Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1914-10-16

| ing ths book asesptsbls TO the eon-
paniss In the hrst instance, and IN
trodueing numerous exceptions to its
uss-in short, settling Tie matter to
| ths sntiEs convsnisnee and satisfac-
| ton Of TIE defendant companisss ap-
parsntly upon the old sstablishsd or
thodox New Mexico railroad principle
Of charging all the traffic will bear.
But Why multiply instancess /
shall make this race upon the dem
onstrated incompetence Of Hugh II.
Williams and the solemn pledge to
the voters Of New Mexico to place
the responsibility for the outrageous
freight and passenger rates In New
Mexico right where II belongs. II
you elect me, your corporation COM
mission at the end Of my term will
not be whining about the doubtful
ness Of its power. promise that my
time shall not be taken up seeking
to secure refunds for trifling over
charges nor in drumming up plea
yunish complaints. I shall endeavor
to bring every public service corpora
ton in the state under the control
Of the commission, and IL ] do not
do it, il will not be because Of the
attorney generals opinion-that re-
sponsibility will be with the supreme
court, the only body competent under
the constitution to interpret the pow
ers Of the commission. So far as ]
can make il, 1t will be a commission
hungry for power. I shall never raise
the question Of the commissions jur-
isdiction-I shall leave that to the
defendant companies and corpora
tons. shall not be looking con-
stantly for a place to hide, but for
place to fight. ! shall accept at
100 per cent, the statement Of the
constitution that "The commission
shall have the power and be charged
with the duty Of fixing, determining.
supervising, regulating and controll-
ing all charges and rates Of railway,
express, telegraph, telephone, sleep
ing car, and other transportation and
transmission companies and common
carriers within the state" and II
these powers are denied the commits
sion, there won't be any playing Of
hide and seek with who is responsible
for such limitations, but the people
will be able to Judge just where such
responsibility lies. I will promise you
"pernicious meddling" in large guam
titles wherever have reason to sus-
pect that abuses exist which the COM
mission is charged with the duty Of
remedying. am not going to include
in this statement the usual palaver
about good corporations, and about
the great service to the state render
ed by them, and that believe capital
invested should receive a reasonable
return and insist that my knife is
drawn only against bad corporations
i don't want the vote Of a man
who hasn't intelligence enough to
take this for granted. The commits
sion is not concerned with companies
and corporations that are doing the
right thing, it is only the criminal.
the robbing, the extortionate ones
from which the people need protec-
ton.
I don't believe there is a man in
the state who knows Hugh Williams
who is not fond Of him, but when n
dangerous operation becomes neces-
sary you don't summon a surgeon
because he is a jolly good fellow, be-
cause he can sling a sort Of pictur-
esque slang that is enjoyable, or be-
cause he was left an orphan at the
tender age Of six with a standing
start and an uphill pull, but you sum-
mon the steady-nerved, competent.
dexterous surgeon regardless Of his
vaudeville accomplishments and re-
CARELESS Of whether or not he is
pleasant fellow to take drink with.
My only charge against Hugh II.
Williams is his incompetence, proved
past peradventure Of doubt by his
three-year term now drawing to a
close, empty Of achievement except
Of the most trivial character.
The people Of New Mexico need
men on the corporation commission
who are not only honest, but CON-
petent and courageous. They are
demanding relief from intolerable ex-
tortions, inefficient service, and con-
temptous treatment at the hands Of
certain corporate interests, and they
are tired Of the wreached palaver
about box car depots being establish
ed, trains made flagable, refunds on
Accent shipments Of chile, road
crossings put in, and collections on
unused portions Of round-trip tick
cts. They asked for bread and have
been given a stone. My claim upon