Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-02-25
FEAR ENCROACHN[NIS
Washington Apprehensive Lest
Epidemic of 2-Cent Fare
Causes Entanglements
STATE VS.. FEDERAL CONTROL
Money to 30 Appropriated by Congress
to Promote Investigation Of safety
! Appliances. on RaiIways--Rural Car
riers to Receive More Pay--Wash-
inston News.

riers to Receive More Pay-\Nash-
inston News.
Washington, Feb. 25.'rhe epidemic
OF 2-cent passenger fare Legislation
sweeping the country Is regarded with
apprehension in Washington. 1t is rec
ognized, in a large measure, as the re-
suit Of reaction from years Of railroad
and general corporation domination OF
politics. and WEAKNESS on the part OF
the people Of being taxed to pay divi-
lends on scores OF millions OF richly
watered stocks. But still. in circles
where the government regulation of the
railroads is believed in thoroughly,
there is apprehension over the form
matters are taking in pretty much
every state capitol.
This feeling of apprehension extends
to the Interstate commerce commission,
and it has place in the White House.
The agitation for state regulation
portends In the near future conflict
between federal and slate authority
over interstate commerce, before which
one or the other must give way.
The interstate commerce commission
and other experts believe that the ques-
ton involved is not one of state nights.
President Roosevelt, it is understood,
Is Of the same opinion. 1t is held that
q railroad line, even within q state,
cannot be measured by two standards
without great trouble resulting. 1t is
impossible, it is contenaed, to consider
fragments OF interstate commerce, em-
braced within state boundaries, With
out considering the entlre,system. 0
=
1t has been decided to put into the
sundry civil appropriation bill a para
graph providing for the use OF $4,000
by the interstate commerce commission
for q practical investigation and test
ing of safety appliances and automatic
block signal devices.
Hearing before the commission DEM
onstrated the disgraceful abuse OF the
present block signal system and made
1t evident something In the nature OF
an automatic device must be provided.
There arr, dozens of automatic de-
vices on the market. Inventors have
been almost as prolific In this direction
as they We're In creating automatic car
couplers twenty years ago. The diff
dculty which confront;s the commission
lies in the fact that no one knows ex-
actly what device will work best in
actual practice.
According to reports made to the in
terstate commerce commission there
were 41S passengers killed and 11,185
injured on railroads during the year
1906. At the same time there were
1907 employees killed and 55,524 in-
jured. From these figures 1t Is seen the
railroads during the last fiscal year
claimed the lives Of APPS human beings
and injured the shocking total of g.
70s.
The adoption Of the block signal sys-
tenn Is one, OF the three great aims of
the commission, the other two being a
Systematic investigation Of accidents
and regulation by government author
ity Of the evil of overwork by train
men, signal men. and telegraph opera
tors.
The senate committee on postoffices
and post roads reported to the senare
the postoffice appropriation bill. The
report on the measure will he COM
pleted until Monday, but estt-
mated that an increase of about $S,-
100000 has been made over the amount
appropriated by the house bill. which
was q little more than $209.000, 900.
The largest item of Increase was IN
volved In an amendment advancing the
pay OF rural carriers to 5000. The
present pay Of such carriers is $40 and
the house bill Increased this to $40. The
house made an appropriation to IN :
crease the salaries Of clerks and car
riers in postoffices Of all grades, and to
this. the senate committee added pro-
visions to carry init, effect the plan of
the first assistant postmaster general,
Mr.. Hitchcock, for the graduated pro-
motion OF clerks and carriers UP to ST.
200. Special grades, are created above
that amount where emergencies and
the character of service make 1t neces-
sary to provide advanced compensa-
ton.
Another amendment also was adopt
ed appropriating 100000 additional for
clerks in third class postoffices.
sss
+ It is probable congressional com
mission will investigate this summer
the question Of railroad construction in
Alaska.
Rival interests, including financiers
Of Chicago and New York, have been at
each others throats during the present
session, ibandying back and forth ac-
cusations Of swindling the public, con-
spring to throttle competition, and
striving to gain possession OF the enor-
mously rich copper and coal deposits
The Guggenheim Exploration Company
is behind one company, and blocking
the efforts of the others.
It is doubtful If the American people
realize the great Importance of a prop-
er settlement of the transportation
question in Alaska. The only railroad
leading into the interior is one built
from s'kagway. This road was built
by Canadian capital and runs only
aoout thirty miles in American terri
tory IT connects the sea with the head
waters of the Yukon. 1t dominates the
inlets to Alaska and controls the whole
trade of the Yukon valley, save during
the few months The river IL open to
Senator Nelson Of Minne
sofa. who visited the territory a few
years ago, wants a railroad constructed
between Valdez. about 300 miles west