Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-03-06
hence only gong across Ksnsas.
2.s5z.s1o o.
95,s19,7S7 OF

GU VIII see Gnesb ABOUT IOTCy-CWO per
cent of the entire freight traffic consists
Of business simply crossing Kansas, going
from ocean to ocean, or from one foreign
State to another.
i At great expense, and with much labor
we obtain this business, against the COM
petition OF lines that are trying to. carry
it North or South of US. Suppose the
old Board had reduced the rates on the
haul In Kansas on this traffic, they
would simply be injuring the Atchi-
son Road, in order to benefit people
living In New York, or California or per
hans In Australia. Or if the through
rate was not reduced by the reduction
made In Kansas, then the Atchlson
Road would simply get less proportion,
and its other connecting roads, would
get more. How much good would
this do Kansas? Is it wise to throw
bars and difficulties in the way of
this traffic? By bringing it across Kan
sas it requires a large expenditure of
money here in the State to transport it,
and enables the road to do the rest Of its
business more cheaply.
Fortunately for all interests, the people
as well as the railroads in the United
States, the Supreme Court has decided that
this Interstate andinter-O Oceanic business
should not be interfeSed with by State
Regulation.
When, therefore, the old Board of Rail-
road Commissioners blindly struck at
the six millions of dollars being earned
In Kansas for freight transportation, you
can see for yourselves how unlaWfuIIy,
how unWisely, they acted.
We give you these. figures fully and
fairly, in order that you may reach your
own conclusions. You will see that in
opposing the arbitrary demands of the
InII Of 10 :
has not been altogether from fear of a
serious reduction of our revenues.
The decisions which have been madel
by the old Board, the incorrect state
ments which they have written, are all
matters of record. Bear in mind that
this Board was elected to act as fair
minded tribunal, with semi-judicial pow.
ers. It was hoped and expected that
they would serve as a Board of Arbitra-
ton in all cases of difference that might.
arise between the people and the rail-
roads. It was hoped that their duties
would be so performed as to build up
stronger bond Of interest and amity be-
tween the people and the railroads. 1
call your earnest attention to their deci-
sions and their letters. particularly call
your attention to their letter of Febru-,
airy 9Th "a letter which for un-
fairness, injustice, incorrect state
ments and perversiOns of truth,
has seldom before been equalled.
A letter which was capable of, and was
apparently written for the purpose of
leading you astray, and arousing some
of the worst passions that lie within the,
human breast.
I ask you candidly and fairly to read
this whole correspondence, copies of
which will be supplied on application to
- 7 M for
yourselves where the truth ies-iudge
for yourselves who in the past have
Wronged you the mOst-the railroads who
like all others err frequently in their
business dealings, or the class of men
who systematically and for years have
misrepresented, and deceived yousin or
der to obtain personal advantage.
If you do not do so now, you. will give.
us at later day, credit for fairness
and candor in opposing the orders of the
old Board, as much in your interest as
in ours. The greatest laxity Of tariffs is
needed for the internal commerce and
internal development of the State. At
least such has been our belief, and that
belief is based on the experience of other
States, who have tried what Kansas is
now going through. Kansas possibly
may be an exception. 1t may be that a
Commissioners reduced iron clad tariff is
better for the people than our old system
of tariffs, so arranged as so give the great
est help where it was most needed, and
so arranged as to protect the railroad
property by fair returns for the capital
invested, while making the lowest reason
able rates for the development of every
interest of the country!
Even supposing that the old Board had
the power and legal right to tax these
earnings on through and interstate traf-
fc, would it be good policy to do it :?
Would it not simply drive the business
into other channels, that are not in Kan
sas, or have only small part of their
lines in Kansas
Certainly it must be admitted that if
the earnings on this business are to be
used as foundation for reducing the
rates of the company in the States, it
will not pay the road to continue work
ing for the business, and it will be better
to let their competitors that go through
other States carry the business.
A word or two about passenger fares
and passenger traffic. If there were
space and time, believe that it could be
demonstrated to your satisfaction that
when the Legislature by it's law last win
ter reduced the passenger rates on every
road in the State to three cents per mile,
they did an unwise thing for the people,
4. D6CduS0 IL IL always III loO W w al
unjust or unfair thing, and 1t is neither
Just nor fair to require the roads in Kan
sas with its still half peOpled territory to
carry passengers at the same rates as in
States with twice the population. It is
not Just nor fair to make the small local
lines and branch roads carry passengers
at the same rates as the main trunk
: roads
2. 1t is unwise because the average
rate earned on the passenger business OF
this road, for instance in 1882, was only
$40 cents per mile, and while We
earned 81, 81 and cents per mile OF
J certain portions of the local travel, which
r represented people who travelled only
r occasionally, and for short distances, anC
: who could afford and ought to pay more
5 | than tn q aunraoa "a te we ahln and dig