Saturday news. (Watertown, S.D.) 19??-19??, 1917-10-18

is contracted for.
Il SOURC OF FRICTION.
The Chicago & Northwestern has appealed from the de
clslon OF the South Dakota railroad commission which ordered
the company to restore its two-train passenger service through
Watertown from Redfeld to B%rookings.
The matter now goes to the circuit court in Beadle coun-
" and (should the court sustain the railroad commissioners
then 1t will probably go to the supreme court of South Dakota,
thence to the federal court Of appeals and eventually 10 fhe
supreme court of the United States.
AND then, following several years Of litigation, during
which the communities affected are compelled to get along
with such train service as the railroad officials, in their exalta-
lion, see ut to supply, the controversy will be settled.
AT all events, that's about the modus operandi to which
great railway corporations have been resorting during the
past generation, and, IN the absence Of evidence to the CON
trary, we seem to be justified in assuming that the North
Western is controlled by the same sort Of humanity that has
caused much friction between the railroads and the people
through the holding of public rights IN more or less contempt.
IT is such acts as these which have bred discomfort. II
IS such delays as this road is now invoking which have aroused
antagonism on the part Of the public whom the roads are pre-
sumed to serve against big corporations in general and rail
road corporations in particular.
True, the railroads have a legal right to apneal ia tha
court. It is also true that under the system Of court practice
which has been evolved from the dim and misty past. and
when mas falled Woefully to keep pace with the march Of
elylllzatlonb the courts have the legal right to take their time
IN passing questions from one to another and ii 5detarroirino
the issues involved.
but, n the meantime, who IS going to pay the communities
concerned Tor the loss and inconvenience arising from inaaa-
quate tram servlceg What method have either The commrfs 81
the legislatures provided whereby Individual losses and in-
convenlences may be compensated for by the railroads when
eases Ike the one under consideration are finally decided 81
favor of the people? 81
The Chicago. q Northwestern is a great RAILROAD. Fl
may DC SAID, to- It's credit, that it, has not been included - INA
numerous financial scandals which have wrecked many Of the
anee ll railways. e has been free from that faint which has
made the management Of some Of the Yaslic service properties
g by5word ln the land. For the past generation. AL least s.
has been cleai-handed, with the minimum &c laha,s franblas
and the maximum Of financial efficiency.
Waterfowl rs the big center Of population "a ifss saatb,
l,ako'a system. Hrookings, Redfeld and Waterfowl, With
portant trios id the state. D
Ia18 NatertoavIl has not been jumping wheneverthis rail-
foad 1 ias pulled the string, although WatertownShas done
1enchs 50 fayor the North-W Western Possibly the same NAV a.
done enough! $500 - s
! tne rallroad# company had been able to convince Tia
state rallroad commission that sttheAE service vas discontinued
na ,oIasT tsat D more eSs. Efficient help eopld " rendered te federal
government s lns this great crisis Their would beS noa reason fo,
soomplaina of The company, course-but Il wasna n ~ 30 ~ -
even sa able. 81 convince tie commission iiHio that the service VAS M az
Ne haals hoped that the Norff9,sWester would 90 tosfba
occasion instead sof unfolding those practices which breaa NM sS
content aDd create antagonisns 1 ~ ss