The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-02-21
EHE WV ooNNIssIoNRR
Some Pointed remark. on the Rallroa

some Pointed Remarks on the Railroad |
Situation.
The FL Dorado Republican, whose ed !
itor, Hon. T. B. Murdoch, is an old per
sonal friend of the new railroad com.
and who knows as much Of
what be tells below as any man in the
state, gives some advice on one feature
of the railroad question which has not
yet been publicly discussed, which will
be read with interest. We
trust the railroad commissioners will al
once do all in their power to put a stop
TO the abuses which the Republican dis
cusses:
We see by the dispatches that Major
Almerin Gillett, of Emporia, has been
chosen railway commissioner by the ex-
ecutive council to fill out the unexpired
term of Major Henry Hopkins, lately
deceased.
MAJOR Gillett came TO Emporia at the
close Of the war and opened an Office IN
that town for the practice OF law, where
he has resided ever since. he has been
a hard worker, fortunate. and Is today at
the head of his profession and q rich
man. we have known him intimately
for the last eighteen wears and are free TO
say that we believe he is as well quail
fed in every way TO MI the position TO
which he has been chosen as any man in
Kansas. Having sale this, and presum-
Ing on our long acquaintance and friend
ship, we wish 70 say a word to him on
the subject of what we consider TO be
his duties as railway commissioner.
In the first place we wish to call his
attention TO the fact that there are two
sides to this railway question-an
inside and an outside; and before pro-
ceeding 70 investigate the outside IL
might be well to let the public know
Just what is going on in the inside, so
the people may be better prepared TO
consider this problem intelligently.
1t 10 important, in the outset, that
every railway company should be per.
mitted to treat all people alike. A man.
sger Of railway has no desire 20 fur
nIsh free transportation to q member of
congress and would not do so if let
alone. But when the INSCRIPTIONS con-
gresham informs the said manager that
he Is "pOwer at Washington" and that
unless free transportation for himself
and friends Is forthcoming, or unless the
railways pool and raise money to pay
said congressmAn's election expenses
and all other incidental bills he will
proceed to introduce bill In congress
that If it becomes q law, will pdrGLyze
the railroads, and when he is joined by
al the other congressman in the same
demands, accompanied by the same
threats, the railway managers are too
willing to raise the money and fork it
over.
In the meantime, Major, you must re-
member that this money does not come
out of the railroads, but from the pockets
Of the people. And then again we can
GOT see why the railroads should be
forced TO furnish special trains or special
cars for United States senators. Sena-
Tors are no better than other people, and
when the railroads are forced not only
TO furnish special trains and free trans
portatiOn, but are given to understand
hat they must foot the bills for not only
he senatorial and gubernatorIal cam
paigns but put up a large number of
monthly salaries, for an army of political
clacquers who tramp around over the
state for the sole purpose of manipula-
| ting politics, we are not surprised that
they charge good round prices for haul
ing coal TO the people along their vari-
Gus lines.
And then again, Major, why should ii
not be made misdemeanor for a gov
ernor, state officer, Judge of the supreme
or district court to accept passes? Do the
railroads give out these passes because
they love those people? Not at all. Then
what are they given for? Simply be.
cause they are afraid to refuse, and in
This connection we call to mind when a
| governor, who was elected as kind OF
5eiormer sent in an application for nine
annual passes for his household before
Il 90 t.1wr e. l. L.
the railroads are compelled to carry an
army of dead heads is it not fact thai
hose who do buy tickets have TO pay
more for their transportation?
And while we are starting out to re
form things why would it not be we'll u
nave a law passed making it a penlten
tiary offense for a governor to threaten
the railroads with a special session of TIT
legislature and thus force them TO spenC
fifty or hundred thousand dollars &c
secure said governors denomination
and reelection?
All this money comes out OF the peck
cts of the people. Getting down lIttle
why should member of the Legislature
three, four, five hundred or Thousand
dollars from the railroads for his electiO
/, expenses, informing them at the same tim
that If they do not put up he will max
Il hot for them. The railroads don
want 70 spend this money, but as discrt
ZION Is the better part OF valor they d
/ | il in selt-detense.
Il Now, then, Major, when you vii
have provided way of freeing the raj
roads from all these regular establishe
systems of oppression and made it i'm
possible for men in power to plunde
, these corporations, IL will be time I
II a. a. al. 4
which we will proceed to outline.
Fuel Is the great desideratum in thi
D | prairie country. Cheap fuel is an absC
7 Lutte necessity. What we want and wht
I | we must have is competition IN Goa
D Canon City coal must come IN compel
r ton with Cherokee and Missouri
o coal at every railway station In Kansa
e Usage City dirt must not control th
= prices OF coal In this state. 1t is impor
ant, therefore, that you thoroughly POI
a Yourself on the coal question and aftC
doing so say to the railway manager
!, that the people of Kansas are perfect
}. willing to pay living freight rate
D for coal and no more. If the railroad
!. acceed to this reasonable deman
e all we'll and good. II they do not !,
: mistakable enactments. The me-
l. item of prime importance to us is lun
Der. II the country improves 1t mu
have cheap lumber and cheap buildir
material. Examine the tariff rates q
lumber carefully. consult with the trait
manager of the roads, look over the Ia
l. ifs of roads in other states, and if. yC
l. find that present rates can be reduce
:. ask the railroads TO make the redu
tiOns and we will guarantee that the
&c will be made cheerfully and without
r row.
u Having done these'thIngs you will u
only have done your duty but you WI
be entitled to the gratitude of youI fe
low citizens IN Kansas.
y If by your action you give to the pc
&c pie the assurance that you are going
= work TO make the law of some practIc
u benefit to the state, that you are not G
e ing TO use the office as a stepping stone
u something better, that you believe {
X property In the state stands on the san
&c footing and is entitled to the same pr
~ lection, you will take III
d disturbing question out of 20
Z, tics and assure the people that in v,
~ they nave a man who intends to de
q honorably and fairly with all interes
Hundreds Of political blatherskItes W
70 howl, Office holders in high places W
81 bully you because they cannot use 20
n' but the people will be benefited, "a
IS way building will be resumed in c
~ state, and the era of prosperity to
e witnessed on every hand will be cont
ued indefinitely.
ne TO THE POINT.
n Leavenworth Times: The Santa
te railroad company and the state board
Ie- railroad commissioners are just now