Railroad Lobbyists Left Grumbling in Olympia
A legislative meeting with railroad attorneys devolved into a farce when key senators failed to show, leaving the powerful corporation representatives dazed and empty-handed.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
OLYMPIA, Feb. 20.—That the railroad companies have been alarmed by the way in which the house put through the Anderson and Neergaard freight and passenger rate bills last week is evidenced by the large number of railroad lobbyists who are in the city. An attempt to hold a joint meeting of the house and senate railroad committees this evening for the purpose of listening to arguments by attorneys representing the companies, resulted in a farce, which has amused those who are not interested in defeating railroad legislation. A large delegation of railroad men greeted the house committee and expressed a wish to make several speeches. Only two members of the senate committee attended, however, the three other members being absent. As the house committee was in attendance, expressions of displeasure by the members of the former were strong. The railroad men were non-plussed, being especially surprised over the non-attendance of Van Houten, who is regarded as entirely friendly to the Northern Pacific. After much grumbling and inquiry as to what they were there for, Representative Baker moved an adjournment. The railroad attorneys opposed the motion, as they had their speeches with them. When a vote was reached it was lost, but after further waiting, a motion was made to adjourn and it was carried. The prevailing impression is that the railroad men are dazed by the situation. The companies undoubtedly had faith that the senate would block unfriendly legislation, but that faith is being shaken.
“The railroad men are dazed by the situation and have spent the time since the committee hour in considering the question 'Where are we at?'”
The tension between corporate influence in Olympia and populist reform efforts is a constant thread in Washington politics. Much like today’s debates over corporate taxation and industry regulation, the 1893 legislature faced a public outcry that made it politically risky for even industry-friendly politicians to openly oppose popular bills.
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