Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-08-22

gagged I'm Interstate commerce. To this
end we recommend the valuation OF
railroads by the interstate commerce
commission. such valuation To take
into consideration the physical value
OF the property. the original cost os
reproduction and all clements OF value
that will render the valuation made
fnir and just
We favor such legislation as Will pro-
hibit the railroads from engaging I'm
business which brings them into COM
petition with their shippers. also legis-
lation which will assure such reduc-
ton In transportation rates as condi-
lions viii permit, care being taken to
avoid reductions that would compel n
reduction OF wages. prevent adequate
service or do injustice to Legitimate in
vsstInents. We heartily approve the
laws prohibiting the pass and the re-
bate. and we favor any further netcs-
sary legislation To restrain, control and
prevent such abuses
We favor such legislation as will I'm.
crease the power of the interstate COM
merce commission. giving to 1t the in
itiative with reference to rates and
by the railroad companies, and permit
ting the Interstate commerce commits
sion on Its own initiative to declare
rate Illegal and as being more than
should be charged for such service:
that the present law relating thereto
Is 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
or railway agents affecting Interstate
rates. service or classification shall be
unlawful unless filed with and approx
cd by the Interstate commerce commits
sion.
We favor the enactment of n law
giving TO the Interstate commerce com
mission the power TO inspect proposed
! railroad tariff rates or schedules before
they shall take effect, and II they be
FOUND to be unreasonable to initiate
an adjustment thereof.
Believing with JEFF.
The Rights ferson in "the sup.
Of tho 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 "tbe
preservation OF the general government
In Its whole constitutional vlgor as the
sheet anchor OF our peace Mt 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 DO 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 II is as necessary that the
federal government shall exercise the
powers delegated TO II as II Is that the
state governments shall use the author
ity 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 $1,00S,O00O00, exceeding the to
tai expenditures OF the past fiscal year
by $90,000yO00 and leaving deficit OF
more than $G0,000.000 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 al 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 be extOrted through exces-
slve tariff exactions and other Indirect
methods. 1t Is not surprising that I'm
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
full extravaganza and insist upon the
strlctest economy I'm every department
compatible with frugal and efficient
administration.
Coincident with the
Offieeholders. enormous Increase In
expenditures IL n
| like addition to the number Of office
holders. During the past year 23,TS
were added, costing $1G,15G,0OO, and I'm
tho past six years Of the Republican
administration the total number OF
new Offices created, aside from many
commissions, has been 00,310. entalling
an additional expenditure OF nearly
| $70OO0,O00, as against only 1920 new
Offices created under the Cleveland and
Mckinley administrations, which in
VOWED an expenditure OF only $1,000
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
a deliberate purpose on the part Of the
administration TO keep the Republican
party in power at public expense by
thus increasing the number OF It's re-.
talners 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.