The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1912-03-07
.BYRNE DECLARES
HE'S FREE LANCE
AS A CANDIDATE
In No Con1binat ON and
Has Made No
VIEWS ARE GIVEN
Believes in Strict Control of
Railroads and Limiting
Power of Courts

T OWCl Oh oOllllS
Rediield, S. ID. = Reiteratng the
statement that he has no combina-
tion, secret alliance or machine, ;"
Lieutenant Governor Frank NJ
Byrne of Faullton, today declared
that he is appealing direct to the
people of the state for the guberna-
torlal nomination. u am appealing
not to factionalism but to principle
and conviction,' he said.
Government belongs to and
should be representative of the peo-
pie said Mr.. Byrne. Presidents,
governors, judges, congresses, leg
lslatures, constitutions, statutes and
court decisions are but instrumental
ties through which the purposes of
the people should find expression.
The will of the people, deliberately
and definitely expressed, shall be the
final and fundamental law of the
land
While touching on several issues
OF the coming campaign, Mi. Byrne
directed the greater portion of his
remarks to the railroads and their
mode of operation, taking occasion
to declare against the interference
OF the inferior federal courts.
Railroads as Highways.
The railroads must be recognized
as commercial highways open to ALL"
said the lieutenant governor Rates
and fares charged must be uniform
and free from discrimination or fa-
voritism. Charges must be fair and
reasonable, such as will pay operat-
ing expenses and fair return on
the value of the property and no
more. The physical valuation of
railroad propert yobtained in this
state must be kept up to date as a
constant basis for controlling rates.
We wust insist on a simple, clear,
uniform system of bookkeeping and
reporting, that the amount of in
come and expenditure may be readi
ly seen. With this knowledge of
the value of the property and the
amount OF the income and eXpendi-
ture rates may be fixed accurately on
a basis that is fair to the companies
and the public alike The public is
willing to pay fair rates, but it will
not permanently submit to exorbi-
tant rates. 1t is entitled to know
whether or not charges are fair and
reasonable.
No more is wanted, but this We
shall have
THE railroad companies are en-
titled to such earnings as will give
a fair return on capital invested af-
for naViuU los nS.
penses, including liberal pay to en-
ployees.
The Railroad Employees.
The railroad employees, the men
who run the trains and do the work
in all branches in the field of actua
railroad operation, are among the
most devoted public servants VIC
: have. Through storm and sunshine
heat and cold, day and night they
are ever at the post OF duty. They
are entitled to liberal compensation
and the public is willing to contri
: butte for that purpose.
d But the public should not be tax
: ed, through eXtortionate charges, tt
J pay interest on eXtravagantly water
J. ed stock which represents no invest
5 ment: nor should the public b'
{ compelled to furnish inordinat
a profits to Wall street financiers wh'
u render no valuable service, either t.
: the public or to the railroads as com
{ mercial highways.
Our industries, our business, ou
{ agriculture, our development,
; still hindered and retarded by un
IS fair, unreasonable and unequitabl
/ railroad rates. This must be rene
died, not in a spirit of recklessnes
or unfairness, but on the basis c
l. equity and justice-a square deal TO
g all. The greatest hindrance to tn
% establishment of fair and equitabl
l. freight and passenger rates is tn
f. tedious delay in litigation, mostly i
re the federal courts.
h Should Restrict Courts.
g The federal courts should be prt
al hibited from assuming jurisdictio
re over and interfering with state of
at GERS in the discharge of their offici;
Id duties Actions brought to suspen
of state laws should be tried in tt
a state courts with appeal only to tt
ne supreme court of the United State
r. Our revenue laws need improv
rh ment in some particulars. More e
MT fective ways for getting all proper'
id listed for taxation are needed, to IL
III end that the burden may be mo-
So equally distributed. am IN fav'
ns of laws, and a constitutional amen
or ment if necessary, providing II
more effective and equitable taXatie
of express companies and simil
lis companies, that their contribute
RS to the public treasury may be mo
. :, in proportion to the benefits they /
as ceive from the profit they make fro
the public.
,es Il am in favor OF economy al
,p- careful business methods in eve
-, branch of government. i favor l
"' ducing state expenditures to the 10
: est possible point consistent wi