Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1905 — RAILROADS AND PEOPLE. [ARTICLE]

RAILROADS AND PEOPLE.

Corporations Rely on Republican Party For Protection. The railroad officials evidently think they are above all law and can defy the courts with impunity. Perhaps this was to be expected when President Roosevelt decided that railroad officials were not to be prosecuted for breaking the interstate commerce law, but only the corporations were to be proceeded against. The following railroads are charged with violation of the anUrebate law aud the injunction issued by the federal court in March, 1902, namely: The Chicago and Alton, the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, the Missouri Pacific, the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway companies. The charge against these corporations is giving 25 per cent rebates to the harvester and salt trusts. If the railroad officials were prosecuted instead of the corporations this rebate iniquity would at once cease. As it is, the only punishment that can be meeted out to the corporations is a comparatively small fine, but the officials could be imprisoned. A few railroad magnates or trust barons in stripes would effectually deter others from breaking the law. There are two things needed to get a square deal between the railroads and the people--first, the divorce of the partnership between the Republican party and the railroads, and, second, power given by congress to the interstate commerce commission to establish a reasonable rate in place of a rate that has been decided as unreasonable. It is almost impossible to expect these reforms as long as the Republican party is continued in power.