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About The Alliance-independent. (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1892-1894 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 1892)
THE , Canaolldition of the Farmers AllianceSebraska Inflepcndcnt PUBLISHID ETXBT TffUBSDAT BT Tkk Alliancx PuBLisnnfo Co. . Cor. 11th and M Sta., Lincoln, Neb. O. Htrt.l Ptm. J. M. TiomM, 8eeT. g. Kd. TeTO,V. P. J. F. Bimu, Tree u. 11. ronj. Subscription Oxe Dollar pekYeab & Xswim Tkoutos MuwginR Editor Cmam. H. Piktli BtwioeM Manuer. B. A. MDRKAT Advertising Mrr N. L P. A. OUR AVERACE Circulation for Six Months Ending Sept. 20th, 22,034. Publisher Announcement. The mibdcrlpMon prfce of the AlAiASCl-Iif-dkpendent In f 1.00 per year, Invariably in ad vance. Paper wilt be promptly discontinued at expiration of time paid for unleaa we re celv eordere to continue. Agknth In eollcltlDK tubserlptlons Rhould be very careful tbat all names are corwetly Kpelled and proper poetofUce given. Blanks for return Mibwriptions, return envelopes, etc., can be had on application to this office. Always Iko your name. No matter how often you write us do not neglect this Import ant matter. Every week we receive letters with Incomplete addresHes or without signa tures and It la sometimes difficult to locate thera. CHAPCior addrbhr. Subscribers wishing to change thalr postofnre address must always give tbelr former as well as their present ad drew when change will be promptly made. Address all letters and make all remittances payable to THE ALLIANCE PUB. CO., Lincoln, Neb. iw is TIE To Benew Your Subscription, and Get Th Alliance-Independent Free for 3 Weeks. 8TAND BY THE PEOPLE'S CAUSE, And Support the Paper Tbat FIghta Your Battle You Can't Afford to Miss a Single Issue. The success of the people's movement depends largely on the faithful and liberal support of the papers that ad vocate its principles. The liberal sup port the people have given The Alliance-Independent during the past year has enabled It to make the great est campaign fight in its history. We are not going to stop because the campaign is over. We are going right on with the fight. All we ask is a con tinuation of this liberal support WE MUST EDUCATE The voters if we would increase our strength. We have never heard of a "constant reader" of The Alliance Independent going back to the old parties. xne loyai independent workers can do nothing that will help our cause more than to Increase our list of readers. And now is tho best time to'do it. 4 The farmers and laboring men have their best opportunity to read in the long evenings of the fall and winter months. To induce all our old subscribers to renew, and to secure a large number of new subscribers, we make the follow ing LIBERAL OFFER: For one dollar we will send The Alliance-Independent till January 1st, 1894; in clubs of live or more for 80 cents. Hoping to hear a promot and liberal response to this offer we are Yours for justice, The Allianck Pub. Co., Lincoln, Neb. A MISTAKE Some days ago, an intorview with Hon. W. H. Dech appeared in the World-Herald in which he outlined a plan for the independents and demo crats to organize the legislature. We felt inclined to take exception to his extreme liberality toward the demo crats, for he proposed to give the dem ocrats the chief officer in both houses. When we mentioned this matter to Mr. Dech he at once replied that if the World-Herald made him express such views, there had been a mistake some where, for he proposed that the presi dent pro-tem of the senate be a demo crat and the speaker of the house an independent, This relieves Mr. Dech from cause of criticism. With this and a few other amendments the plan outlined in the interview is certainly a good one, and may meet with general favor. OUE OABT00N. Through the kindness of Messrs. Cox and Bushnell of the Lincoln Evening Call we are able to present our readers a cartoon which appeared in the Call of December 7. We consider it a hit. By way of explanation we will say that when the Journal came out in her "new clothes," December 5, the editor made the grave announcement that: "As to the future: The Journal will be just as frank and courageous in expressing lis opinions as in the past." The old lady's fright at the appear ance of the three mice,G. W. Holdrege, State Printing and Libel Bult, scamper ing over her floor, well represents the Journal's courage in the past, and may be safely counted to represent it in the future. We will not be able to give very much of a report of the Grand Island meeting next, but a full report week, Wff&r thflJjdlQwjBg., week, commodity, cross the (imaginary) ACT A8 A UNIT. There is one homely adage that every independent member-elect of the com ing legislature will do well to paste in his hat: "In Union There is Strength." "Stand together" waj the war cry of the people two years ago. These words should be burned into the brain of every man who comes to Lincoln next month to represent the people's party. There is much doubt as to what the independent members can do, or should do, or will do when they come to Lincoln. Of course there are plans proposed. Combinations are suggested. Leaders and editors un burden themselves of their wisdom.. Secret conferences are held in which men look mysterious and talk low. But still the fact remains, that no defi nite plan of action has been decided on or can be decided on till the members themselves come together. They alone have power to act. There is one thing that each and every individual member can and should determine: That come what may, the independent members will act AS A unit, that they will stand together as a band of brothers, that they will patiently hear the ideas and plans of all, that they will extend to all the fullest confidence, and then be governed by the best judg ment of a majority. This is the only safe course. It Is the only road to success. . A MODERN EPIC The Kearney Hub and the Lincoln' Evening News are engaged in a merry war over Senator Prddock. The Hub is fully impregnated with the idea that Paddock is a great and good man, a sort of a "Cinclnnatus cof the West" considerably modified and worked over to suit g. o. p. conceptions of patriot Ism. And the Hub persists in singing his praises on every available occasion, In loud though not very melodious strains. On the other hand, our esteemed contemporary, the Evening News, has the unparalled audacity to write Paddock down as a very ordinary sort of a scheming politician. Thereupon the Hub in a state of mind bordering on hysteria cries out. "Great God! Can such things be?" It then proceeds to intimate that every editor who dares speak slightingly of its idol, is a politico-literary "foot-pad, and assassin of character." Nothing daunted the News returns the fire In the c following perspicuoup, and felicetous style: "Every man, woman and child in cluding newspaper editors who has followed Mr. Paddock's course in the senate of the United States knowns that the senator has been like a weed, swayed this way or that by every changing breeze. Without a settled political conviction and utterly lacking in courage and force, he has taken a decided stand on no important public question. He has pandered to the democrats and independents and to al most, every class of people. He has trimmed his sails to every veering wind. He has been a trimmer and a time server. Elected as a republican he has proven false to his party. Week kneed, vacillating, afraid to take a manly, straightforward stand on any issue, an artful dodger, and a political sycophant, Senator Paddock hai for feited the respect of all staunch republicans." What the Hub will do in answer to this terribble arraignment of its poli tical god is yet to be seen. When Edi tor Brown sees the man, whose name he used to carry at the head of his edi torial columns alongside that of the magnetic statesman from Maine, set down as a "weed, "a "trimmer," a "time server," "false to his party," "week kneed," "vacillating," "a dodger and political sycophant," his wrath will be terrific. Ho may astonish the matter-of-fact world by emulating the deeds of ancient heroes. He mav charter a flat boat, man it with Col. Eaton's post- office crew, fill its hold with "pure food" of the Paddock brand, launch it on the turbid bosom of the mighty Platte, and sail away like Agamemnon of old to seek his emeny. He will sail down the Platte, scaring the wild geese into clamorous flight, ascend the dark and treacherous current of the Salt, and anchoring just below Kendall & Smith's famous mill-dam, disembark at to the head of his serried columns seek his enemy, the ruthless assassin of character, in his very den and battle do heroic. Here we must pause. Our imagina tion is too frail to picture the mighty combat or foretell its tragic results. We leave that task to one more gifted and better acquainted with the muses, our friend Col. Calhoun of the Herald, trusting that he will find In it a sub ject worthy of his genius and write it upin the form of a modern epic. MEETING OF EXECUTIVE BOARD- The executive committee of the State Alliance met at the Lindell hotel on Tuesday, December 13. All the members were present as follows: General Van Wyck, B. F. Allen, E. L. Soderman, J. N. Gaffin and Allen Root. lecturers Dech and fan-child were also present. The board is still in session as we go to press. All the members report the prospects of the alliance to be good. THE RAILROADS IN LAW Constitutional Provisions, Statutes and Supreme Court Decisions Showing the Legal Status of Railroads in General, anl Particularly in Nebraska. in Attend the Grand Island meeting and catch a new inspiration. line I To make this clear, let us wuus mu - Tha twwti1 nt NbTki subscribe now. THE 8TATUS OK THE RAILROADS IS NEBRASKA The constitution of Nebraska adopted in 1875 contains the following provisions regarding railway corporations Sec. 4. Rates of charges. Railways heretofore constructed, or that may nereaiter oe constructed in this state, are Hereby declared public highways, and shall be free to all persons for the transportation of their persons and property thereon, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law. And the legisla ture may from time to time pass laws establishing reasonable maximum rates of charges for the transportation of passengers and freight on the different rail roads in this state. The liability of railroad corporations as common carriers snan never ne limitea. Sue. 7. Abuses to be regulated by law. 1 The legislature shall pass laws to correct abuses, and prevent unjust discrimination and extortion in all charges ox express, teiegrapn, ana rauroaa companies in this state, and enforce such laws by adequate penalties to the extent, if necessary for that purpose, of for feiture of their property and franchises. In accordance with this constitutional provision, the legislature in 188a en acted a law to fix maximum rates of fare for passengers. In 1887 this act was replaced by the following act which is now in force: Section 1. Charg-ea for transportation.! It shall be unlawful for any rail road corporation ODeratinr. or which shall hereafter oDerata. & railroad in this state to cnarge, collect, demand or receive lor the transportation of any passen ger over ten years of age, with baggage, not exceeding two hundred pounds in weight, on xny train over Its line of road in the state of Nebraska, a sum ex ceeding three cents per mile. (Amended 1887, chap. 59.) In 1881, the legislature of Nebraska exercised its right to establish maxi. mum rates of charges for transporting freight. The law passed at that time provided that railroads in this state should never charge higher rates than those in force on the Burlington and Missouri River railroad at that time. While this law did not give the people any material relief from railroad extor tion, it was a full recognition of the state's right to establish maximum rates. In 1881, an amendment to the constitution providing for a railroad commis sion was voted on by the people and overwhelmingly defeated. Notwithstanding this fact the legislature of 1885 created a commission consisting of three state officers. Its powers and duties however were so limited, that it was of no force, eyen if its members had desired to accomplish anything. In 1887, this law was replaced by another modeled after the plan of the in terstate commerce law. It provided for a board of transpor:ation consisting of five state officers. The powers and duties conferred were somewhat wider, and the board could have relieved the state from the burden of extortionate rail road charges, if its members had so desired. The most important section the law of 1887 is the following: "All charges made for any service rendered or to be rendered in the trans portation of passengers or property as aforesaid, or in connection therewith, or for the receiving, delivery, storage or handling of such property, shall be reas onable and just, and every unjust and unreasonable charge for such service is prohibited and declared to ba unlawful. This law further forbids unjust discrimination, and defines the duties and powers of tbe board at great length. POWERS OF THE BOARD OF TRAKSPORTATION. In July 1887, a case was brought in the supreme court of Nebraska to test the constitutionality of the act of 1887. It was the case of the State vs. the F, E. & M. V. R. R. Co , Attorney General Leese appeared for the state, and he pressed the case to a hearing. Chief Justice Maxwell delivered an opinion in which he went over the whole act construing and explaining its provisions. Regarding the right of the board to fix or reduce rates he said: Here is an act which declares that all charges shall be just and reasonable, prohibits and declares unlawful all unjust and unreasonable charges; which re quires schedules of such just and reasonable charges to be posted for the use of the public, and prohibits an advance in rates except upon certain conditions; which prohibits any preference in favor of or against any person or place. These are broad powers. They are not to be restricted. Such powers were conferred for the express and declared purpose of fixing charges which shall be reasonable and just, and prohibiting unjust and unreasonable charges. Such board is to determine in the first instance, at least, what are reasonable and just charges, and what are unreasonable and unjust charges. If there is discrimination against any person, firm or corporation, it Is the duty of the board so to find, and to require the railway company to cease its discrimina tion. To do so the board has the authority to require such railway company to reduce its rates to a reasonable and just standard. The power to fix a reasonable and just rate is clearly conferred on the board, as also the power to determine wha t rates are unjust and unreasonable. The wower of the board,, therefore, to establish and regulate rates and charges upon railways within, the state of Nebraska. is FULL, AMPLE AND COMPLETE. In this decision both the associate justices, Reese and Cobb, concurred. The decision is perfectly clear and definite. It throws the whole responsi bility on the board of transportation. If the rates are not reduced, it must be inferred that the members of the board consider them just and reasonable. In its report for 1890, the board, after a lengthy discussion of the subject, actually did declare the freight rates in Nebraska to be low enough, and that they could not be reduced without injustice to the corporations. THE GRANGER DECISIONS. In October, 1876, the supreme court of the United States handed down its famous decisions in what are generally known as the "granger cases." The controversy in all these cases was as to the right of states to enact and enforce laws fixing maximum rates of a charge for service bv common carriers, public warehouses, inn-keepers, millers, etc. The first case was that of Munn vs. The State of Illinois. Munn was one of the managers of a public warehouse in the city of Chicago. The statutes of Illinois required every public warehouse-man to take out a license. They also fixed maximum rates of charge for the storage of grain. Munn undertook to run his warehouse without a license; and to charge rates for storage higher than those established by law. Munn was tried and fined $100. The case was taken to the supreme court of Illinois and the decision was affirmed. Munn then appealed to the supreme court of the United States. The decision in this case is lengthy and exhaustive. The Illinois law was held to be constitutional, only two of the justices, Field and Strong, dissenting. The following are extracts from the decision: It has been customary in England irom time immemorial, and in this country from its first colonization to regulate ferries, .common carriers, hack- men, bakers, millers, wharhngers, inn-keepers, etc., ana in so doing to fix a maximum of charge to be made for services rendered. To this day, statutes are to be found in many of the states upon some or all of these subjects; and we think it has never yet' been successfully contended that such legislation comes within any ot the constitutional prohibitions against interference with private property. Property becomes clothed with a public interest when used in a manner to make it of public consequence, and affect the community at large. When, therefore, one devotes his property to a use in which the public has an interest, he, in effect, grants to the public an interest in that use and must submit to be controlled by the public for the common good to the extent of tho interest he has created. Common carriers exercise a sort of public office, and have duties to perform in which the public is interested. When private property is devoted to a public use it is subject to public regulation. The court quoted at length from the highest English authorities in support of these positions. A quotation from the first law passed in England for the regulation of common carriers more than two hundred years ago is very inter esting as it shows that the necessity for such laws arose frem the same cause then as now. It reads as follows: And whereas, divers wagoners and other' carriers, by combination amongpt themselves, have raised the price of carriage of goods in many places to t xoeb sive rates, to the great injury of trade. Be it therefore enacted, etc. The second of the "granger cases" was that of the C. B. & Q. R. R. vs. the state of Iowa. The state legislature had enacted a maximum rate law, and the corporation appealed to the supreme court to prevent its enforcement. The court, in deciding the case, affirmed the right of the Iawa legislature to enact and enforce a maximum rate for tho transportation of freight and passengers on railroads in that state. The following are extracts showing the tenor of the decision: Railroad companies are carriers for hire. They are incorporated as such, and are given extraordinary powers, In order that they may the better serve the public in that capacity. They are therefore, engaged in a public employment affect ing the public interest and subject to legislative control as to their rates of fare and freight. In this case the attorneys for the railroad company argued that inasmuch as the company had borrowed money to build the road and contracted to pay a certain rate of interest on its bonds, and as the money needed to pay this in terest must come from the charges for transportation of freight and passengers, the Iowa law violated the constitution of the United States in that it "impaired the obligation of contracts." On this the court held that When the legislature steps in and prescribes a maximum of charge, it operates upon this corporation the same as it aoes upon individuals engaged in similar nueiness. ' THE PLAIN PEOPLE. At a meeting in Topeka a few even ings ago to arrange for the inaugura tion of the new populist governor, the representatives of the new pirty passed the following resolutions: "Resolved, That the recent political victory was won by the plain people of Kansas, and was a victory against mammon monopoly in all its forms, was in truth but one battle in the irre pressible conflict between the people and all that greed, which finds its most alluring exponent in fashionable society, with its ostentatious display of power to spend money for trifles, while those who earned it starve. Inaugural ceremonies, carried on by fashionable society and under its ostentation of dress and expense, would be exceed ingly inappropriate and highly dis tasteful to all friends of genuine social and political reform; and further Resolved, That the plain people of Kansas, who elected the new state officers, cannot look but with anxiety upon any indication that their officers have submitted to the allurements of that fashionable society which repre sents ail the enemies of the common people, and based upon wealth gained by monopoly, consitutes a dangerous lobby about the official it may secure in its meshes; therefore, Resolved, That we are opposed to any ball as a part of the ceremonies of inauguration." This shows that the populists of Kansas have got the courage of their convictions. The republican press is already heaping a great deal of ridicule on them for this action, but they can well afford to endure it. It ought to commend them to the great plain pco pie of Kansas. Give us more "Jeffer- sonian simplicity." the re- THE HAZARD CIRCULAR. The following is a copy of "Hazard circular" so frequently f erred to by reform speakers: "Slavery is likely to be abolished by the war power and chattel slavery de stroyed. Tins, 1 and my European friends are in favor of, for slavery is but the owning of labor, and carries with it the care for the laborers; while the European plan, led on by England, is for capital to control labor by con trolling wages. This can be done by controlling the money. The great debt that capitalists will see to it is made out of the war, must be used as a measure to control the volume of money. To accomplish this, the bonds must "be used as a banking basis. We are now waiting to get the secretary of the treasury to make this recommenda tion to congress. It will not do to allow the greenback, as it is called, to circulate as money for any length of time, lor we cannot control that." This is said to be a copy of a secret circular that was issued by an English banker named Hazard and sent to American bankers some time in 1862, We have never had any reason to doubt the genuineness of this circular. We have been informed that Horace Greeley published the circular in the New York Tribune at the time and severely denounced it in his editorial columns, but we have not been able to verify this, or to secure any other his torical facts concerning it. If any of our old-line greenback readers, have the necessary data, we would be glad to have them write up the subject. PROF- 0 VINCENT, Of the Non-Conformist, telegraphed on Wednesday morning that he would be present at the Grand Island meet ing next Tuesday. Prof. Vincent is an able orator, and arrangements will probably be made to have him address the meeting. The Hay Springs Review has been sold to the Eperidan County Democrat. Our readers will have plenty of room for marginal notes this week. "To howl or not to howl." That is the question confronting republicans to-day. Especial attention is called to the following articles in this issue: Con gressman Kem's letter from Washing ton on page 3; "What is Money" on page 2; "A Voice From the Past" by Victor Hugo on page 7; and the editor ial article on "The Legal Statuts of Railroads." In a paragraph published three weeks ago, we gave the names of sev eral independents who would make good candidates for the United States senate. We also 6tated that anyone of a dozen others would make a good can didate. Since then we notice the name of Hon. W. A. Poynter favorably men tioned by several. Also a friend writes from Richardson county that Hon. Geo. A. Abbott should be included in the list. "Still there's more to follow." It is certain that thera is no scarcity of good material. It is also certain that if every independent in the legis lature does his whole duty an independ ent will be chosen. Let patriotic Americans bow their heads in shame and humiliation. Let the stars and stripes be hung at half mast. Let the Amoricaneagle droop his wings. "Why?" Read the answer in the'reportof the Brussels conference! It was an American who nominated Levi, the Jewish banker, for president of the Brussels conference. It was an American delegate that moved to lay the American proposals aside and take np the proposals of the Rothschilds. The American member of the com mittee voted for the adoption of Roths child's plan. The word has gone forth to the civilized world that the Ameri can delegates and Rothsohild are work ing in harmony together. A DEMOCRATIC ROW- On the eveniner of December 10, tb. great tariff reform club gave a dinner in New York City. All the great guns of democracy were there, and a large number of them responded to toasts. Among the number was Speaker Crisp who had received a special invitation to be present He had prepared a speed! m and given it to the press with the under nt standing that it was not to be printed till delivered. President Cleveland was one of the first speakers. He made his customary references to his feelings of responsi bility, and his desire for the people to be patriotic at the expense of their sel fish ambitions and desires. Then follow ed speeches from Mills, Carlisle,"" Mc- Millfin. Tom L. Johnson and other?. Mr. Crisp waited for his name to be called, patiently at nrst, out wnn grow- t I , . n Pinallw wKam lug imusuenuo mwr uu. i uu it was near midnight, he arose in evi dent irritation and left the Btage where he had been seated with the speakers. His speech was of course ordered not printed, and his friends are now up in . arms about it. They say it was an in tended insult to Crisp, and an affront to the house of representatives. They recall the Cght between the Crisp and Mills factions when the present con gress was 'organized. They also recall Cleveland's remark to tho effect that "the blunders of the present congress have never been exceeded." When the row will end or what it will develop into no one can foretell. It . may cause Speaker Crisp and his friends to push a free coinage bill through the present congres. It is likely to help Crisp in his race for tne speaKership oi the next house. Our old friend Carr of the Lexing ton Clipper seems to have got his eyes wide open to the true character of Holden if we are to judge from the quite positive that the independents i the Nebraska legislature ought to com bine with the republicans instead of the democrats. In other words, hav ing been instrumental in electing ihe reDubllcan state ticket he DrooosesMo working for the election of a republi can United States senator. The inde- nonnun v mm a i a tjy nrnn h nwi nn npn views to influence him in any way i sucker, that's all." The Grand Island Independent says: "The populists, who complained greatly about the extravagance of the old parties, were considerably more ex travagant in the last legislature, mak ing more useless and expensive ap pointments of clerks than any other legislature before had done. Their mouth Bayed money but their hand squandered it lavishly for the benefit of their partisan friends. We hope our next legislature will set a better example." The writer of the abrve is a well, to speak mildly and politely, he is either, a contemptible falsifier, or a blatant ignoramus. Perhaps h both. His statement about "uselA and expensive appointments of clerks' is just the reverse of true. IN WYOMING. Late developments have shown that! Governor Osborne was fully justified yn 1 taking possession without formality or ceremony. When the canvassing ..board j met they proceeded to count in a re-jj publican majority of the legislature, regaraiess oi iacts or circumstances. They then adjourned without canvass-'? ing the vote on governor: The prob abilities are that two legislatures will be organized, and two United Stater senators elected. Then the Unite States senate will have to decide br tween them. & What is needed above else, to purify American politics right the wrongs which afflict l country, is more genuine manhood. 1 Tue true patriot loves his country! He sets the welfare of tho whole peo- pie aDove the selnsh Interests of him- sell or the class to which he belongs. He works for the greatest good to the greatest number. He studies the his tory of his country and the present condition oi the people and thus edu-. cates himself to rightly perforni'Vj1 Personal. &pcretary Firtle and wifn M,,.nari on Wednesday of last week from a visit 1 I to their old home in Iowa. While 1 I there they attended tho r. Pirtle's sister. Th pleasant visit ll County Clerks Mahn nt ng.i.. vr. II Fadden of Furnas, and Erirsnn nfJ Phelps made a call at The AiianceX fl Independent office while in LinoT' attenoing the meeting of the county clerks of the state, ach of these lemeV8 makin& an excellent record in his county. J . M. Quick of Emerald iTvr n i owulu8 ttmaoce worker left on Tuesday for an extended via' Editor Ennis of th nal is in Lincoln taking treatmel 1 uckvi xa ma near ing, Hon. J. V. Wolffl la a hr wma Last week he attends i " sale in eastern Iowa, and made J purchases of fine hogs. This wee attended another fnw v - Vlftfe . .. . . - ....... -. v-, 4 - -- t mi Tiiin TftT- nCr " i a unriKA TT- - m ..... " - . -.1 r"" ; : " a ".-aasas uramoner. jf ass fnrTnj H LUJaJtiTniq f 1
