Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1917-09-12
COMMISSION REGULATION

person living witnin the cOnnneS OF
Nevada, has for years past regarded
the Reno Journal as representing gen |
uine democracy or as being true to
the interests of the state of Nevada, |
comments the Carson Appeal. II any |
thing were needed to strengthen pub |
lie conviction upon the point last
mentioned. It is found in the editorial
columns Of that paper published on
Saturday last Under the caption,
Government by Commission Is
Threatening the Life of American
Progress" appears an article which
is as distinctly pro-railroad and ad-
verse to the best interests of this
state as anything that can be found in
the columns of the magazines that are
published throughout the country no
toriously in the interests of the rail.
roads and supported mainly by rail-
road money.
The article begins by quoting from
an interview at Chicago with Presi-
dent Ripley of tie Atchison, Topeka
and Santa Fe railway. Mr.. Ripley is
one OF the most extreme and uncom-
promising of the men who stand at
the head If the great railway systems
of the United States. 1t was he who
fathered The attack upon the Adam.
son eighthour law.
In the quotation, Mr.. Ripley does not
say very much, but the plain inference
- that government ownership of rail
ways must be the inevitable result OF
the attempts OF the various states TO
regulate the operations and the
charges of the railroads operating
within their respective borders.
Following the quotation from Presi
dent Ripley comes an expression o
the Journals own views, from which
It is perfectly apparent that this grea
newspaper ~, which. assumes to b.
a leader OF thought in this state, i
In accord with Mr.. Ripley, and think
that any attempt on the part OF tn
state OF Nevada through a commits
sion TO regulate the railroads is al
wrong. Among other things, the jour
nal Gays:
ut was an unfortunate day for thi
nation when the politician conceive
the idea OF creating one commissio
after another. principally for the pu
pose OF creating an army OF paid polit
cal workers, who would be an impor
ant asset in perpetuating political lea
ers In office. The state Of Nevada
commission. weighed dow
with them. And 1t is not difficult
trace the author or authors of the
TO politics. Nevada Is not the on
state burdened with them"
AS above stated the Journers editO
ial is based upon President Ripley
views, and II Is scarcely necessary
say that those views are pro-railroa
In the extreme. Therefore 1t is II
possible to avoid the conclusion tn
the Journal regards the Railroad col
mission OF this state as one of Il
commissions referred to that ha'
been created for the purpose of creG
ing an army of paid political workers
Upon this point 1t may be well
though not necessary, to direct {
attention OF the people to the fact TIL
the railroad commission consists of
F. Bartine, chairman; J. L. Shaut
messy, first associate commission
and William Fl. Simmons. second as!
ciate commissioner. At the time
his appointment, Chairman Darti
had virtually retired from politics a
was not in any sense, either direct
or indirectly, an applicant for pla
on the commission. Mr.. Shaughnes
had never been In politics and "
selected merely because OF his prac
cal railroad experience. Mr.. Simmo
was neither politician nor an Off
seeker at the time OF his appoi
ment, and Is now one OF Nevada's mt
substantial business men. Under
law as II stands the commission "
made bipartisan. and the various me
bers have been conspicuous by tn
inaction with reference to matters
lltical. SO much for that.
Recently q number OF the leadi
railroad publications OF the count
have directed attention TO the acti
ties OF the railroad commission of Il
state Among these are THE Trai
World" and The Railroad Review
Both OF these publications have gu
ed from the Bureau OF Railway Me-
and Statistics" at Chicago. showi
that the railroad commission OF Il
state has reduced or procured the
duction OF passenger fares and freig
rates within the state not less tbs
100000 year at an expense Of abot
$4,000 per year. II is utterly lmpo
sible that passenger fares and freigl
rates could have been reduced $500, &C
per annum in this state without IN
people of Nevada directly or Indirec
f., hatno ooynd n lilo atnnung II,nr