The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1878-02-07
SHALL THE UNION PACIFIC Pro
RATE WITH THE KANSAS Pa.


SHALL THE UNION PACIFIC PRO
RATE WITH THE KANSAS Pa
CgFICr
The proposed action by Congress to com-
pei the Union Pacific Railroad to comply
with the provisions OF the law under which
il was built and SO munifcently endowed,
is exciting the citizens Of Council Bluffs
and Omaha, who seem to think that their
interests are imperilled by this attempt TO
make a gigantic monopoly do its duty.
The Nonparid Of Sunday morning con-
tains the following card from the Omaha
Board Of Trade:
"A CALL FOR MASS CONVENTION OF THE PEo-
PIE OF THE TWIN CITIES.
To the Mayor and Common Council, and the
citizens Of Council Bluffs, Iowa: The Oma-
Ia Board OF Trade sends greeting:
In view of the pending danger to the mutu-
al commercial interests OF Omaha and Ne
braska, and the cities Of Council Bluffs and
Omaha, the Omaha Board OF Trade Will COD
slider the question of 'pro rata" at its next
regular meeting, held "Wednesday evening,
February 9th, 1875, and hereby cordially in
wife the presence and cooperation OF Council
Bluffs, through a delegation of her citizens
authorized TO take joint action on the Chafiee
bill, now pending beicEe the Congress Of the
United States.
I'm fur,Lerance OF such public demon
stration, ] am u horiZcd to invite Ali VINO
feel an tnt..res; IA this question to unite with
US in III expression Of sentiment at that
time.
ARA lgemel l. have been made for Tree
excurs o va "A 20 ard from Omahs, which
-<.f
by the Union Pa,inc Com Iany, for the ac-
commodation Of all wishing TO atten1 this
meeting.
Please advise us al the earliest moment OF
the action taken by your people.
Very sincerely yours,
w. {. b. ALLEN, Sec'y.
Accompanying the foregoing We find the
following oditoria remarks by the NOnpd-
rel:
The impor,an-. of this movement is so
great that a Is 10 be hoped that prompt and
immediat. action will be taken by our citi-
zens to respoud TO the above, and heartily
Join with those of our sister city in endeavor-
ing 10 thwart the efforts of the Kansas Pacific
to imperil the interests of the Union Pacific,
and consequently those OF Iowa and Nebras-
ka The demands of the Kansas Pacific in the
pro ratapusiness are such fragrant viola
ton OF every principle OF equity that IL
would seem as though none could be found
70 justify uphold them. This, however,
is not the case, and the strong pressure tha'
Is being brought TO bear may result In their
triumph. The Kansas Pacific company are
not willing to wait the adjudication OF the
matter in the courts having proper jurisdic.
ton, but they boldly and arrogsntly demand
that Congress shall grant their demand by q
special law, drawn up exclusively in iheir
own interest. They act with an air OF def
ance, as If they were confident Of victory
and IL we would prevent them from obtain
ing IL, We must promptly pick up the gaunt'
let which they have thrown down. Let US
show them We are not to be trified with, and
our interests treated with contempt without
a vigorous efforts to resist. To this end, then
let us cast aside all the petty jealousies
which have heretofore existed and join with
our neighbors in protecting our mutual inter
ests.
When the lion and the lamb huddle to-
gether in that kind OF way, they must be
seriously alarmed. But what Is it that ere,
ates this CONSERVATION? The law under
which the Pacific railroads were built re,
quires OF them TO pro-rate with one another
but this provision Of United States law has
thus far been held by the Union Pacific insu,
preme contempt. The Kansas Pacific con-
meets with the Union Pacific at Cheyenne,
and according 10 the law the latter should
receive western bound freight and passen-
ogers from the former at this point and carry
the same to their destination at the same
rate per mile that it carries its through
business, but instead of doing this it charges
more to take freight from Cheyenne to San
Francisco than from Omaha or Council
Bluffs TO San Francisco, thus compelling
the far western business from St. Louis,
Kansas City and Leavenworth, to go TO
Council Bluffs and Omaha to
lake the Union Pacific, instead
of going by its natural route over the Kan
sas Pacific 10 Cheyenne. This track belongs
to the Kansas Pacific, and the object of the
law when passed was to secure it in the
possession of its rights. But the Union
Pacific has always treated this law Just as
it treats all laws which do not meet its ap-
prof rtion-iust as it treated the law con-
corning the bridge, for the enforcement of
which Council Bluffs was obliged to fight,
SO many .years-and all that is asked for by
the Kansas Pacific and other roads at this
time, is such legislation by Congress, as will
compel the L. p. to do its duty, and if this
will "imperil the interests of Iowa and Ne
braska, "as the Nonpmea says,it simplyshows
that the U. P. road, by its unjust and I'M
lawful determinations against the X. p is
diyesiing the trans-continental business of
the c, uniry ..ui of Its natural channel, and
that r., ~. proportion of the business
which by this di-. Elimination, is forced to
seek the | i,ion acifc to Omaha, would
natur II, =" by the Kansas Pacific to Chey-
enne. ALI IA the Kansas Pacific road
asks il Iii. lay" and if this will Sim
peril tie in, SITS of Iowa and Nebraska"
it is high .ime that the people of those
States were quitting their interests upon a
laffar foundation