The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-01-01
THE hAlHsoAD CHARLESTON

THE RAILROAD COMMISSION
REPORT.
The state board Of railroad commits
slonerR Of Kansas have just completed
their annual report, publication of the
advances sheets of which. prior to its
presentation to the legislature, has been
made. The report is q comprehensive
and practical one. and gives evidence of
the care with which the commissioners
have sought to famllIarIze themselves
with all the Intricacies OF the railroad
problem, and indicates the arduous char
acter Of their labors.
That the Railroad Law passed by the
last legislature would be perfect in its
operations or give absolutely
universal satisfaction no one
dared 70 expect. Many
Of its features were Of necessity expert
mental. But 1t has 90 far met the de-
mands of the people and has 80 far been
efficient in securing satisfactory adjust
ment of many grievances, that 1t seems
probable that there will be little or no
change effected In its provisions by the
incoming legislature. One thing is Ger.
tain, that the executive council in
its selection of railroad com.
missioners was peculiarly for
tunate, and no official act of the
board since their appointment has been
such as to impair public confidence IN
their straightforward integrity and de-
votion to the interests of the people.
The whole problem of railroad trans
portation and its regulation by law in
wolves many questions of difficulty
questions such as are now being devel-
oped in the discussion in the national
congress of the Interstate commerce
bill-questions the practical and fair
adjustment Of which in many instances,
seems almost impossible. Our state
commissioners have brought to their
task an evident disposition for fairness,
and have shown g marked ability in
gaining familiarity with the details of
the varied phases of railroad manage
ment.
The report includes the discussion of
several important questions that have
been grounds for complaint or involve
recognized evils in railroad management
Among these questions to which atteu-
ton Is called are that of the necessity
for the regulation OF elevator charges
for corn and wheat, the increase OF cash
faraa maid hu nsaoan 0ara m tha ,,a-.z.-.
railroads, the dangers from cattle on the
track Of fenced railroads and the in
stances of gross carelessness in that
matter.
The question of the railroad commits
missiOners' tax is thus discussed:
Section of the act creating this com.
mission. and prescribing its power and
duties, provides: ITO provide fund for
the payment of the salaries and current
expenses of the board of commissioners
and secretary, the board shall certify to
the auditor Of state on or before the Goth
OF May, In each year, the amount neces-
sary to defraY the same; which amount
shall be divided pro rata among the
railroad companies, according to the as
sessed valuation of their property IN the
certify to the county clerk of each coun-
ty the amount due from the several rail.
road corporations located and operated
in said county. ana the county clerk
shall place the same on the tax roll of
HE county, to be collected the same as
as other taxes upon railroad property"
In accordance with this provision, the
amount appropriated by the Legislature
two years ago to meet the salaries of the
and secretary and the
current expenses of the commission, were
duly certified, and levied as q tax upon
the property of the several railroad COM
panleS operating and owning property
in this state. All of the companies
against which the tax was laid, except
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe. the
Southern Kansas and the Kansas City,
Fort Scott d Gulf, paid the tax. Suit
was instituted by the first above named
company to enjoin its collection, which
resulted in a decision by the supreme
court OF this state, rendered on Deem
Der 1, adverse to the validity of the law
under which the tax was levied. At
this writing the opinion has not been
d led, and we are unable to state the
precise point OF objection. It is under
stood the main objection urged, and
upon which the case went, was the tax
was not OF equal or uniform operation
upon all the companies, corporations and
persons designed as common carriers
subject to be regulated under the pro-
visions of the law. If our information
as tothe character of the objectInn be cor
rect It suggests the appropriate remedy.
In this connection 1t may not be amIss
10 remark that several of the states in
which similar commissions exist, pro-
vide for the cost and maintenance of
the commission by tax upon the com.
pans subject to the provisions of the
law. Among those that thus provide are
the states OF Alabama, Massachusetts,
New York and Vermont.
A number of pages of the report are
taken up with comparative view of the
railroad laws of other states. This por-
ton of the report is of special value as
q condensation of the salient points of
on this subject. An increased
is asked for the expenses
OF the commissioners. As a whole the
report will give to the members OF the
body much valuable food for
thought, and 1t is to be hoped that in
whatever railroad legislation they may
undertake, they may wisely profit by
the experiences gained in the past two
years.