The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-22

| son insured IS maze Responsible Tor the 1cls
and conduct of persons who are really tEe
agents Of che insurance companies.
BY the terms OF many OF the policies u
life insurance, If the premium is not paid the
exact day on which u falls due the policy be
comes void, although in fact the company
has money in its hands belonging TO the
poiicy holder.
Many States have enacted laws TO correct
the wrongs and abuses which result. or UrC
likely to result, on account of such
conditions of these in IRE and lie inSur
DC 10 question q TO the Justice anu Eeces
sty OF similar acts 90 protect the citizens oi
Kansas against such wrongs:
= RAILROADS.
The rapid growth 0f :he railways Of Kansas
is a source alike of just pride and or grave
public anxiety and apprehension. The vast
and general importance ana usefulness OF
these great arteries on commerce. IN prOmot
ing the development of the State, in afford
ing facilities for the safe ara speedy trans
portatOn of orr products to market. and in
bringing TO US the products of other sections
can rot be OyeTe>timatGd. But their power
aud influence over every commercial. indus
trial ard agricultural interest OF the people
I is equally vast. and il not restricted and
regulated by wholesome laws. may readily
be welded as an instrument OF wrong and
extortion.
The last Legislature enacted Il law the pur-
pose OF which WAS 10 protect the people
! against UNJUST aygrcSS.onS b. corporate
power and to secure reasonable and equal
largely experimental wisely, in my judc-
| Inent, the iaw-na,,ing power avoided hast,
and arbitrary action. prcferrng to create a
commission 10 which Shonid he entrusted
the Gutv Of investigating the management
and operation Of our railways. hearing aflsi
deciding complaints OF unjust discrmina-
tiOIS or eyIOrt!C,iS, gathering information
concerning tho cost OF transporting pasSen-
I gers ard freight, and adris ng the LegiSla-
ture SIS to the regulations and laws best
calculated to secure for tee people Il prompt,
|
! This law mas, 80 far, worked well III prac-
! tice. IT has promoted better understand
| ing and more harmonious relations between
the public and tie railroads than has ever
! before prevailed. II has secured consider
! able reductions in fares and freight charges,
| greater caTcfulneSS in railway management,
| Il moro speedy and equitable redress OF
| grievances and more cChSIderaJe regard
| on the part OF railway managers, for the
| rights o. travellers and shippers. II removes
! the responsibility and expense OF ilght for
! justice from the individual TO the State 1t
| has. TO some extent, deprived the railway cor
porat;0nS of the 1rbitrary power they had
/ possessed and unSparingly exercised 10 dis
| criDi:Eate between communities or lndiVid-
| IiaiS. And il has enlisted in tne service of
State Il body Of E:cE who haV" given 10 the
complicated and m9nt-SIucd question OF
railway trGnSDOrtIt on careful investigation
| and study, so that they are competent 10
! intCligcutly advise the luw-Inahing power.
| The experience OF other states confirms the
| opinion tha. the commissioner system. with
! ample power vested ill the commission,
| preferable TO amy other method OF dealing
| with regulating railways. IN recent
! speech in Congress- IN cy-(;Overn0r of Mas
| SachuSetts stated that although the Railroad
! Com IN .ssSiOHerS of tiat StGte had conferred
| upon them 10 power at al except 10 ilyeSt-
gate ana recommend, xe: in no case had any
railway company dared 10 res 5; or f&licd 20
! comply with the mere Recommendation OF
the STATE Railroad Commission. "A cOTpo-
ration he said, might be rs powerful as
an ancient Baron; il might iangn at statutory
penalties; but it goes on its knees, ittrembleS
with terror, at entire exposure.
Such changes 9Ed notifications OF the
present law as experience with its workings
may have shown 10 be necessary should be
made. III some respects, think, the author
! ity il conferS on the commission should be
anplificd and enlarged. But the general
scope and requirements of the law, the ever
watchful oversight aHd conStGnt restraint it
puts upon the corporations of the State
should De adhered to.
The source ana sum Of all unreasonable
and cXtOTtiOnate charges made by railways
for the services they perform is their
..watered stock" sO-cailcd; i'll other words.
stock issued far II excess OF the cost of their
construction. Railway companies are justly
entitled TO 4 reasonable remuneration for
the services they perform and TO reaSona-
Bile interest on the capitGI leGitimatejy in
vested IN the building and operation of their
lines. But they should not be permitted TO
establish rates that Will enable tncn 10 pay
large dividends interest Cn stock or in
GchtedneSS i'll amount double or three times
the cost OF the construction OF their roads.
way corporations are responsible to the
State for til" exercise OF those powers, and K
is the plain duty of the law-iGakiD;: power to
protect the people against unreasonable. eX-
ceSSiye or eXtOrtionntc transportation rates.
The exhaustive report OF the State Board
OF halfway Commissioners Is recommended
10 VOur cons Gcrltc attention. The suggest
ions and recommendations it e.nbodies are
derived from careful. practical and Intelligent
investigation ami STUDY of the railway QucS-
ton in all its phases.
Dsr x ATyOES.
The Legislature Of 1873 enacted law re-
duiring Kansas corporations TO keep and
maintain tGeir general Offices in the state.
Bat this act did roy repeal an act passed III
$50. which authorizes any Kansas railway
corporation to consolidate with or 10 lease
its road to any railway cOr1pany OF <an al
i9ininjng State" whose road forms 3 con-
ncct"I ana coGI;nUOuS iiiic. This act OF iS,j
j. in the interest Of I'D. Joining States" rather
than Kansas. and should be repealed While
il remains or the statute DOCKS, the act o1
ls...j cLnuOI bS=iveH mulch prPcticGl force rs
against railway companies. The last men
toned act. ChHptcr ). special session OF lc1',
has teen for gears 4 dead letter on our stat
ute books. Adequate means Tor enforcing ::
should be provided, or II SHOULD be repealed
PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
Our road laws need thorough revision. Bet
for hi.rliy-ays are necessary, and some $yS-
tenn SnOu.I bc devised under which il VIII be
possible 70 secure them. The present sys-
te!n of Hakng and improving country roads
IS not ONLY tasteful ana unjust iii rs Opcrl-
ton hut unsatisfactory in It's results. 1t 4; Il
system of patching between rains. 1t c0l-
TloyS host of o1icerS, generully ineNp cri-
enced and careless. and Oitcn lncOnpc. Gnt-
to direct work that would be much moro in
tell GENTLY and economically acconpi> h.-t
under tne direction o. one cXpeuenced ana
RESPONSIBLE officer IL calls farmers from
work they understand, AMI III wE,ch they
have Il direct personal interest and coIhpcis
them 70 engage III work they do not under
StaGd. and i'll which they have only com
munity interest. I'he provisions of the road
law allowing road taxes TO lie worked ont,
and Gei.nqueucirs 70 be reported and placed
Gu the tax roll Of tho succeeding year, are az
| anomaly III our tax proceedings. IL Il road
district SHOuid embrace al entire municipal
township, and thr road tax, collected in cash.
! should bc expended under competent SUPER
vision, ard the WORK done with Improved
machinery and appliances, the pubic would
| be far better served, and at less cost, than
under the present system.
BOARD OF AGRICUETUEE.
Our State Board of Agriculture has, through
| its various publications. achieved :: National
reputation, aud has been OF incalcul;1b!e ben
| eft to the state in making known its re-
! sources and productions. Its, work. rs au-
/ thoriZcd by law. il to collect, arrange aud
| furnish for the public, general information
! concerning Kansas. The monthly quarterly,
| annually and biennial reports of the Board.
relating to the resources. products and adj
vanta-oS of the State, arc unequaied by any
| similar publications il this country. and arc
! eagerly sought for bota far aud near In It's
| efforts to promote the agricultural interests
! of the State. and encourage industrial and
! MISUNDERSTANDING tHttiiiiSIS c"A HOi
| derS. the Board and its officers have shown
| con-neud:tble activity and enterprise.
| have 10 hesitation in saying that this Depart
lnent deserves 2 continuance Of the liberal
I support heretofore extended To Il by tHe
! Legislature. II has probably contributed
more. in proportion TO its cost, 10 the settle
| ment devcioplncnti and material prosperity
| of the State, than any Otner agency.
OUu STOCK INTERESTS.
Earnest protests have reached me from
J stock owners in several port ons of the Stale
! against the proposed National cattle trail
! The complains of injury aud losses to our
cattle interests. growing out OF the move
! DTu .otI fl,roI,ph Kansas