The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1914-03-20

i IS legislator and as governor, show.
ed any undue partiality to the rail-
roads or to any of the corporate inter-
ests.1 An impartial inspection of my
record on that subject Is complete
refutation of his charges.
When l became governor upon the
death of Governor Goebel, February,
1900, determined that would, as far
as was able. see that every promise
made by him to the people should be
fulfilled, not alone out Of sentiment
over his tragic death, but because /
had fought with him for those prin-
ciples upon which he made his CAM
paign, and I believe in them. II any
one will take the trouble to look at
the Democratic platform of 1899, upon
which he made his race for governor,
he will see that every promise in it
that could be fulfilled was fulfilled
and enacted into law while was gov
ernor. The leading issue Of that cam
paign was the railroad rate measure
known as the McChord bill, which had
passed the general assembly of 1898,
when I was speaker of the house, but
had been vetoed by Governor Bradley.
It proposed to give to the state rail-
road commission power to regulate
rates, and prevent extortion and dis
elimination upon the part of the rail-
| roads.
| Fulfilled Goebel's Pledges.
After the death of Governor Goebel,
Notwithstanding all the chaos, excite
ment, and danger of that period,
used every power that / could proper
ly use as governor to have that gen.
eral assembly pass 1t. The bill, as draft
ed by Governor Goebel and Mr. Nc
Chord, was passed and promptly sign
ed by me. 1t was contested by the rail-
roads In the courts; and after confer
ring with MIR. McChord, the chairman
OF the board, and with the attorney
general, / employed able lawyers to
represent the state In the defense of
the law, all the way to the supreme
court Of the United States. / never
failed at any time to use every power
could to have the law established
and enforced. That law, which could
not have passed at that time without
my active assistance, has formed the
| ground work of what power is in the
hands Of the railroad commission, to
remedy any wrongs against the peo-
pie and the shippers in intrastate
! transportation.
Let us now look at the taxation of
railroad properties while l was gov
| ernor, and let us take the case of the
louisville and Nashville Railroad
Company, the largest system in the
state, and the one to which Stanley
charges was So partial.
The year before became governor,
in 1899, that company was paying
taxes, all told, to the state counties,
cities and other taxing districts, the
sum OF $269,308.74. In 1907, the year
/ went out of Office, the same com.
pany paid for the same purposes, the
sum of $495, 514.26, nearly twice as
much as it paid in 1899. Correspond
ing increases were made upon the
other railroads and public service cor
| porations doing business in the state.
, When l came into Office, those cor
porations were not paying any fran
chise taxes at all to the counties
cities and taxing districts But en-
ployed counsel, with the approval of
the attorney general, to carry the case
to the supreme court, and that court
| upheld our contentious that they
should pay franchise taxes upon that
| basis
By reason of that decision, every
county, city and school district in the
state, into. which railroad runs, re-
ceives annually it's proportion of the
| franchise tax.
Numerous other instances during
the nearly eight years. of my service
as governor, could be shown, if neces-
sary, to prove the utter falsity of Stan
| ley's charges; but as he does not be-
| lieve them himself, it is not likely
that, even with all of his fervid
and frenzied oratory, he can make
others believe them.
While did all that was in nv DOW
er to hold the railroads to a strict
| accountability to the laws and to fair
| dealing with the people, did not seek
to Cypress or hamper them. / be-
Iieved in giving them every reason
able encouragement possible, to in
duce them to improve their service
and to build new lines. / did not play
the demagogue about them and try to
win popular favor by denouncing or
/ prosecuting them. When / first be-
came governor, there were twenty-six
counties in Kentucky that did not
have mile of railroad in them; now
| there are nineteen counties in that
condition, and Kentucky is far behind
most of the other states in not having
sufficient railroad mileage to develop
| its resources. On the general subject
| of railroad matters, I expressed my
position in 1906, when sent my last
regular message to a general assem-
| bly,. In discussing the subject, said:
Railroad Commissioners Report.