The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1883-02-08
TIE RAILROAD QUESTION AND THE NEW
BILLS.

The committees of the two houses have
putin great deal OF time in the honest con.
sderation Of n practical railroad law for
Kansas Statistics and reports of railway
traffic have been ransacked, the laws of--all
other States upon the question reviewed and
the complaints and petitions of the agrieved
patiently listened TO. The more these CON-
mittecs examined the question the more
were they convinced that railway construc-
ton, that freights and tariffs for long hauls
and short bauls, that the difference OF earn
ings per mile on different portions OF the
same railway, that the number OF trains per
day and the length and tonnage Of the differ
cnt trains on the same class of lines that
the bonds, obligations and charges and div
idends TO be paid, all made up series OF Sc.
rious problems that cannot be solved or reg
uated to the satisfaction of everybody,
and the best interests Of the State in day.
These COMMITTEES, at least, no longer wonder
that the stockholders OF railways are anxious
to secure the best talent for the management
Of their business no matter what the cost.
These COMMITTEES have no doubt found out
that the man, or set Of men, who declare
that it is simple thing to pass law that
will control railways and not ruin them, a
law which will operate uniformly for the
best interest of the State, protecting the
patrons Of the road from all abuses and do
ing no injustice 10 the men who build and
operate the roads-that such people are sim
ply inexperienced and narrow minded
blatherskites. 1t is a difficult matter 10 fix
even maximum rates as between two rail-
roads costing the same money and running
to the same town, where one road operates
ten freight and two passenger trains per
day, and the other but one train per day and
that FIXED one. These questions bother
the most experienced experts Of the world.
II som. nincompoop's theories could be
forced upon the State, we would be riding
in icrkies or stages and paying ten cents per
mile, and hauling freight on wagons at from
10 TO 90 cents per ton per mile, with all the
material interests of the State tagging iu-
stead OF progressing in their present graft |
flying fashion. The railway corporation
that pays fair dividends TO the men who put |
up the money to build it, win not object to |
being roundly taxed on big valuation, by |
State, counties and towns, but the bankrupt |
road which has to be annually sold for taxes
and its ro...ng stock chained up by sherifrs
TO force payment, are Of little value TO the |
people.
OF the two bills reported, one by the House |
and the other by the Senate committees, we
think the Senate bill the most sensible and
practical. Its author, Senator Kclley-a man
who is '.mighty table, to be our governor
some day-is practical farmer; has never
been anything else, but he is an obseryant
thinker and most thoroughly posted in
broad guaged way on all economic matters.
His bill has the merrit.. brevity and con-
ciscness. IL is so plain and simple that there
will be no chance for vexatious law suits.
Ii provides that three commissioners shall
be appointed by the Executive Council,
holding their offices at first for the terms of
one, two and three years one commission.
er to be chosen every alternate year, TO hold
six years. This keeps two men of experience
on The Board, while the House bill provides
for the appointment OF three green horns
every two years. The bill provides the
Commissioners shall look after the road bed
and general condition of the road. A sys-
TEN OF reports from railroads Is required
but much less yoluminous than those re-
quired by the House bill. The railroad
companies pay the salaries of the commiss-
toner's and clerk, the amount pro rata to be
paid, being determined by the State board
of -rnilroad assessors. The subject OF dis.
elimination is covered Dy single section,
instead OF half q dozen, as in the House bill |
If twenty-five persons or more, residents of
any city or township, feel aggreived at the
tariff or condition or management OF n rail-
road, they may petition the Mayor and
Council. or the Trustees, TO make applica-
ton TO the local officers for relief, and If
the officials refuse to do SO, then the petit
TONERS present their prayer to the Com
missioners. Railroad corporations violating
the provisions of this act, by extortion or
unjust discrimination, forfeit TO the per-
son company or corporation aggreived there
by, three times the actual damages sustained l
or overcharges paid by the party aggreived.