The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-03
End of tho .ree" system.

Rovulsion of public sentiment against
graft that has been so marked "a char
actcristc OF the last decade has had
the effect of Overturning the fee sys-
tom very generally throughout the
North. but 1t is still tolerated in many
places in the South and Southwest y
bill to abolish the fee system in Texas
has recently been introduced in the
Legislature of that state. The author
OF the bill. former State Senator Sentcr
speaking on the subject, is quoted as
saying that the system is doomed that
II must go. root and branch. NO
ed which puts the officer in partnership
with the government. lie should be in
every instance public servant. and
held strictly TO the discharge Of Il pub
lie duty FOR the promotion of the public
welfare in every function OF his Office"
The Fort Worth Record gives the
cheering assurance that the dominant
party in Texas now realizes that the
end OF the fee system is at hand, and it
declares that ii would be impossible
Tor any man to make the race for Il
state Office as n champion OF the fee
system and come within 100. 600 votes
Of Il nomination. THE people are in
the saddle" ii adds, and the people are
determined to destroy the system" 1t
IS sincerely TO be hoped that within an
other decade the very last vcstige in
the United states of the old Roman
system OF farming out the authority of
the state To tax the citizen Will have
hcen destroyed through the abolition of
Official fees of every observation-disclosures
'''''i .7SAf''' HipiliipI.
Mr.. BrnndciS Comedies the Mnin Point
Alter months of argument and invcs-
tgation. MIR. Br:,ideiS. who has been
opposing the petition of the railroads
Tor an Increase in freight rates. admits
NE main point ut issue. lie comedies
mat the net income and operating rev
chncS of the Eastern railroads ARE
smaller than Is consistent with their
assured prosperity ana the welfare of
IN" community. In other words. If the
nues. both they and the public will suf-
Ter. Their need and the general need
Is ndnitted tho only particular in
roads is rs to the method OF suDDlvinp
this need. He still opposes the ; per
cent horizontal advance in all freight
rates: on the ground that II is illegal
ana beyond the powers OF the Inter
state Commerce Commission, but Sur-
tests as way out. the elimination OF
s spe,,a allowances TO shippers. free car
performed by the road.
-, Ihcre are two objections to this plan
me nrst is that IL is by no means Ger
tam That II would meet the situation
ana result III sufficient saving TO re-
lieNc me cmbarrasSments OF the rail
roads. 1t might provide II quarter loaf.
iurniSh the whole loaf demanded for
immediate wants. The second obiec.
non is that ii involves an elaborate
system OF reorganization and rn,dinst
ment that might require considnrnLIa
time to work out. and which ,,,iah, PIE
Ju!lousIN AFFECT many large trade and
commercial centres.-Baltimore sun.
4 Result of AbsoIutism.
The disposition of casual Observers T.,
cohs,ucrihE the Mexican muddlc is IN
conciudc that the Dictatorship of Poro
nrlo lna% Is the only kind OF govern
lncilt mat is suitable for that countrv
mere is support for that view in tEc
readiness OF the country to iud,,jra ~
r"NoitS and to overthrow the onIv CO.
=; 5.'tutiolial government they have had
~ -, ',,,nH Years. But when we consider
.ne matter closely Ii is doubtful if any
one cause contributed more to the nrne
ent situation than the thirty. ti,rco-
year dictatorship of porfirio Dinz.
niaM was nominally President and
casually dictator long enough for in
lants bcrn in his first wear 10 prn,,. ~, ~
iuii manhood. He had time TO reforn,
me lahu system. TO give to the ire
srUns'nIc poems n chance To obtain a
stake that would give them an ininro.,, :,
III order and stability. and 10 nducot 80
over hi!f the Mexican population in ~
urIhcipicS % peace and order thot ,rn
me foundation of poDuIar governmcnt
~ ".r.a a,.trt mat would devote his power
10 teaching the people TO govern then.
selves would he entitled to hirh crndi,
instead of this Dlaz left The 49,,
estate undisturbed. granted rich So"
ress.omS TO those who could bring the
people uncducated and tho ro me
number actually without pronertv To
~ iHucn wonder that people Ivitbont
property or hope Of obtaining II tnt,"a
~ piiiase ana revolution as If they
were exercising q natural tojonto9
Pittsburgh Dispatch.
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Quite n Change for Nelson
ne sci "nS i,s II nnords Charge OShaugh-
ana associate once more with real buman