Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-02-09


savings. if any, must be made s45O
a year.
One of the men who worked for
the rural carriers on the floor of the
house when the proposed increase
came up for discussion was James
II. Graham of Illinois.
IF 5000 was a reasonable salary
at the time that amount was deter
mined upon" said Mi Graham, Iii
is not enough now on account of the
great increase since then in the cost
of living and necessary supplies. To
economic in government eXpendi-
lures is commendabIe, but economy
which works injustice to a particu-
lar class of government employees is
not commendable nor should such
economy be tolerated, for il is based
on injustice"
WHAT WILL SUPREME COURT DO:
Whether a state which has the
initiative and referendum is under
a republican form of government,
must be decided by the supreme
curt in an action entitled The Pa
sc States Telephone and Telegraph
mpany VS.. the State of Oregon"
The case involves the constitutions
atty CT laws enacted by the initial
i've. II the supreme court decides in
favor Of the corporation il will be
a hard blow to popular government.
The case is nominally an action
10 recover $10.450.6S, paid by the
telephone company under the gross
earnings tax law, passed in the pro
gressive state of Oregon on June I
1906.
The contention OF the corporation
IS that the constitution guarantees
to every state a republican" form
OF government. The appeal from the
state court is based on a bubble as
20 the use Of the word republican"
the corporation lawyers claiming
that a state which has the initiative
and referendum does not have re-
publican form of government.
Progressives OF Both of the great
parties are interested. They are not
worrying themselves sick. however
They say that if the constitution will
not bend, it will have to break.
Which is it to be ?
SEEKING LOoPHOLE FOR LoRIMEsR.
Always alert in the hope Of saw
ing the seat of Senator Lorimer Of
Illinois, the special privilege repre-
sentatives in the senate are trying
TO use reciprocity with Canada as
means of preventing a vote on the
Lorimer charges and the resolution
providing for the direct election of
senators.
But the scheme will not succeed /
Regardless of other considerations 4
the progressive senators will not
permit themselves to be juggled out .
of vote upon Lorimer and the di- I
rect election of senator's
The direct elections resolution and !
the Lorimer fight are now in a po-
sition where the progressives can
force the senate to vote upon them 1
or compel an extra session of CON
gress by defeating some of the ap-
bills. BY ''progressives'
Is meant the progressives of both
parties.
No one believes that the expressed .
desire of the standpatters to have
the reciprocity matter made the or
der of unfinished business over the
Lorimer case so that the former can
be passed. is made in good faith.
With characteristic trickery. the AID
rich followers are simply pretending
to favor reciprocity. well aware that
the session will come 20 s. close be-
fore the reciprocity agreement can
be ratified. in which event there
would be neither e vote on Lorimer.
direct election of senators nor re
Fortunately the progressivss see
the scheme and viii endeayor 10 pre-
vent its carrying out.