'The Railroads Have Had It Long Enough'

The people of the state demand railroad legislation. The senate of the state of Washington is supposed to represent the people and should give them what they demand. The Anderson bill passed the house of representatives by a practically unanimous vote. It is now before the senate for consideration. As we have before stated, the people are not disposed to ask anything unreasonable. They fully appreciate that unwise and burdensome railroad laws discourage the building of new railroads and have a tendency to injure and retard the prosperity of any state where they exist. 'Live and let live' should be the motto of the people; it must be the policy of the railroads. It is dangerous to attempt to throttle the will of the people by any underhand methods. Such an attempt can only serve to hasten and intensify the blow that may be delayed, but cannot be averted.

A careful examination of the Anderson bill fails to disclose any objectionable or radical features. The only difference of opinion that can arise regarding it is as to the extent of the reductions that should be made in existing rates. Under the circumstances, therefore, the bill should receive prompt and fair treatment at the hands of the railroad committee of the senate and of the senate itself. Any man or set of men who place themselves between the interests of the people and the railroads will be crushed. Their efforts will have but one result: the railroads will be made to suffer for their folly.

If the railroads and their friends hope by delaying the election of a senator to prevent railroad legislation they are working with a very inadequate conception of the character of the man whom the people of the state have selected for their chief magistrate. If the legislature adjourns without giving the people relief the governor has the power to call an extra session and he will do it. Promises will not be accepted again. Laws and not promises are what the people want and what they will have.

Even admitting that the provisions of the Anderson bill are a little too favorable to the people and not quite fair to the railroads, if they prove so the law is subject to amendment. It will do no harm to give the people the big end of the bargain for once. The railroads have had it long enough.

The cigarette bill has struck a snag. The senate amendment, which makes it a crime to have cigarettes in one's possession, has not been concurred in by the house. The bill, therefore, will go to a conference committee, where it is liable to stay. Cigarette smokers may breathe again. If the bill is not dead it sleepeth.

The bill providing for the taxing of mortgages and credits has been indefinitely postponed by the house of representatives. This is as it should be. This state has no desire to go through the sad experience of Oregon in this connection. Representative Washburn, of King, has introduced a bill in the house for the regulation of state banks. The bill embraces the important feature of the bill introduced by Mr. Morrison, of King, which provides for a state bank examiner, and in addition contains many salutary restrictions for the government of all banking corporations organized under the laws of the state.

The attempt to have an amendment to the constitution submitted to the people with a view to permitting aliens to acquire and own real estate in this state has failed. It is doubtful if such an amendment could have been ratified by the people. The people are not anxious to open the doors for a system of foreign landlordism.