The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-07-16

recommend the valuation of railroads by
| the interstate commerce commission. such
valuation to take into consideration the
| physical value Of the property. the orig
| nal cost, cost of production and all ele-
ments of value that will render the valua-
| ton made fair and just
We favor such legislation as will pro
| hibit the railroads from engaging In bust
ness which brings them into competition
with their shippers, also legislation which
| Will assure such reduction in tranSporta-
| ton rates as conditions will permit, care
being taken to avoid reductions that would
compel a reduction of wages, prevent ade-
quate service or do injustice to legitimate
Investments. We heartily approve the
laws prohibiting the pass and the rebate,
and we favor any further necessary legis-
lation to restrain, control and prevent
such abuses.
We favor such legislation rs will In
crease the power of the interstate com
merce commission, giving to it the initla-
tive with reference to rates and transpor-
tation chang es put into ehevt by the rail
road companies, and permitting the inter
state commerce commission on its own
initiative to declare rate Illegal and as
being more than should be charged for
such service That the present law re
lating thereto is inadequate by reason OF
the fact that the interstate commerce
commission is without power TO fix or In
yestigate rate until complaint has been
made to it by the shipper
We further declare that all agreements
Of traffic or other associations of railway
agents Affecting lllltESldlt Iut'S' Ni''
or classification shall be unlawful unless
filed with and approved by the interstate
commerce commission.
We favor the enactment of law giving
to the interstate commerce commission the
power to inspect proposed railroad tarlH
rates or schedules before they shall take
effect, and If they be found to be unrea-
sonable, to initiate an adjustment Thereon
Rights of the States.
Believing, with Jefferson, in the support
OF the state governments In all their rights
as the most competent administration Tor
our domestic concerns and the sureSt bul-
wark against anti-republican tendencies,
and In THE preservation OF the -ehera
government in its whole constitutional Wig
or as the sheet anchor Of our peace at home
and safety abroad we are opposed to
the Capitalization implied In these suS-
gestions, now frequently made that the
powers of the general government should
be extended by judicial construction. There
IS no twilight zone between the nation ana
the state in which exploiting interests can
take refuge from both: and it is as neces-
sary that the federal government shall eX-
ercise the powers delegated to 1t as it is
that the state governments shall use the
authority reserved to them. but we insist
that federal remedies for the regulation or
interstate commerce and for the prevention
OF private monopoly shall be added to, not
substituted for, state remedies.
Economy in Administration.
The Republican Congress in the session
Just ended has made appropriations amount
ing to UUe,OoOObo, exceeding the total
expenditures Of the past fiscal year by
S9O,UU,UO, and leaving deficit of more
than SG0OOO,U0 for the fiscal year We
denounce the needless waste OF the peo-
pies money which has resulted in this
appalling Increase as II shameful violation
of all prudent conditions OF government
as no less than crime against the mil
lions of workingmen and women from
whose earnings the great proportion OF
these colossal sums must be eXtorted
through excessive tariff exactions and other
indirect methods 1t Is not surprising that
In the face of this shocking record, the
Republican platform contains no reference
to economical administration or promise
thereof In the future We demand that n
ana insist upon the strictest economy in
every department compatible with fruga |
and efficient administration.
-eS Office Holders,
co,ncident with t5a sHs;s,tsHl,s incTsase i,
expenditures is a Ike addition to the mum
Der OF office holders. During the last year
23,ls4 were added, costing SIG, 10000, and
in the last six years of the Republican ad
mlnistration the total number of new Of
fees created, aside from many commits
sions, has been 993l9, entailing an audl-
tional expenditure of nearly $4,000, 800 as
against only lO2i9 new offices created uU-
der the Cleveland and Mckinley admins
trations. which involved an expenditure OF
only SGWO,UIO. We denounce this great
ana growing Increase IN the number OF of
flee holders as not only unnecessary and
wastefu but also as clearly indicating II
deliberate purpose on the part OF the ad-
ministration to keep the Republican party
crcasing the number of its retainers and
dependents. Such procedure we declare to
be no less dangerous and corrupt than the
open purchase of votes at the polls.
Banking
The panic of 1907 coming without ony
legitimate excuse, when the Republican
party had for a decade been in complcte
additional proof that ii is either unwilling
or incompetent TO protect the interests OF
the general public. 1t has so linked the
country to Wall street that the svudicate
sins Of the spectators are visited Upon the
Whole people. While refusing to rescue the
wealth producers from spoliation at the
hands Of the stock gamblers and specu-
lators In farm products. 1t has deposited
treasury funds, without interest and with
out competition, In fayorite banks. 1t has
Csed an emergency for which it is largely
changing the basis of bank currency and in
viting market manipulation, and has failed
to give TO the l5,ooooro depositors OF the
country protection in their savings.
We believe that in so far the needs OF
commerce require an emergency currency,
such currency should be issued, controlled
by the federal government and loaned on
adequate security 70 national and state
banks. We pledge ourselves to legislation
under which the national banks shall be
required to establish a guarantee fund for
the prompt payment of the depositors OF
any, insoIvent national bank under an cqui.
table system which shall be available to all
state banking institutions wishing to use II.
We favor postal savings bank, If the
guaranteed bank cannot be secured, and
that II be constituted so as to keep the
money in the communities where
1t Is established. But we condemn the pol.
Icy of the Republican party In providing
postal savings banks under Il plan of con
duct by which they will aggregate the de-
poSits OF ruraf communities and red"pOsit
the same while under government. charge
in the banks Of Wall street. thus depicting
the circulating medium of the producing
regions and uujustly fayoring the specula
tive markets.
Misuse of Patronage
We condemn, ms violation of the spirit
of our Institutions, the action of the pres
ent chief executive In using the patronage
OF his high office to secure the nomination
of one of his cabinet officers. forced sue
cesston in the presidency is scarcely less
to public sentiment than is
life tenure In that office. No good intention
on the part of the executive and no vir-
tue in the one selected can Justify the es-
adjustment of dynasty. The right OF
the people to freely se.ect their officials Is
and cannot be delegated.
Protection of American Citizens.
We pledge ourselves to insist upon the
Just and lawful protection of our citizens
at home and abroad and to use all proper
methods to secure for them, whether ma
tive born or naturalized. and without dis
tinction of race or creed, the equal protec-
ton OF law and the enjoyment OF all rights
and privileges open TO hem under our
treaty; and If, under existing treaties the
right of travel and soJourn Is denied to
American citizens or recognition Is with
held from American passports by any coun-
tries on the ground of race or creed, we
favor prompt negotiations with the govern
ments of such countries to secure the re-
moval of these unjust determinations
Wa demand that all over IN, world A