Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-02-28


were the only single agency which would
develop Kansas TO her fullest capabilities
during our lifetime, and preferring pres
ent prosperity, even with some drawba eks
ton prosperity and development that should
overtake Kansas fifty years after we had
been in our grave, together with all these
pioneers, and maybe all forgotten-we have
stood a. a friend for this agency, and for the
men who promised us the greatest good in
the fcwesl years.
Again, a few months since, another and 4
stronger wave swept over our state demand
ing railway legislation aud maximum tariffs
and ireights. Without stopping TO inquire
how the demand was inspired, or how.
through the ambition of the two or three
political parties, it was nurtured until an
anti-railroad legislature was secured. we
wrote many articles cauiioning our repre-
sentatives against overlapping the mark.
Amer spending nearly the entire winter liz
killing of measures which, if embodied in
laws, would just as surely have killed off
the commercial and manufacturing interests
Of the State andleft hundreds of dead towns,
bin was at last agreed upon by the major
ity and made a law. 1t provided for a com.
mission-a commission only, to inquire into
grievances and to right wrongs, intentional
or otherwise, committed by the railroad
company agains: its patrons. Not only the
people but the railroad companies said, ear
ry out this law in fairness and all will be
well, the latter promising that they would
70 for ri hair
prises, splendid mproyements-continue to
help develop commercial centers and nurse
manufacturing enterprises. But the COM
missioners, after a few months looking over
The ground, more particularly after the
death of the real conseyator and balance
wheel of that body, Major Hopkins. made
up their minds that they were invested
with all the powers OF the Legislature and
executive. Among other things they said,
here, the Santa Fe has earned a certain
number Of dollars too much last year, and
we shall cut of its revenues by just so much.
Whereupon, without reference TO the de-
mands of commerce, the claims OF infant
manufactures, or the possibility of develop
ing certain industries which had 10 be IA
quarries, etc, they, the commissioners, fixed
inflexible rates. and notified the Santa Fe
company that il must, after certain date,
adopt them. The company. through Mr..
A. f. Touzalin, protested, but said that on
all except freights passing from beyond the
State to beyond the State, they would SUBJ
nit with all the grace possible, but by ad-
-. \ a
missioners tha they were not only iDjuring
the railroad property Of the state, but ru-
lining many other interests. The commits
sioners being infexible, the business men
of the more important towns commenced to
figure up how the new rule would affect
them, personally and locally. The Topeka
board OF trade was the first TO speak. They
showed that the fixed rates would embar-
rass the capital eity's prosperity materially.
Next came Lawrence with her manufacture
ing interests, with showing that such rates
were oppressive 10 her manufacturing inter-
ests. Following these, came Usage City,
one OF the towns which had filed an original
complaint, and town built by the road,
setting forth that while the rates were re-
duced as whole, the only interest they had,
that OF coal mining, was burthened so that
the trade would be disastrously cut up.
Following these came the stone quarry men,
millers and others, whose industries had
been fostered by the railroad company for
the sake Of the indirect returns they brought
all protesting against the action Of the
board. In the meantime, u dozen or so pa
pers of the State whose editors desised TO
be upon the popular side, raised a terrible
FOWL against the Santa Fe aud for the COM
missioners. But on last Friday, the day set
for the new rates, and when a motion for an
injunction was TO be argued before the judge
OF the third judicial district. the commits
sioners appeared in court and gave formal
notice that they had sunulled their order in
toto.
In general way we have referred to this
matter in several OF our recent issues. We
do so again, more 10 give our readers an
idea of the present situation than to offer
any arguments pro or con. Like every 9TH
err tax payer and property owner, we desire,
50 far as this railroad question is concerned,
that policy. and that policy only,..which will
I
rich our State as whole. Good times,
prosperous times, are what we all desire
and the railroads desire such times just as
strongly as the producer, the manufacturer,
or the merchant, for unless the State as
whole-tbe people and all their varied inter-
ests, prosper, the railroads, which are our
only lines Of commerce, cannot prosper |
fora l.. IN
way men and railroad interests with the /
same wisdom aid liberality with which we |
would tire { any great State industry or in-
terest. be production, manufacturing, or |
eommerc i, that is in spirit of perfect |
fairness
While our State is very prosperous with
what roads we have, we want more money,
more people, lower taxes, and lower freight
rates. More roads will bring all these things
quicker and more surely than can any iron
clad laws compiled 10 fix rates aud hamper
such roads as we have, and discourage the
building of others. The commission not
only arrogated TO itself the powers OF the
legislature, but attacked the most popular
road in the State simply because wise
management had made IL the best-payiDg
road, a road too that has always, heretofore,
tried to keep on the side of the people, and
road that never refused to do any thing
the people asked even TO reducing its pas
senger rates one-third by single order,
road that has hauled, free Of cost, not only
charity goods, seeds, etc, by the hundreds OF
car loads, but which has delivered material,
for half the churches, school bOuses, bridges
and other public buildings along its line,
free of cost or for nominal rates; in fact.
they have picked out the only road in the
State which has made the peoples interests
their own ; the only road which has. by its
actions, ssid we will with Kansas sink or
swim; tie only road that has obeyed the
states law with reference 10 keeping its
general offices in the State; the only road
that has erected its machine shops within
the State. and started building magnificent
permanent depots along its line-to harrass
and worry il with infexibe rules and rates
in which demands for changes almost hour.
~ arise. .,; a.,