The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1908-10-22

Gagged In interstate commerce. To thll
end We recommend the valuation Of
railroads by the interstate comn,ercl
commission, such valuation TO- take
into consideration the physical value
Of the property, the original cost Of
reproduction and all elements Of value
that will render the valuation made
tair and just.
We favor such legislation az will pro.
htbit the railroads from engaging in
business which brings them into com.
edition with their shippers. also legis-
sation. which will assure such retl,lc-
ton In transportation rates as condi-
fions will permit, care being taken to
avoid reductions that would compel q
reduction Of wages. prevent adequate
service or do injustice to legitimate in
vestments. We heartily approve the
laws prohibiting the pass and the re-
bate. and we favor any further neces-
sary legislation to restrain, control and
prevent such abuses
We favor such legislation as will in
crease the power of the interstate COM
merce commission, giving to it the In
itiative with reference to rates and
transportation charges put into effect
by the railroad companies, and permit
ting the interstate commerce commits
sion on its own initiative to declare a
cate illegal and as being more than
should be charged for such service;
that the present law relating thereto
b inadequate by reason Of the fact
that the interstate commerce commits
sion is without power to fix or investi-
gate rate until complaint has been
made to 1t by the shipper.
We further declare that all agree
ments of traffic or other associations
OF railway agents affecting Interstate
Gates, service or classification shall be
unlawful unless filed with and approx.
ed by the interstate commerce commits.
sion.
We favor the enactment of law
giving to the interstate commerce CON-
mission the power to inspect proposed
railroad tariff rates or schedules before
they shall take effect. and If they be
found to be unreasonable to initiate
an adjustment thereof.
Believing with JET.
Tho Rights ferson in 1.-THE SUP.
Of the States. port Of the state
governments in all
their rights as the most competent nd.
ministration for our domestic concerns
and the surest bulwark against anti.
republican tendencies" and in "the
preservation Of the general government
IN Its whole constitutional vigor as the
sheet anchor of our peace at home and
the safety abroad" we are opposed to
the Capitalization implied in these sug.
gestions. now frequently made, that
the powers of the general government
should be extended by judicial con:
struction.
There Is no twilight zone between the
nation and the state in which exploit.
Ing interests can take refuge from
both. and it is as necessary that the
federal government shall exercise the
powers delegated to 1t as 1t is that the
state governments shall use the author.
!ty reserved to them, but we insist that
Federal remedies for the regulation Of
interstate commerce and for the pre-.
vention Of private monopoly shall be
added to, not substituted for. state
remedies.
The Republican con.
Economy In gress in session just
Administration. ended has made ap-
preparations amount.
Ing to $1,O0S. 100000, exceeding the to-
tai expenditures Of the past fiscal year
by $90,OOO,OO0 and leaving q deficit of
more than $GO,OOO,OOO for the fiscal
year. We denounce the needless waste
of the peoples money, which has re-
suited in this appalling increase. as q
Shameful violation Of all prudent con-
ditions of government as no less than
crime against the millions of working
men and women from whose earnings
the great proportion of these colossal
sums must be extorted through excess
sive tariff exactions and other indirect
methods. 1t is not surprising that in
the face Of this shocking record the
Republican platform contains no refer.
ence to economical administration or
promise thereof in the future. We de-
mand that stop be put to this fright
ful extravaganza and insist upon the
strictest economy In every department
compatible with frugal and efficient
administration.
C0incident with the
oAieeholders. enormous increase in
expenditures is q
like addition to the number Of Office
holders. During the past year 23.7S4
were added, costing $1e.l5e.ooo, and in
the past six years of the Republican
administration the total number of
new offices created. aside from many
commissions. has been 99.319, entailing
an additional expenditure of nearly
$7O.OO0,00O, as against only 1929 new
Offices created under the Cleveland and
Mckinley administrations. which ill.,
volved an expenditure of only $6,OOO,.
600. We denounce this great and grow
Ing increase in the number of office.
| holders as not only unnecessary and
wasteful. but also as clearly Indicating
| n (lplf1tnrO ia nurnocn nv, thu ,,,vt 80 A.