The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1908-05-02
RAILROAD COMMISSIONS.

AS the political campaign
approaches 1t comes within the prov
ince of every newspaper to smite the
railroads fore and aft. The Tribune
would be justly obnoxious to the
charge of lack of journalistic enter
prise if it failed to avail itself of the
opportunity. You know 1t is only
during the heat and stress of political
campaigns that newspapers can con-
scientiously attack the vested inter-
ests of the railroads. At other times
there are editorial associations to
attend, and transportation to secure
secure at all times. Editors being
naturally modest have not the cour-
age to lambast railroads while con-
tempating or enjoying a visit to
some cool summer resort, made pos
sible by an advertising pass. The
heat and stress have not yet arrived,
but The Tribune likes to be at the
front, in hopes that the people will
admire our courage and at the same
time the railroads. not expecting the
attack, will hardly Sc or feel it. The
center of the stage is much to our
liking, when we can smooth the ruff
fed feathers of the sansculotte, (for
surely a sansculotte ought to have a
feather in his hiatt without attack
ing the attention of the Oregon Short
Line. We are now convinced that
the best line of attack is by way of a
railroad commission. A State rail-
road commission, to be sure, is an
expensive luxury, and to our knowl-
edge never did do any good. But
then, how it can harass the railroads.
That is the main desideratum,
The commission should be compos-
ed of at least five members, for the
more the better. We would be salts
fed with five for beginning, but
would insist that these five be taken
from different walks in life. AS like
ly to know the least about transpor-
tation, we would compose the COM
mission of a cobbler, a painter, a
tailor, a tinker, and a Murphy to
represent the Irish vote. We would
assure ourselves that none of them
knew frog from a round house. The
salary should be about $4,000 per an
mum for each member and an equal
amount for stationery. This COM
mission would accomplish a double
good, 1t would fix the railroads and
provide soft births for FIVE deserving
patriots and a secretary or two. AS
to the railroads, it would cause them
no end of trouble. The meetings of
the commission should be held on
the actual ground; at such places as
Cache Junction, Mackay, Minnidoka,
Ketchum, Murphy, and such other
termuni as can be located. The
place of meeting is very important.
1t should be as inaccessible as pos
sible, because the main thing is to
discommode the railroad officials.
We want to keep them all, from Har-
riman down to Pat O'Conner, in a
continual turmoil. Fasten them to
the ragged edge of despair and hold
them there. That is the proposition,
exactly. The commission could de-
eide to hold meeting at Ticeska, or
Arvinza, or Wancanza; summon Mr..
Hartman and have him there and
then assure the sovereign State of
Idaho, that he did not have In his
employ and young Oyamas or Kuro-
patkins, who might in the solitary of
night convert the Arvinza spur into
a block house or Medbury hill into a
Gibralter, for have We not heard that
there are Japanese spies, soldiers and
engineers in this country, occupying
humble positions, while taking note
of the natural vantage grounds, In
preparation for the invasion? A
knowledge of the elevation of Med.
bury hill, might turn the tide of bat.
tie at any time. Then again the
commission could regulate the freight
rate on guano from Blackfoot to
Mackay. where it is never shipped
1t could do countless useless things
But that isn't all. 1t would, as VIC
remarked before, give five deservine
politicians nice, fat plums. Think
OF five thousand a year for salary
five thousand for stationery ant
stamps and an annual pass with tn.
dining and Pullman service thrown
in. That would be snap to max,
julie Bassett sit up and take notice
Let us have the commission nv al