The daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1906-1907, 1907-04-15
THE PARAMOUNT ISSUE
(CommuniCa ated

TO regulate commerce with foreign
nations, and amOug the several states
and with the Indian tribes AT the
,IMe Of the ad0puOn Of the constitu-
ton, highways and rivers were the
principle instrumentalities in conduct
ing commerce. They were govern
ment control. Railroads have now be-
come the insJrumentalities OF nine
tcnths Oh the International commerce
U1 the United StJates. They are not
under government control, but are
controlled and managed by railroad
corporations. The management OF
commerce through the agency of rail-
road corporations for the last thirty
Years has already transferred from 80
to 80 per cent. OF the property OF the
people to trusts and favored individ-
uaIs. Such a system is intolerable.
the ight and duty OF Congress to
regulate commerce must no longer re-
main dormant, but must be exercised
in the most direct and positive man
uer. CommCrce cannot be regulated
: al the same time. Nor can commerce
: be regulated without the use OF rail
L roads
: They are essential instrumentalitiles
t government must own and possess
n tnem. and must exercise the power
S CT eminent domain for that purpose.
y The power to regulate commerce being
1t granted to the general government,
IS that grant carries with it the right
to do all things necessary and proper
10 make it effective; but the 9th,
Amendment to the Constitution OF the
United States provides that private
IL pr9pertv shall not be taken for pub
le lie use without just compensation;
~ and the Supreme Court have decided
ht that this limitation applies to the
United States alone, when the power
1t, of eminent domain is exercised by
in the general government. No fair
he minded man who respects the conStl
tuition viii suggest the taking OF the
er railroads of the United States by tho
I'M general government without just com
dy pensatiOn. What is just compensa
Ct ton. must be ascertained by commits
m soners CT appraisers, appointed b.
eys the United States to determine th
I'm value under all the circumstances o
nd each railroad to be taken. Il the al
praised value is less man the indeb
for edness Of the road, creditors must az
he cept theapprasement in liquidation {
their obligations When the geners
re- government shall have acquired a
the railroads and paid only reasol
the able and just price, the transactio
for will be most beneficial unto th
for United States and to the people.
18th The earning capacity of the ra
iut- roads may be estimated by the colo
at sal fortunes that the trusts and ra
road magnates now enjoy. There CO
be no doubt that construction and I
pairs can be continued, fares al
freights reduced so per cent, leavll
"'p a handsome surplus to relieve e
t"' people from taxation.
If it be suggested that the oWn'
ship of railroads would cOncentra
lh- power in the general government;
c"h is sufficient answer that that pow
ho' was conferred upon Congress by t
lou trainers of the constitution. Were
opi7 possible to regulate commerce. Wi
rces out government ownership of r;
AeI roads, such ownership not OF
Will prevents the government from re
lating commerce, but enables the II
road obligarchy to deprive the peo
of the right to elect their own oftic
f the by means of the vast funds furnish
5 J. by the railroads to buy votes and {
NUM- rupt the elections. When power
class concentrated in the general COVE
labor ment, it is restored to the peol
sible When it is concentrated in a railr
of oligarcy, free government is at
end. WILLIAM M. STEWAl
: SENSATIONAL EVIDENCE