The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-03-15
THE REsULTs ~ IoWA.

In view Of the fact that the railroad
bill passed by the Kansas legislature Is
modelled upon the plan of the commits
sioner law of Iowa, the following letter
regarding the results of this method of
regulating common carrierS.in that state
will be of interest 10 our readers:
COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa, Feb. IL.
Hon j. Ware BWtterfieLd, Topeka, Kan.
MY DEAR RI have not the time
just now TO give you At length my views
of the commissioner system in general
or of its operations in Iowa III had
doubtless would fail to present the mat
ter as clearly and fOrcibly and at the
same time so fully as is done in the an
closed tract from the message of Hon.
John ii. Gear, governor of Iowa, in his
communication to the last legislature
subtitle, Railways" This will answer
your purpose better than anything from
me, and can only add that time is
Strengthening the opinion that the C. ~
missioner system is the best meIhod ior
effecting proper control and regulation
of railway corporations and all
transportation companies in the
interests of the people
The interests of the railways themselves
are also subseryed by il. In fact the
instances have been frequent in Iowa
where the roads have invoked the pow
ers of the commission against each
other. All of those multifarions COM
plications which herItofore caused rail.
way litigation is now almost exclusive
ly confined to actions for damages for
personal iniurIes-the railway commits
sion settling almost everything else by
their decisions, after full hearing of
y. Il 4.
meal proofs, the employment of the az
t0rneys On these hearings being very
rare. No tachnicAlities are allowed To-
intervene, and in the years of our com.
mission the decisions OF the commission
have always been observed. The yeg-
ulatIon of the amount of fares or freights
a railway shall charge is an important
matter of railway regulation. But II Is
frequently mGre Important TO the ship
per that he be furnished cars and faciii-
ties for shipments; that his shipment be
safely and speedily transported tn it's
destination and promptly and properly
delivered, than in the mere rate for the
service or The chance for the haul. The
people are willing to pay fair rates II
they are furnished we'll warmed, ventil-
lated and comfortable depots. If the
trains are on time and make proper con-
nectlonS WIN connecting EOduS. II cars
are clean and comfortable, conductors
and station agents half way gcntlemAnly
and courteous, and the thousand and one
| duties OF the common carrier are per-
formed as they should be, but rarely are
on some roads Sblre tkeEe are no
| railway commissioners to at all times
see to it that the rights of the public
are respected and The duties of the pub
Tic performed. II Is only by some such
system that the carrier can be ma lie to
know that the eye of the public is upon
him, and that he must be vigilant to
meet its exactions. Railway managers,
it has been proven, are glad to have point
ed out to them those things wherein that
vast system of transportation under
their control, and yet which cannot
from the nature of things be at all
times under their immediate eye, fails
to perform IFS full duty to the public.
Hence this system is at the same time
an aid TO them, as it will surely be
found to he the best safeSuara of the
public. Respectfully,
O. II. MANNING.
Lieutenant Governor.