The Dermott news., 1915-02-25

Nine Arkansas senator's voted to let
the Railroad Commission make an In
vestigation OF railroad passenger rates,
to see IL they are compensatory, and
II not. to grant relief, but one, Senator
! Jones of Pulaski. changed before hs
vote was announced, leaving only
eight to show on the record. Sena-
tors Adamson, Burgess, Calvert. Car
ter, Edmondson. Going, Wagner and
| WATSON were the other senators who
were willing to let the railroads have
a chance to present their case to the
Commission. Senator Moore OF Phil.
lips did not cast vote on the bill.
SENATOR Going argued for the pass
age OF the bill. declaring that condt
tons have changed materially since
the twocen rate bill was passed. He
called attention to the falling off in
stocks from above par to about 10
per cent, giving adverse legislation as
the cause for a considerable portion OF
| the shrinkage.
Senator Edmondson gave figures
/ concerning the passenger rates of rail-
roads, showing that Arkansas. with
! population of 81 to the square mile. is
operating with two.cent rate. while
/ New jersey, with over 800, New York
over 300. Pennsylvania Isl, and Mary
! land with l3i per square mile, all have
two and a half cent rates.
Tho author of the bill, Senator Wag-
ner of Crawford, then took up ten
minutes speaking for what he termed
a fair show for the railroads" He
asserted that the railroads have been
unable to borrow money to make i'm
! provements in Arkansas. because they
cannot show proper earnings. and as
! consequence the tracks of the COM
pany must deteriorate in value.
IF the Railroad Commission is not
capable OF dealing with this question.
then We had better abolish II. for II is
a needless expense" declared Senator
! Wagner. Give these railroads back
/ their chance at prosperity and 1t will
/ put 10000 men to work in Arkansas
that are now idle. We have prejui-
dice against them among the people
that must be broken down. Prejudice
/ Is what caused tho war in Europe.
We have great areas in Arkansas
! that are undeyeloped because we lack
railroads. and We will never have great
zine mines. or North Arkansas, our
richest part OF the state. VIII not be
really prosperous until We make II pos
sible for the railroads to operate in
that section. | think we should vote
| for principle in this matter. not be-
Weakened because We fear someone
will not vote for us because OF our
stand ! stand for this cause for tho
hest interest Of the state"
For the first time in nv life." stated
Senator Calvert. the Fort Smith leader
OF union labor, To whom Senator Nag
Ger yielded his closing ten minutes. L
ind myself placed in a position where
can conseientiously support the in
terest OF the great ccrpora..cHs do
this honestly because OF ne funda-
mental principle involved. / believe
tat We are now confron.el with q
crisis and stand upon the davr Of a
new era Labor must sav 70 capital
that We viii allow you 10 pllce before
the people the propositions with wt:,h
yoJ are confronted in order that they
may Judge the conditions Because the
railroads have been wrong or done
wrong In the past Will not Justify sis IN
tondemniug them when they have de-
Cided TO be honest and law abiding. |
don't believe there is senator here
who could tell whether the railroads
Of Arkansas can operate upon n basis
OF = or Il or 3 cents per mile and
get an adequate return for their
money.
Are you afraid to place this matter
before the people your constituents
have chosen to give such matters con-
sideration? In the future | see the
time coming when the public Will deal
fairly by these corporations and they
Will in turn deal honestly and fairly
with them We cannot blame those in
control now for actions OF the past, but
We can hold them responsible for the
future. II the Railroad Commission
cannot attend TO this matter then
name commission that can. and let's
give them a trial.
The bill was then defeated or roll
call by vote OF % to 7.
The house has passed "A bill provid-
ing for the appointment OF board for
the examination and licensing OF per.
sons who practice optemetry In tho
state. ahis Is the bill which the State
Association OF Optometrists has been
urging before several sessions OF the
legislature. II seeks TO provide guar
anty OF quality in spectacles To be pur.
chased from reputable dealers. and to
protect them from fake peddlers. Il
establishes optometry as scientific
profession.
The house is advancing the bin bv
Senator Carter for the legalizinr NJ