Elk City mining news. (Elk City, Idaho) 1903-1913, 1908-11-21
A Railroad Commission.

Pocatello Tribune: Idaho needs more
railroads instead of railroad commits
sions.
The Southern Idaho League of Com
mercial clubs, which is dominated by a
coterie of Boise men, who since the
year one of railroad building in this
state, have worked early and late to
compel the Short Line to build It's main
line into the Capital City, is flooding
the state with circular letters, addressed
to newspapers, commercial clubs and
similar bodies, asking that delegates be
sent to the annual convention of the
league this year, instructed to vote for
a resolution asking the state legislature
to enact a railroad commission law,
granting to such commission the rate
making power.
There are so many good and sufficient
arguments against the creation of such
a commission in Idaho at this time, that
it is difficult to select the most effective
one. 1t cannot but be admitted, how
ever, that a commission of the char
acter contemplated in this state would
be composed along political lines. 1t
would consist of men not directly inter-
ested in the matter of adjusting rates,
and their law-defined duties would as
suredly result in complcating rather
than relieving the situation.
1t is fact generally known through
out the state that whenever there arises
difference between an Idaho consignee
or consignor and the Oregon Short Line,
that road is prompt in making salts
factory adjustments.
The Short Line has repeatedly an
nounced that it prefers to do business
direct with its customers, as every
good business man does. 1t has no fear
of state commission, but it would
rather conduct its business along bust
ness lines.
1t will be remembered that at a ses-
sion of the legislature few years ago,
a bill was introduced to compel the
Short Line to reduce its passenger fare
from four to three cents per mile.
The bill met defeat, for the simple
reason that at that time the Short Line
was engaged in building a number of
branch lines, generally improving its
system, and opening up new territory,
and it was not the desire of the state
lawmakers to hamper the road In its
good work in behalf of the state. Not
withstanding this fact, a year or SO
later the Short Line voluntarily reduced
its passenger rates to three cents per
mile.
At meeting of the Pocatello Com
mercial club last night half a dozen
heavy shippers from this point testified
that they had never been turned down
by the Short Line when it came to a
matter of adjusting rates on a reason
able basis. One man. who annually
pays the Short Line close to SIPS, 600,
said that he had no kick against the
railroad company; he was perfectly sat
ished that the Short Line would be fair
as between itself and individual ship
pers.
1t is a well known fact that the red
tape attached to the operation of the
interstate commerce law Injuries both
railroads and shippers. For instance,
it is impossible for a railroad company
TO either increase or decrease a tariff
without giving 30 days notice to the
In many instances in
Idaho this has resulted in great injury
10 shippers. The Short Line has been
willing to make reductions, but before
the new tariff could be o KID by the
interstate commission, fruit had rotted
on the trees, potatoes have spoiled Ia
warehouses and other commodities
have been injured by the delay.
The Short Line al this time Is en-
gagged ID building important extensions.
~ ls opening Up new territory. II Is /
giving new settlers new markets. N Is 7
working steadily aud very effectively
for the general upbuilding Of the entire
state, because the growth Of the state |
means more traffic 10 hamper he .
road 10 ~ good work by the creation
" a political state commission would /
not be fair either " ne road 81 " Die I
people whom n Is serving 80 well.