The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1913-05-26
SHIPPERS COMPLAINED IN VAIN


ways have complained that tbs dorl.
nance in politics protected the
railroad monopoly from the regula-
ton that might have lowered rates
and increased facilities.
In 1881 the interstate commerce
commission was established here II
regulate railroad rates The act Of
congress provided that it should
consist of five members. and that
the intent of congress was that one
should represent New England, an
other the Eastern states. another
the South. another the Middle West
and the fifth the Pacific coast Pres
ident Cleveland made his appoint
ments with this in view. and men
were named for the first four terri
torial divisions indicated.
The California delegation in con-
gress was expected to put forward
a nominee for the fifth place. and
caucus was held Senator lie
-. land Stanford. of California. then
president of the Southern Pacific
railroad was present. the most pow
erful politician in the room. He
rose to speak and his colleagues ex-
pected he would name the appoin
1 D., h.
NO COAST REPRESENTATIVE.
Il have never been a stickler for
patronage" he said in effect But
we are having trouble enough with
the railroad commission in Caliior
mia without having an interstate
commerce commission interfering
with our business. and I will consid-
err ii a favor if nobody from the Pa
citc coast is named for this posi-
ton"
The state railroad commissio was
then showing flash of independ-
enee rather trying to the Southern
/ Pacific and feeling on both sides
ran high. So the coast went unrep-
resented. The interstate commerce
commission regulated rates after a
fashion. but after about ten years
the law creating it was found un-
constitutional and the body became
more or less moribund, its powers
+ being revived in 1906. when he
Hepburn act was passed through
the earnest advocacy of President
+ Roosevelt
DEFEATED FOR GOVERNOR.
Meanwhile Franklin X. Lane had
! left his law practice in San Fran,
cisco long enough to run for gov
ernor of California in 1902. He
was opposed by the railroad inter-
ests and was beaten. the throwing
out of $500 votes on a technically
/ in Riverside county largely assisting
the victory of Governor Pardee,
/ W. r. Wheeler of San Francisco
whose work for the shippers or the
/ Pacific coast In the matter of rail.
road rates and traffic arrangements
! has been of a monumental char
acter. suggested to President Rose
welt that California should have rep
resentation on the interstate COM
merce commission. Benjamin lde
/ Wheeler also brought his potent in
/ fluence 70 bear with Mr. Roosevelt
and the latter practically promised
the place to Mr.. Lane.
Then came the Presidential cleo
carrying Missouri Was tempered by
the fact that his friend Senator
Cockrell was doomed to defeat by
the election of the Republican leg
islature. In the exuberance of VIZ
tory. he offered Senator Cockre'l a
place on the Panama canal commits
sion or the interstate commerce
commission and the senator choose
the latter. California inquiries We're
made as to what had become OF Mr.
Lanes chances.
ROOSEVELT NAMED LANE.
by George, ! forgot all about
him." exclaimed Mr. Roosevelt rue
fully. well. I'll give him the next
appointment"
So when the next vacancy occur
red, MI Lane was appointed, de-
spite the fact that this made three
Democrats on the commission to TWO
Republicans.
The Republican senate held up his
nomination until the Hepburn act
was passed in 1906. which increas-
ed the membership to seven. At last
the Pacific coast had a representa-
tive on the commission. one who
realized how peculiarly dependent
the business interests of California.
Oregon and Washington were upon
the rates and practices OF transcon-
l 4. Il ,I,,D. Il