The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1908-09-24

suited IN a saving 10 ,he people of Mis-
Houfi ~ ti.l0o.u00 each year IA the rates
pale FOR passenger service, or, in other
words ~ has enabled the people 20 travel
The REGULATION OF FREioAr
RATES,
The conclusion that / have reached as
a result OF this litigation over rcight
rates ~ that the fixing OF a schedule OF
such rates ought not 70 be undertaken
ny a legislature; such work cannot be
successfully accomplished by such a body
~ the haste, confusion and innccuracy
which usually attend tbs deliberations OF
tn state legislature. such work should
pc undertaken and accomplished by an
Intelligent commission composed Of men
who by training ana study are competent
20 deal With this question,
During the progress 81 this litigation q
chance was offered through the Initiative
Of judge Q A. spencer, one Of the at
complish what j regarded AZ a sRtiEfac-
tory compromise Of this litigation. He
offered 20 put into erect FOR his road,
which would lave necessitated hat the
other roads do likewise, ali OF the rates
dxed by the acts Of 1905, with the ezcep-
ton OF the live stock schedule, and IN
that Instance ne offered 20 establish a
rate as low az that existing IN any con-
tiguOus state. MI. Frank Mightman. n
Of the Railroad Commissioners. and q CO.
defendant with me, agreed with me that
this would be a satisfactory compromise,
and Governor Folk was also disposed TO
favor H. But through the opposition Of
the democratic members OF the Board OF
Railroad and Warehouse Commissioners.
and particularly that OF John A. Knott.
this compromise was rendered impossi-
bic, and the litigation stil continues.
THE DiscoNTINUANcE or PASSES.
Another instance IN which I feel that
I have accomplished a result without liti-
gauQn which IS Of value and Importance
TO the people Of Missouri, is by securing
IA discontlnuance OF the Issuance Of rail-
road passes. Since 1875 thc laws % this
state v a Il a m-iadomoanor for a
rallroad company to give or a public Of
hctal 20 receive railroad passes There
mas, however, been no law prohibiting a
railroad company from giving free passes
20 q person other than n public of1clal
Although the Constitution and laws o.
the State prohibit all determinations 10
railroad charges, the legislature has. Tor
some ineNcusable reason. failed 20 pro-
htbit the Issuance Of free passes, though
an act Of Congress prohibits such dis
ordinations IN Interstate m A
law prohibiting passes 10 public officials
Is Of little c-onsequence or value 20 long
as all the politicians who nominate n
help 20 elect those officials have their
pockets hlled with passes. Al the last
session Of the LEGISLATURE I drew and had
introduced a bin prohibiting the railroad
companies from Issuing passes 20 any
person other than employees and those
engaged In works % religion and charity.
This hll was opposed by the ralroad
lobby. and by using the argument among
Democratic members o. the Legislature
that It's passage would advance my po-
litical fortunes, its defeat was accom-
plished The Legislature having failed 90
do its plain duty In this regard. I under
took 20 see what I could accomplish with
out the assistance % the Legislature. I
called the attention OF the railroads 20
the fact that they were, under the Con-
stitution and laws o. this state. COM
mon carriers and prohibited from making
any Determinations IN their charges Tor
transportation ] called upon them % dis
continue the Issuance o. free passes 10
persons other than employees and those
engaged IN works Of religion and charity.
and advised them n such action a not
taken ! would Institute suits 20 secure q
judicial determination q the question. Z
did his because I knew that FOR every
politician who rode on a railroad train
free % charge that Il was necessary Tor
tho railroad company 70 impose an addi-
tuual burden upon those who paid for
theiy transportation. And I believe with
Theodore Roosevelt that the railroads OF
tho country should be highways Of COM
mercc open Go an alike and upon fair
ana equal tema. After some delay and
Ia the state informed me that u either
had or would discontinue the Issuance o.
free transportation. And there has been
witnessed during the last year IN this
were constructed four State Conventions
of the two leading political parties %
which. according 60 Newspaper reports.
uo one came on n railroad pass who was
not entitled 20 rid on one. Thus. there
has been produced the EucccFEfui result ~
reduced railroad transportation 90 al and
special faV0ra Oh railroad transportation
90 none. And the dircontiuuapce ~ the
issuance 81 fee transportation has re-
suited IN a saving o. the railroad com
panles Of nearly $500. 0oe a year 81. State
passenger earnings alone. The discon-
unuauce o. the railroad pass has also
tended 20 a correction Of the evils q
hosglsm and corruption On politics and
Legislation. In bringing about his dis
continuance % the issuance Of free trans
p~ortnton. I wish 20 freely acknowledge
the credit that should b. given men Ike
Wells II. Blodgett m T.. Minis.
Gardiner Lathrop. James and Frank Ha-
german. Samuel W. Moore. Sam "a. West
and a number Of other attorneys Of the
milroad companies o. the State who have
actively co-uperatcd with me IN brpglnE
about a correction Of his long estab.
lished eyii.
OTHER RAILROAD CONTROVERSIES
There IL another condition IN the rail,
road anaira Of this State which ! have
believed 60 be IN violation OF our Con-
L"NNNNN#Hh NHHA w. ANNH WIN q NAHH
undertaken 20 correct by suits which have
been finally submitted for decision IN "a.
Supreme Court of the State. For years
the Missouri pacine Railway Company hai
owned and conducted foai mlncs and Gle.
vators IN this state as private business
enterprises, and IN company with 40,
Wabash Railroad Company. has owned and
IN q ID the Pacific Express Company
But recently. the Missouri Pacific. 60
gcthcr VIII the Iron Mountain. a Hubaidi.
try company acquired n controlling inter.
80 IN tho stock ~ the Wabash Company
which O. a parallel and competing linz
- the Missouri Pacific A. the Conrtitu,
ton prohibits the consolidation 81 parable
and competing lines. and a. the laws pro.
vide that railroad companies shall nsr'
niah the same facilities 90 an expires,
companies and Couhno their huElneai
solely 10 that OF transportation. BE-.
uevcd that these conditions were unlaw.
fll and J Instituted q suit 20 bring about
their correction.
RAILROAD OPPOSITION TO ny CAN,
pipAcY.
I am advised by men who pretend {,