PAGE 2
SEPTEMBER 7, 1905
Ufo Nobrasho. Independent
walls arc constructed that are planned to match our tariff wall, and
we find ourselves compelled to seek new outlets for trade or to revise
our tariff system.
At the close of the Spanish war we saw the. trade of the orient
opening up' before, us, and our manufacturers declined to be alarmed
by the growing sentiment against us in Europe. The time has
come, however, when our isolated position can no longer be ignored.
Ry means of a tariff system we have built up a narrow home trade.
J3y tearing 'down the wall to a basis' of tariff for revenue we can
expand not only our foreign trade but our home trade as well, for
wo shall cease then to shelter the predatory trusts and will restore
a state of competition that will vary and expand our industries.
The laboring man, therefore, need not worry about his wages, as
competition will furnish a wider field of industry and will therefore
maintain wages. Our system of prohibitive tariff will tend con
stantly to narrow our trade, and our only relief is to be found in
such measures as will prevent the other nations of the worhl from
making us a victim of the same discrimination which we have wielded
so long against them.
RAILWAY STRATAGEM REVEALED
At last the railways have revealed the plan by which they
expect to defeat the Esch-Townsend bill for railway regulation. The
bill, while far from perfect, provides that a government commis
sion have the power to fix rates, and this provision has aroused the
deadly and determined hostility of the railways. It must be elimi
nated at all costs. - '
In pursuance of their plan the railways have a counter proposi
tion. It provides that litigation over disputed railway rates shall
be expedited, but it gives the interstate commerce commission no
increased power in the regulation of rates. At present the com
mission has the right to take evidence with reference to disputed
rates but not to suggest fair and reasonable rates. It can merely
order a rate reduced, but it has no power to enforce the order, this
power being reserved to the courts. The railways would
have the powers of the commission remain the same, but would make
it possible to secure quicker action on the part of the courts in case
of appeal.
The Esch-Townsend bill Is an effective measure insofar as it
gives a government commission the power to fix rates and to stamp
out discrimination. Its provision that the rate fixed by the commis
sion shall go into effect immediately is its greatest merit but it is
on this provision that the railways will center the fight. They will
attempt to prove that such a power is bound to ruin the railway busi
ness. The testimony of favored shippers obtained at the sitting of
the senate committee on interstate commerce will be carted into the
senate and the pyrotechnics will begin. For weeks the senators hos
tile to the Esch-Townsend bill will devote themselves to the task of
convincing the people that they are uujust to the railways. We shall
see the railway side of the question supported by an appalling array
of facts and figures. There will be oratory in floods and tidal waves.
'And when the noise has ceased ; when the people have been defeated
and dumbfounded, the railways will call for a vote. What the
result will be is purely a matter of conjecture, but it is pretty well
understood throughout the country that the people have lost confi
dence in the senate as at present constituted.
On the other hand the people have made up their minds to have
government control of railways. If they are thwarted by the present
senate they will join in a mighty demand for government ownership
and the election of senators by direct vote.
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POSING IN BORROWED PLUMAGE
Evidence accumulates that the railways are preparing some art
ful dodge with reference to the anti-pass agitation which is. winning
its way so well in Xebraska. Of late three or four republican mem
bers of the last legislature, who were notorious for their railway aflil-
.i.ations, have announced themselves as hostile, to the free pass system
and have declared that legislation is needed to suppress the evil.
Is' it likely that these gentlemen have seen the light and have
turned reformers. If it be wise to abide by that celebrated maxim,
"beware tlid Greeks hearing gifts," it is wise to be watchful of these
men lest their purpose be guileful and their practice the most cunning
deceit, The Independent does not pretend to say just what the artful
dodge is, but it views with no little apprehension the sudden reform
ation of politicians who were wont to be hand and glove with the
lobby.' If these men succeed in controling the republican organi
zation, is it likely that they will use their power to secure any
legislative action against the pass evil ? This is a question AvhicU the
rank and file of the republican party should keep constantly in
mind. " '' " :
Members of all parties should be on their guard against chronic
pass-holders who now pretend to a change of heart. Undoubtedly
there has been a great alteration in public sentiment with regard
to the pass in politics and in business. Undoubtedly there are many,
men who now believe the pass to be a great evil who thought little
about the matter twelve months or even six months ago. Some of
them may have ridden on passes whenever they could convince the
railways that they were able, to pay for such transportation by ser
vices of one kind or another, and now they may be honestly con
vinced that the greatest good of tlie greatest number requires them
to help in suppressing the free pass system. Such men, however,
are not signalizing their change of mind by rushing into politics.
They are not seeking to place themselves at the forefront of a public
agitation which they had no part in creating. Such men are repen
tant and silent. They are not asking the people to elect them to
thelegislature in order that they may prove how sincere they are
for reform and how determined they are to fight the battles of the
reform cause even though they make martyrs of themselves. And
yet this is the attitude of the three .'for four professional railway
politicians now posing as enemies of the free pass system.
Nebraska voters must be careful not to be deceived by the
virtuous bluster of these men. The voters should exact written
pledges of all their candidates. A referendum of this kind would be
a great protection against railway cunning. Few men will dare
to place themselves on record in black and white wTith the intention
of breaking their pledges after election. Even the professional
politician will take no such chances. Whatever the scheme maybe
and the people may feel assured that the railways will have some
cards to play vigilance is the weapon with which the railways must
be met. If the people permit the work of organization to remain
in the hands of the professional politicians they cannot hope to make
effective their demands for reform. There must be a new deal and
a square deal. That party which turns over its organization to
pass-holders who shout for anti-pass legislation cannot expect to re
tain the confidence of the voters. That party will deserve, and, un
less all signs fail, will meet with defeat in the elections which are
to decide whether the railways or the people are supreme in
Xebraska. s -. :.-:v: " v.r
"ALL ARE HONORABLE MEN"
C. II. Gregg, of the state normal board, has adopted the popu
lar doctrine that it is not wrong to do as a member of a corporation
what it is wrong to do as an individual. As president of the Kear
ney Hardware company lie has filed with Auditor Searle a claim
for $1,080, but the auditor, who is. interested in the legal if not the
moral considerations involved, has refused to approve the claim.
Mr. Greeg's company furnished the Kearney, normal school with
a quantitiy of hardware. The contract was let to the Lincoln Hard
ware company on July 15, 11)04, was transferred to. the Stoddard
Hardware company and at length to the Kearney Hardward com
pany, of which; Mr. Gregg became a member after the contract had
been awarded. As a member of. the State Hormal board he
receipted for the supplies, and as. j president of ,the hardware com
pany he filed his bill with the auditor. Treasurer, Mortensen enter
tained some doubts as to the legality of Mr. Gregg's actions and at
a meeting of the normal board asked Mr. Gregg if he were not vio
lating the law. Mr. Gregg replied that as an individual it would
be illegal for him to hold such a contract, but that it was perfectly
legal for him to be a" member of the corporation holding the
contract. - -
It does not appear in the minutes of the board that the moral
phase of the question was discussed. Public officials rarely question
each other about moral phases. The question always is, have you
.acted within the law? Apparently Mr. Gregg satisfied himself on
that point before becoming a member of the corporation holding the
contract. While it is not ahvays safe to judge the mental operations
of that very common class of men among us who are looking for the
''easy dollar," is seems as though Mr. Gregg had decided that if his
action was not illegal it was right. Hon. Chauncey M. Depew took
practically the same view when as a director of the Equitable Life
, Assurance society he voted a rich loan to a tottering corporation of
which he, was a . meimVr. Mr. Gregg, therefore finds himself in
respectable company. Indeed, this j company has , been respectable
: in all ages. Doubtless the contractors who built ftJie pyramids were
..members of the Royal Egyptian Cemetery, association. Even in
the garden of Eden Adam entertained the idea that by distributing
i.'fhe, guit he could lessen his own responsibility, and Adam was
A the most .respectable, gentleman of, Jiis,ay, AYhen Brutus and Gas-