, 1876-02-29

KANSAS RAILROAD lE0lsLa ATOM.
The nai(road Committee OF the Kansas Logia.
laturo, 10 whom waa referred several acta tolss-
Ing to railroads. fixing Tho maximum rato for
Carrying freight md passengers iu that State.
prosecuting tho punishment for violation Of its
provisions and providing for the establishment
OF Board Of Railroad Commissioners, has,
aftcr duo dellueration. reported tho bi'la back.
with tho recommendation that thoy be rejected.
Among tho principal roasons which tho Commit
tao assign as hnYng iu!inpuced it IL coming to
that decision nre ths fotowings The PROPOSE
tton to crcato Board OF Commissioners, with
aImost unlimited powcrB ovnr tho management,
control, and placlicat operation Of tue various
railways Of tho blhto, at largo expenBc, cannot
bo successfully dofendpI, except upon tho
ground OF pressing. necessity. While tho
COMMITTEES recogpze THO faot that soIne means
Should bo dayiHnd by which tho people OF the
State shall bo ab)o to obtain correct information
as to the tnnnagonaent and opcration Of tho diff
fetent railways md thna euabe their reprnaent-
atives to legislRts intol,gentiJ n tho correction
OF abuses, It my shall 10 found, Il 10 not pro-
pased to mnko Recommendation which shall in
orcase tho pubtid expenditure, un1ess tho necoa-
sity he apparent mud tho AbuBe aagyant. 4 Board
nonld DO Of llttle practical utility. unlosa tho
Htato should assdmc tho management Of Its rail-
ways to tho o1tcnt OF regulating their ratios for
tho transportation Of ptaaeuRots and freight.
Ths rropos!on 70 nj arbitrary rAtes for the
mcnt Of the products Of tic 6tne, tho Committee IA
onttrc'! sstiafed ~ nptsctir.bo and At thosa por
lions Of the State diatane from Competing po!uta, Or
from, the Missouri River Il would practically amount
to % embargo upon any shipments Of tho proucts OF
tho eutl.
The rsilsoAd companies ase quits II anxious to 10.
cure tho whcot corn, md oAita Of tho Stats for ship
mont ~ arc ths people to shlp the. This Ia syio,t
from ons or two reasons: first, tietE OWN increa
prompts them In that d!reetion. socona, tho rates
altcady existing show T. For Instance Corn I. car
lied from st Louis 10 New York Tor % cents psr 100
pounlA; tho rats from Kan1as City and Topeka To New
York II liz Fame from B. Louls and because thu
our large wfleat ana corn product they gtrs to tho
railway runnlpg Westward from b. LanlE sharo Of
tho earnings ehktAel from st. Louis fNhch. however,
ytc!aa lltto uote t1sn running erpensoa} In order
that they may bring hack suoh Articca Of necessary
uas md oonsnmpllun u our ptopte require, pro
rata Of l1e1 rata would rus sucA lag upon the
Of Ransas - to render II alrloat yaluecas.
Another ropnaf complaint so which this Committee
have RYtu much attention ar1sc& from tho !tctimina-
lion OF rawsyain their rates bstnesn dtTerent points.
These determinations appsar in every case 10 be In
favor Of points where competing lines conn In contact,
They arso from PRECISELY tho Hsnn cas.so which
dces prices In every branch Of trado and industry,
namely competition, The COMMITTEES }tsTs found no
instance whers complaint is mads that the local rats
arc too high; bn bocauss thay Att higher 1t points
argument Il Adssneed that tho companiss hayo no
right Ia sko such dtseTintu aions. Whils ths Com.
nttt have intention Of deciding upon tho question
wholhcr railway companies havs tho right 10 charge
marc for thu transportation Of Freight crchsndso
from ono point thsn from suothet taoy olnarly Of
thn opinion thai xsa zalea Will not obyinte tho DIM
Gully The result would 10 that who the local rates
Npnd rAntAln unchanged the ratta to and from coa.
ptsnH ponts would raised to thu prtcea charged for
local bus1uess. Thls has been fully Demonstrated
ssatea of lows, Illinois, and Wisconsin.