Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-07-22

railroads by the interstate commerce
commission. such valuation to take
Into consideration the physical value
or the property. the original cost of
reproduction and all elements OF value
that will render the valuation made
fair ami, just
We favor such legislation as win pro
hibit the railroads. from engaging In
business which brings them into com
petition with their shippers, also lcgis-
lation which will assure such rcduc-
ton In transportation rates as condi-
lions Will permit. care being taken to
avoid reductions that would compel n
reduction OF wages, prevent adequate
service or do injustice to Legitimate In
vsstments. 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 Gem
merce commission. giving to Ii tho In.
tiativo with reference To rates and
transportation charges put Into effect
10y the railroad companies, a,M permit
ting the Interstate commerce commits
sion on Its own initiative TO declare n
rate Illegal and as being more than
should be charged for such service:
that the present law relating thereto
Is Inadequate by reason OF tho fact
that the Interstate commerce commis-
sion Is without power to fix or invcsti-
gate rate until complaint has been
made to 1t by the shipper.
We further declare that all agree
ments OF traffic or other associations
or railway agents affecting interstate
rates. service or classification shall be
unlawful unless filed with and approv-
ed by the Interstate commerce commits
sion.
We favor the enactment of law
giving TO the Interstate commerce com.
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 JEFF
The Rights fcrson in "thc SUD.
Of the States. port OF the state
governments I'm all
their rights as the most competent adj
ministration for our domestic concerns
and the surest bulwark against anti
republican tendencies" and In "the
preservation Of the general government
III Its whole constitutional vigor as the
sheet anchor or our peace Mt home and
the safety abroad" we are opposed To
the Capitalization implied In these sua-
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 I'm which exploit
Ing interests can take refuge from
both, and IL Is as necessary that the
federal government shall exercise the
powers delegated TO IL as II Is that the
state governments shall use the author
ity reserved TO them, but we Insist thai
federal remedies for the regulation OF
Interstate commerce and for the pre-
ventlsn 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-
proprlations amount
ing to $l,00S, 900, 900, exceeding the to-
tai expenditures of the past fiscal year
by $90,OOO,OOO and leaving n deficit OF
more than 100000, 800 FOR the fiscal
year. We denounce the needless waste
Of the peoples money. which has re-
suited In this appalling increase, as n
shameful violation of all prudent con
ditions of government as no less than n
crime against the millions OF working
men and women from whose earnings
the great proportion Of these colossal
sums must he eXtorted through exces-
slve tariff exactlons and other Indirect
methods. 1t Is not surprising that In
the face OF this shocking record the
Republican platform contains no refer
eHce to economical administration or
promise thereof In the future. Wo de-
mand that a stop DO put TO this fright
full extravaganza and insist upon the
strictest economy In every department
compatible with frugal and eBcieBt
administration.
CoIncideBt with Nhe
0ficeheiders. enormous Increase In
expenditures Is n
like addition to tho Number OF ONCE
holders. During the past year 49,
were added. costing $16,156,0O0 and I'm
the past six years OF the Republican
administration tho total number OF
new Offices created. aside from many
commissions, has been 00,3i0, entailing
IN additional expenditure OF nearly
$70O00,000. as against only 1920 new
Offices created undor the Cleveland and
Mckinley administrations. which In
volved an expenditure Of only $1,000
600. We denounce this great and grow
Ing increase I'm the number Of Office
holders as not only unnecessary and
wasteG,h, but also as clearly Indicating
a deliberate purpose on the part Of the
administration to keep the Republican
party I'm power at public expense by
thus increasing the number OF its re-
tainers and dependents. Such pro
cedure we declare to be no less dan
gerous and corrupt than the open pur-
chase OF votes at the polls.
The panic Of 1907,
Banking. coming without any
legitimate excuse,
when the Republican party had for
decade baan I'm connleth control Of tho