The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-03-08
THE RAILROAD BrLL.


The railroad bill passed by the KAN
Ias Legislature, the full text of which
was given IN the NEWS yesterday is
probably as feasible measure as could |
have been devised Cor the regulation of |
the abuses which have been praeliced |
by the carrying corporations of the
state, and we think the action of the re-
OF the people at Topeka,
in this matter will be very generally en-
dorsed by their constituents. The bill
vindicates the power of the state
to control the corporations within
its borders, and its passage
will convince the railroads that the peo-
pie have rights which they are bound 10
respect. While the measure enforces this
lesson, it is perfectly fair in its provis-
ions, and with the appointment of hon.
est and capable men as commissioners
cannot fail TO prove satisfactory in its
operation. The state is to be congratu-
lated upon: the suspicious outcome of
the protracted discussion of this vexed
problem in the legislature, and the
railroads must concede the fact
that the bill is sufficiently
conservative to protect their interests,
and that it contemplates no hardships
TO the common carriers whose claims it
fully respects. Our Topeka exchanges
comment as follows upon the bill:
Capital: The senate and house have
at last agreed upon a railroad bill, and
the fact will be eagerly welcomed by
the people, who have long waited in
anxious expectancy for such result
Taken all in all, the measure reported
by the conference committee is unques'
tionably a good one, and will be so re.
garded by the people. We may even
say that, taking all the circumstances
into consideration, It is better bill than
was generally expected.
Commonwealth: The Commonwealth
takes pleasure in congratulating the
people Of the state on their victory. A
just and fair railroad bill has passed both
houses and will become a law The
railroad corporations will accept il in
good faith and not attempt to defeat its
wise and conservative provisions. The
transportation question will be taken out
OF politics, and with it will go lot OF
pestIferous political blaiherskites, who
would not have been thrown TO the sur.
face except through the upheayal thai
was caused by the presence of this issue
in politics.
The fair-minded members of the leg
Islature, who have refused to mount the
political hobby and use it for their ad.
vancement, and who stood true 10 the
side of fairness and refused TO be STAN.
peded or bulldozed by a manufactured
sentiment for an extreme bill, are also
to be congratulated. Time will fully
vlndicate their craftsmanship. and that
the railroad property of the state is in
finitely more valuable, now that an hon.
orable basis for the settlement Of the
differences. between them and the peo
pie is SO clearly defined. Besides, the
bawling statesman who announces him.
self hereafter as n candidate for the leg
islature on the anti-monopoly issue Can
not longer blackmail railroad companies
out of passes and other personal favors
while tramping his district as q sancti
fed screecher for honesty and reform in
politics.
Railroad people throughout the coun-
try have watched this legislation with
great interest, the stock on some of the
principal lines falling off eight or ten
points since the fight was first inaugu-
rated. 1t can, however, be said to the
credit of the railroad companies, and to
those who have had charge of this vast
property interest, that their action dur
ing tue winter has been honorable in
the extreme. They had faith to believe
that the good sense of the legislature
would prevent the passage of an ex
treme bill; and in this they were right
The people of the Stakeholder than
those who personally Profit by. such an
extraordinary state of political affairs
as we'll as the owners and operatives OF
the property, Will be glad that it is all
over, while congratulatlng themselves
that this much abused question has
found such satisfactory solution.