The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-12-14
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.

RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
The question of railroSd legislation is
now claiming very large share of pub
lie attention in Kansas, and the prcdIc.
tiOn made by this and other papers in
the state years ago, that the great carry
ing corporations were crowding the
margin of popular forbearsnce by theil
greed and their corrupt interference IN
the administration OF the political af
fairs Of the state, is being abundantly
fulfilled. Among The many
excellent editorials which the
discussion of this very important
question has called forth, none, IN ouI
judgment. has been more fair-minded
or, in view of the honest source from
which it originates. is entitled to more
respectful consideration than the follow
ing from the AtchIsOn Champion:
We do not expect that the meeting oil
members OF the legislature at Abilene
Will result in perfecIing a railroad bill
that should be adopted. The purpose OF
the meeting is stated in rather general
terms. bat perhaps this is neither the in
jectors. The objects. we suppose, are to
ascertain who will cooperate in support
ing d Just and equitable railroad law, and
to appoint competent committee TO
frame such q law. Certainly it anything
more is designed by those who called the
meeting, they will be disapE OMITTED in it's
result Il Is simply impossible TO frame,
much less 10 agree upon, proper railroad
bill, within Ehe limits OF Two d4ys II
the Legislature, when It assemblies, de-
votes its most patient and constant at
tention to such a measure during every
days session for month, il will be do
ing well if, in that period of time, il
perlects bill that ought to be adopted
In this slate.
The meeting, however, indicates the
widespread and general interest uf the
people in the railroad question, For
years and years the Champion has been
telling the railroad managers that they
were sowing the storm, and would,
sooner OF later, have TO reac the whirl-
wiad. For ears and years the clouds
have been gathering, and the bllndest
and dullest man in the land ought To
have been able to see the Ominous signs
The tempest will break this winter at
Topeka There will be thunder all
around the sky. aud the bolt will be
likely TO HIT hard when IL does hit.
That there is just cause for complaint
no sensible man will deny. Some of the
of which the railways
are guilty, are absolutely intOlerable, and
without reason or excuse. They cannot
be defended upon any business princi.
pies; not even upon the principles on
which railway managers assume to base
their business. For instance, the har-
vests OF last year were scant, and prices
for farm products ruled unusually high.
The short crops made "Ietail transpnr-
tatlon business" SD To speak, for the
railways This year the crops are enor-
nous, and prices Of farm products rule
low. The abundant haTVests make a
wholesale transportation business" for
the railways. Yet, instead of reducing
freight rates on grain, they have increas-
ed them, thus reversing all the ordinary
rules of business, and charging more for
wholesale than retail delivery.
The determinations practices, how
ever, are infinitely more intOlerable than
the rates. Freights may be high or
low, but If they arc equal ali shippers
have at least chance To do business on
terms of equaliiys When, however, IA
railroad company charges nine cents n
hundred for hauling grain sixteen
miles, and only fifteen cents for haul
of three hundred and forty nine miles,
the discrimination is absolutely mex
cusable and intolerable. IL cannot even
be justified upon the ground that they
want the long haul" for it can be dem
Onsirated that they would make far
greater profit on hauling the grain six
teen miles, At half the rates charged,
than on IA three hundred and forty nine
mi at fkn
The Champion has, in the most frank
and friendly spirit, endeavored for many
years past TO convince the railway man
ayers that they were, by the discrimina-
tions complained of, exciting feeling
Of bitter indignation aud hostility that
would. in time, make them pay a heavy
penalty. We shall not be surprised If
they find this time has come during the
approaching session of the legislature.
Indeed, the danger of the situation is
that the intense feeling upon this subject
may lead 10 the adoption of extreme and
unreasonable measures, and a war upon
the railways may be inaugurated that
will, in its results, do great injury tn
The interests OF Kansas. The rail
roads need wholesome lesson
they should be surrounded with whole
some restraints; and the in'olerable dis
EXAMINATIONS they have practiced should
he made impossible in the future. The
question is, will the legislature have
the good sense and sound judgment 10
| deal with this question firmly, justly
and honestly, remembering that tolh
sides in the controversy have rights
which should be considered. Nothing
ought to be done IN a spirit of revenge
| for past grievances. 1t should be Temem
bered that the wtsest and best men il
the land have found the question of reg.
| ulating freights and fares a delicate and
difficult problem to adjust. The rights
and interests of the people must be pro.
tected against the unjust eXtortions
DETERMINATIONS and greed of the
| railroads, but it should not be
| forgotten that the railroads
| are of vast importance TO the welfare
and prosperity of Kansas, and have done
great work in building up our state
The men who are needed ut the front al
this junctnre are men who have sense
enough to understand the rights of boil
| the people and the railways, and decen-
cy, justice and flrmness enough to pro.
tect the people against extortions and
determinations without doing injustice
or wrong TO the corporations that have
| thus offended. Tho danger of the situa
ton Is that, instead of the class of meT
we have described, the small dema
gogue or the greedy blackmaiier will bt
not only at the front, but on the Skin
mish line. and the result of his WORK
| will he blunder or crime.