The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-10-31

10 light, which accocnts for the ex-
brilliant rates they charge for all
local and some through freights,
The fast freight trains on most roads
are run in the interest of few rail-
road officials, who purchase produce
and ship it east in their own interest
It exceeding low rates, and to make
up this deficiency, much higher
rate is imposed Opon the ordinary
shipper.
gross from Ohio,-probably the
ablest mind in that body-investi-
gated this matter, and intended to
apply the remedy which Congress
had the power to do, but the citi-
zens of Ohio failed to give him the
he desired, End the
question was laid aside. z But re-
form must come, and sohn. What
Illinois has done, other States will
profit by. Who more than the citi-
zens of Kansas should attend to
this matter? Where do people pay
such freights and passenger rates,
and who are less able to pay them.
But upon this reform there is but
one voice all over the nation. Con-
ventions are called in its interest,
and the strongest resolutions pass-
ed. The National Cheap Transror-
tstioh Association, presided over
by the venerable Josiah Quincy
resolved as follows:
Resolved, That . certain leading
corporations of the country, al
though chartered to subserve the
public welfare, and. endowed with
the right of eminent domain solely
for that reason, have proved them
selves practically moHopolies, and
become the tools Of avaricious and
INSCRIPTIONS capitalists, to be used
to plumber the public, enrich them
selves, and impoverisb the country
throuh which they run.
Resolred, That many of the rail-
road corporations have not only
disregarded the public convenience
and prosperity, but have oppres sed
the citizens, bribed our Legislatures,
and defied our Exeactives and
Judges. and stand to-day the most
menacing danger to American lib
erty an to republican government.
Resolced, That the present sys-
tenn of railway management having
failed to meet the just expectations
and demands of q long-sufering
people, must be radically reformed
and controlled by the strong hand
of law, both State and National,
and railway corporations perform
their proper functions as servants
and not masters of the people.
ResolUed, That to this end we
invoke the aid of all fair-minded
men in all the States of the Union In
excluding from the halls of legisla-
ton, from executive offices and from
the bench, all such railway officials,
railway attorneys, or ether hiFelings,
as prostitute public Office to the
base uses of private gain.
Various methods have been pro-
posed TO secure cheap transporta-
ton.
One is to build great national air
line roads, leading to the great
centres of trade, and upon these
transportation to be had at bare
cost.
There are canal projects, also.
ping facilities of the great lakes,
and the Mississippi river. Others,
however, propose to deal with the
railroads we have, aud compel
them to transport our produce at q
reasonable rate. Time will deveI-
op the best method.
We should see that we have q
Congress composed of true men,
else The vast sums of money, under
the control of railroads, will thwart
every endeavor. Tom Scott alone
controls q capital of 400O0O,OO0 OF
dallars, greater than any other hu-
name being on earth, and quite re-
Gently has borrowed S40,0U0,000 in
Europe, to carry out his railroad
projects to the Pacific coast. All
this with his acknowledged execu-
tive ability, he brings to bear wher-
ever it is necessary to accomplish
his ambitious purposes Such has
been his power with the Pennsyl-
wanna Legislature that on one occa-
sion, = member rose in his seat, and
moved that "when Tom Scott was
through with the Legislature that
they adjourn" and they did so ac-
tile Legislature OF Pennsylvania
refuse to grant q charter to the B.
& o. railroad, for the McConnels-
vile raod from the Pennsylvania
line to Piltsburg. This was a
stroke entirely new in the history
of railroads, aud but for the de-
cision of the Supreme Court setting
the act aside, that important road
would not have been built perhaps, SO
long as Tom Scott lived. This is but
one illustration of the power of
combined capital upon legislation,
and its effect upon our somewhat
notorious last Congress would be
such that We could hardly hope for
much REFORM. Besides these Ques-
tions stfecteng the entire nation,
Their" are questions of State policy
which are worthy { { our attention.
Kansas as State has pursued a
safe policy in financial matters, as
her constitution provides that she
sha II not Increase her indebtedness
above u reason able amount; yet for
a new State as rule her appropria-
tions for her various institutions, and
public improvements, have been
very liberal, but her principal
trouble, at this time, arises from the
abuse of the bond system by her
counties. Excited bYa rivalry be-
tween each other these counties
have voted hundreds of thousands
of dollars for railroads, manufac-
tories, and other improvements of
a local character aud importance,
aud now are so involved in debt,
that it is impossible to appropriate
much for State purposes, and bear
the burden of State taxation along
with that of the county. The
fuctuafing character Of our home
markets, and the distance from the
more steady, and remunerative
ones, make it next TO impossible
for the Kansas farmer to meet his
tax from year to year. So with the
lab0ring class in our towns. La
Dor is not in constant demand,
while the cost OF living is such,
that every dollar of tax is sensibly
felt. We are in all respect in an
unfortunate condition, as o State,
and as counties, to stand under the
financial crash that has recently
burst upon rs. And certainly If the
policy of the State ever demanded
economy, it especially does so now.
Every dollar of unneecessary appro-
priaiiOn isErobbery. We would by
no means be understood to mean
that our Slate institutions now in
active operation, should have the
necessary appropriations with
draw to cripple them in the least,
These we regard as necessary, but
but beyond these the most rigid
should characterize our
policy. is
The salaries ofsome of the Offices
of the county are larger than others,
and M do,.hk thar rraau fs.lIxy oor~,