden of taxation
should be amenable to all laws the
same as the Individual They should
perform their full duty in recon-
pense for the rights and privileges
they enjoy. There is cause for some
criticism of corporate management in
this state and measures looking to a
remedy will have proper place on the
legislative calendar at the forthcom-
smack of radicalism and in their con-
sideration the conditions of older
states must be taken for what they
are worth only and not as copy to
be followed blindly
Attention is called to this matter for
the reason that with fuel famine
shortage Oh TOliluS SIOUX 10 move tHS
products and vexatious delays in
transportation of every nature is like
1y to find state of the public mind
on the assembling of the legislature
in very nervous and hostile mood
It Is well for US, however, to look be
yond the present conditions, which al
most are but temporary, and find {
common ground Of reason and fair
dealing with these problems.
The railroads made many exten
sions in the state and did much to
ward the development of North Da
kota last year. The demand is NOR
urgent for greater extensions an
more transportation facilities the CON
ing year. While it is entirely prope
to squeeze the. source of the "golde
egg" caution and wisdom are states
manship attributes that ought to pre-
vent it's entire destruction.