Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1911-02-24
The Railway Problem of Idaho

ing House Trusts. Rebates bad for the country
for the railroads. Today rebang end Ever
shipper the published rate and the have
creased immensely Recevershps comparatively
the railroads prosperous The best railroads could
be induced go back TO the old system Who accomplished
the RESULT Did the railroads abandon the rebate system TIN
interest OF efficiency and sound business Judgment
pubcf No Discrimination suppressed by tn
powerful of the Federal Government Congress
legislation the vigorous opposition Of railroad
Criminal prosecutions completed the task
The free pass evil IS being eadcated 1t vicious
is species of discrimination One rides free
another pays higher fare to make the loss the road The
late Paul Morton time the head of the Fe said
given for many reasons most all OF which bad
The system vicious in its effect upon the public II
bad for the railways Most of them would il
now but the railroads abolished voluntarily 1t reqnr-
ed criminal laws TO eradicate the evil In addition to the Fed
era enaements seventeen states have statutes against IT,
The pass evil the greatest abuses in the
Idaho During the last campaign the Oregon Short Line
vded nearpass for public speakers who did have
nua The enabled the speaker travel at cent
milo instead of paying This Courtesy
extended alike to both parties Local speakers well
state speakers supplied county candidate who merely
got up and said hope You will vote for me- was estate
speaker and could get a near-pass for the asking.
equivalent to contribution by the railroad of many
thousands of dollars to the campaign funds of each of the po
than the proposed railway commission Yet OF all the Re
publican state speakers there but fearless FIX
Governor Goodng who openly advocated the railroad commits
Whether its contribution shall prove good investment
for the Oregon Short Line be The Idaho pass
evil will continue until suppressed by law.
At time there of cassifcaons confusing
10 the shipper and to traffic alike Under pressure the
Interstate Commerce Commission this number has been educ
ed to three and viii be reduced onea uniform cassi
hcaton for the United States The adoption of uniform bills of
adng uniform demurrage charges the installation of safety
appliances improved methods of handling explosives abo
ton OF grade crossings and the limitation Of hours service of
railway employees and humane treatment of vesochave
all been due the pressure legislation these i'm
provemcn in railway service reasonably demanded by the
public and every way beneficial to the railroads. increasing
The efficiency and the economy of the service became generally
effective by the voluntary action Of the railways Each al
brought into existence by legislation and their
GUS opposition The long and short han provision of the
to frthp
te prevent discrmnaon,h time discrimination between
places az heretofore between persons Every stem forward has
been initiated by the and resisted by the railroads
If Idaho wants fair treatment she must do others
demand il and enforce by appropriate legislation.
The year 1876 the Centennial anniversary of the birth
Liberty was made memorable by second Declaration of indie
pendence To mans innate equality with natural adj
ded his superiority the artificial manthe pubcservce
corporation No shout was heard bell
Numbered salute quiet unassuming man said
When private property devoted to public use is sub
ject to public regulation"
But that man was Morrison r. Waite the chief iustce of
the Supreme Court of the United States From hour
porate domination doomed and the people began
into their
The United fortyone of the states and errito
nave decided TO solve the railway question by creating rail
conspicuous exceptions Delaware and West Virginia also
letting the carriers do they please Among the
of the different states Washington Wisconsin, Minnesota
Nebraska and Nevada have been for their patient
research and conscientious investigation of prob
lens well for their sound and conservative policies
dealing with these with prosperity
the prosperity of the country closely bound During the
past decade there has been accumulated of valuable
formation making possible to formulate policies upon defn
lie facts rather than indulge in dangerous
There has been developed body of trained
transportation without hostility the hand or bias ON
the other Much has been done Much accom-
plished Nv
know there wise who eager for chance
ask few questions Are of the
Interstate rates such wool lumber and coa They r.
Is not 81 per of Idaho traffic of character
and only per cent state tracf informed Would "
railroad commission have any jurisdiction the per
would not Would the regulation of per of Idaho
ic justify railroad commission costing from $35000O0 TO
40 0o000i II certainly would Eight per Idaho ~
rae immense traffic The difference between