RAILROAD TARIFF.
Mr. CAMPBELL resumed his remarks interrupted by the Joint Convention before the noon recess. He said: It has been said to my knowledge by high railroad authority in the hotel lobbies during the present session that no Indiana Assembly has brains enough, or integrity enough, to pass a railroad bill. I confess that my ability as a general has been such that with all my efforts and importunities I have but just succeeded in getting this bill No. 10 from the hands of the Railroad Committee. AS to the question of railroad legislation I believe there is nothing of more importance to the taxpayers of the State than this and something should be done and can be done without in any sense interfering with or trespassing upon the legal rights and the equitable rights of the railroads. In the consideration of this question we will consider first, the necessity of legislation; second, the right to legislate, and third how best to legislate. As to the necessity Mr. C. called attention to the unjust discrimination made by which some localities and different individuals of the same locality pay unjust and extortionate rates as compared with others, How some localities pay a tax upon their products beyond that of others, making an unequal taxation. He called attention to the sudden and radical changes made in the rates of freight made without notice, often to the great detriment of shippers. He cited many cases showing that the rates are often doubled without notice. As to the right to legislate he called attention to the fact that the railroads are common carriers, public servants, having deeded or leaded to them certain privileges, occupying a part of public lands and highways receiving their compensation for service rendered by a system of fees not unlike that of the Recorder, Clerk, Auditor and other public servants, and that discrimination by railroads was as unjust and should be regulated by taxation as much as the other public servants and with as much right, that really railroad charges are a system of taxation upon the people, and that it is one of the first principles that taxation shall be equal, that the same right to regulate charges for interest, practices of banks, charges of hackmen, of millers, of toll roads, should also be exercised to regulate railroad charges and protect those who patronize them. He also read an extract from a letter from Judge Jeremiah S. Black supporting his position in the right to legislate. As to how to legislate he preferred his bill [S. 10]-which calls for a Commission-rather than the one offered by Senator McCullough [S. 19], as he thought a Commission far more practical than specific legislation He believed that the Board of Commissioners contemplated in his bill [S. 10] to act, as arbitrators bet ween the railroads and the people and between the railroads themselves was the practical solution to the problem. He said the railroads needed some power to arbitrate between them, and that the cutting of prices at competitive points below a fair rate was one great cause of exhorbitant rates at intermediate points lie cited several authorities showing where a Commission, the same as the bill contemplated hart worked beneficially to both people and the railroad. He closed by saying that he believed that a well organized Commission may save to the State of Indiana as much as the entire taxes now paid, and yet do no injustice to the railroads.
Mr. SPANN obtained the floor, but gave way for-
On motion by Mr. WILLARD the bill [H. R. 51] to provide for the taxation of dogs was read the second time.
On motion by Mr. VOYLES the Senate-concurred in the House amendments to his supplemental fee and salary bill [S. 173], allowing per diem to Clerk of Courts.
On motion by Mr. MAGEE the House amendment to his bill [S. 78] to amend the ace establishing a State Bureau of Statistics-striking out all that alludes to the Geological Department was concurred in.
Mr. BELL stating that but few would have voted for this bill had it been known it interfered with the tenure of office of Professor John Collett, which the House amendment makes right.
page: 263[View Page 263]On motion of Mr. BELL the bill [H. R. 105] concerning the liens of laboring men, mechanical and others-a bill prepared two years ago by the Committee on Revision of Laws-was, under a setting aside of the Constitutional rule by a two-thirds vote, read the second time by title, the third time by sections, and passed by yeas, 39; nays, none.
