The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1910-10-21
DON'T WANT A COMMISSION.

privilege, but its statement that the
aeoDle do not want it is very wide OF
the mark. The people do want rail
way commission. More than that, the
people are tired of hearing the argu
ment used by the Tribune that it. is
necessary first to get railways.
We have railways in this state. We
have had them for great many years.
and we shall have more of them. The
railways have always protested against
/ commission, but they have persiste,
IN methods that make a railway con-
mission necessary. While the railways
have been of enormous beneht to tht
state, it is still true that they owe
some obligations TO the state. 1t Il
their duty to give the people of the
state good service and prompt service
it is their duty to look after the con
veniences, the comforts and necessl
lies of shippers and passengers. They
persist in failing to do these things. l,
would be easy to enumerate hundred
or more matters with respect to which
The railway companies have been mos,
neglectful. Whenever railway com
mission is talked about, the railWa!
companies declare they have been do
ing all they could They have not beer
doing all they could, and the people
are now determined to establish a
commission which shall have the au-
thority to correct that class of evils
which legitimately come under the jul
risdiction of such a commission.
81
not build if we establish a commission
is frayed at the edges, it is altogether
worn out Not a mile of railway has
been built in this state because OF
past failure to establish a commission,
and not a mile that might be built In
the future will be cut out If we do es-
tablish a commission. Let us have
that argument dropped. 1t is childs
play put out by the railway companies
themselves, their purpose being tC
blind, deceive and mislead the people
as though the latter were a pack of
children.-Mountain Home Republican.
The Republican of Mountain Homo
is a most estimable newspaper in a
great many ways. Like many others
though, it is sometimes inclined tc
ride with the tide. 1t got an idea
that the railroad commission was go
ing to be popular and lost no time in
getting aboard the band wagon. Since
getting in line it has learned that II
is askew of popular sentiment and
feels little sour. We do not Diane
the Republican for feeling bad.
The Tribune stated that the pc ,p'e
of Idaho were not in favor of the ere
alton of a railroad commission at this
time Since making that statement
the people of Caldwell, Payette, Nam
pa and Pocatello have expressed their
opinion of the railroad commission
through their commercial clubs
These four towns are opposed to IL
commission. 1t can be truthfully
said that any one of them is quite as
important as is Mountain Home, anC
even Mountain Home has not SAID
that she is in favor of the commits
sion Assuming that the people OF
that city are and have so expressed
themselves, public sentiment ther
stands four to one against the com
mission. Under these circumstances
the Tribune was perfectly justified il
stating that the people of Idaho dc
not want a state railroad commission
At this time We do not believe tina;
We assumed too much in making the
statement we did.
\ careful reading of the article
above printed fails to disclose one
specific charge against the railroads
1t is easy enough to say that the rail
roads have been neglectful in hun
bred things. Most any one coulC
make such a statement We will MOI
ask the Republican to make one hun
bred specific charges. We will no
ask it to make fifty. Again we, will
cut it in two without asking for tn,
charges. Even twenty-five are a grea
many, Let lis call it ten. We woulc
like to have the Mountain Home Re
publican "enumerate ten matters will
respect to which the railroad com
panies have been neglected. w
always like to discuss concrete cases
We would like to know just what tn
commission advocates complain o.
/; their complaints be just and reason
able and they may be removed by
commission we will join with ther
~ demanding the commission How
ever. in the mean time we would ilk
The ten charges hot off the reel. w
trust that the Republican has bee
more careful in estimating the mum
Ter Of charges it can bring forth tina
II has been in guageing public sent
nlent We are fearful that when tn
matter is simmcred down that abor