Albuquerque morning journal., 1907-03-14
HEAR|NGON THE
. THREE CENT
BILL
RAILROAD COMMITTEE IN
INTERESTING SESSION
Mr. Cameron Makes ImpaS-
stoned Argument in Favor Of
Passage of the Bill -RaiEpad
Attorneys Present 10 Protest,
The Morning Journal Bureau.

santa E's ~ W. htl IT ! o.
The council committee on railroads
held an interesting session this after
noon TO hear argument on the three
cent passenger fare bill passed i'm the
house last Friday Attorneys for the
Santa Fe, the FL Paso and Southwes-
tern and several smaller railroads APP
peared before the committee in oppo-
sition to the bill.
Mr.. Cameron. member of the coun-
eli from Eddy county. made the only
speech in defense of the bill. Mr..
Cameron's speech was an impassioned
argument for the bill as a measuGe
demanded by 90 per cent of the peo-
pie of the territory. He pointed to
rate regulation in Texas as an eNam-
pie of what can be accomplished py
I legislation of this character, He de-
clared that the railroads charged the
poor man double what was charged
the man who could buy a mileage
book. that this constituted the rank
est Kind of discrimination. and that
the bill itself could work no possible
/ hardship to the railroad companies,
I whom he held were in sufficiently
/ profitable position to operate their
| passenger service on thTce-cent baS
. Sis. ne ltlh Nlldl lll' lilN'lf'''' W -
merca act and the Hepburn bill did
not prohibit the territorial Legislature
( from enacting legislation of this kind
which would stand the test of the
courts He said that even If the ma
tional law should make such legisla-
ton void. that the interstate COM
mcrce commission would never disa"
gree to a law fixing railroad fare in
this territory at three cents mile
Mr.. Cameron pointed out that the
territory eXempts new railroads from
taxation for a period of six years after
construction. Why, he said, should a
railroad be exempt from taxation
when q new manufacturing enterprise
or wholesale establishment Is not
He compared the position of the ran
roads Of this territory toward the pe".
pc to the position of the people OF
England. when demanding the Magma
Charta from the king. He minated
that the people of New Mexico must
demand and take from the railroads
the power to govern, Just as the men
of England took it from their soVer-
eien Mr.. Cameron said that he be-
lieycd he had done his duty when ne
voted yes on the passage of this biil.
It Is doubtful. however, If he VIII
have an opportunity to do his duty
since there seems to be very little
;. reason to expect favorable report on
the bill.
Mr.. Spiess appeared before the
council committee in strong argu'
ment in opposition to the bill. lie
said that the best thing that hat
ever been done i'm New Mexico was the
exemption OF new railroads from tax
alton. since it encouraged railroat
construction and consequent develop
ment.
He read sections of the interstate
commerce law to prove to Mr.. Cam
eron that the interstate commerce
commission has fun power to regulate
passenger rates in the territory. tina
, Il territory is considered the same a.
interstate commerce, and that tn
territorial government has nothing
whatever to do with its regulation.
Mr w. 4. Hawkins, of counsel 70
the EI Paso and Southwestern rail
a., road. made a strong speech in opposi
I ton to the bill Mr.. Hawkins wen
: farther than Mr.. Spiess in what n
held to be the inability of the terri
torial government to enact Legislation
: of the kind proposed. He said that tin
interstate commerce commission wa
, appointed by the president Of tn
United States, composed Of mel
! thoroughly cOnversant with railroa
affairs and before whom he said. an
! citizen or any community could tax
u any complaint it might have as {
passenger or freight rates. MI. Haw
kns said that he could see no reaso
why with such commission exist