The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1906-05-31
Beree Announces His Candidacy
In an Open Letter to the Voters OF the State George
W. Berge Announces Candidacy and Out
lines the Issues of Campaign.


1. A law that will destroy the free
pass bribery system, root and branch.
This system unjustly discriminates, is
colossal bride, Is an intoleraDle and
unmitigated evil and must be pre-
scribed by law before we can get rid
Of it and before we can restore the
government back to the people.
2. A la what will drive the profes-
sional lobbyists out of business at the
state capitol. Corporations have the
right to be heard on all measures al
fecting their interests, but the pro-
fessional lobbyist outside of that has
no more right to tamper with the
legislature than litigant has to tam
per with jury which is considering
his case.
8. A direct primary law.
4. A law reducing passenger rates to
two cents per mile.
5. A law reducing freight rates and
generally to control the railroads, with
respect to transportation facilities,
charges and determinations.
In this connection let me call
the attention of the people to
bill passed by the last legislature
providing for an elective railroad COM
mission by amending the constitution.
This fall the people will be called
upon to vote upon this amendment
Also, no doubt, three commissioners
will be elected who will serve In that
capacity, If the amendment carries.
The following is the only language
in the amendment touching the pow
ers of this board:
1.-THE powers and duties OF such
commission shall include the regula-
ton of rates, service and general con-
troll of common carriers as the leSis-
lature shall provide by law. Bur in
| the absence of specific legislation the
commission shall exercise the towers
and perform the duties enumerated
in this provision
But what duties are enumerated III
that provision? Absolutely none.
When that commission is elected it
will be without power until the legis-
lature confers it. If the railroads con-
troll the legislature they will see 70
/ it that the legislature does not do
/ this. If the commission undertakes
! to do anything without waiting on
the legislature, the railroads will en-
join the commission on the ground
that the commission has no power
except as the legislature may give it.
This bill like all legislation given
the people by the railroads is intended
as sham and fraud. 1t is intend
4 ed to make the people believe they
are getting something, when as mat
ter Of fact, they are not. Compare
i this with the provision in the Dodge
bill passed in the house, but killed
in the senate, which is as follows:
ssThe railroad commissioners shall
have power to establish, modify and
enforce reasonable rates of charges
for the transportation of persons ano
freights on the different railroads
4 within the state, and prevent discrim
nations and abuses and adjust and
determine controversies in respect tC
transportation facilities, charges anG
determinations. The liability of rail-
road corporations as common carriers
shall never be limited"
i The powers conferred in this bill
!, mean something and therefore the BIZ
J, was killed. There are no powers con
ferred in the Cady bill, the one thai
was passed, and therefore it was per
mitted to become law. The plar
now is to control the legislature sc
, that the board can accomplish moth
: ing. The hope of the railroads IS tha
!, by litigation and lobbying in the legis
lature it will be years before the PEG
pie will find out that the bill doesn'
| Ia IN