The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-10-25
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.


Questions Of the Interstate Commisslon
Answered BY the Kansss Railroad
Board.
TOPEKA. Kan, Oct 19-The following
letter written by the Board Of Rsilroad
Commissioners to the statistican Of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, will be
interesting reading to those whose bust.
ness brings them in contact with railroad
companies, showing, as It does, the views
OF the Kansas board: 4,
Henry C. Adams. EsQ, Safislician In&t-Sdte
Commerce Conuatssion, Washington DE-:
TOPEKA Kan. Oct. Il. 1883 Dear Sir: Your
letter OF September has been referred to the
Board OF Commissioners and am directed to
ans wer 1t as follows: -
The judgment OF the board il in accord with
the action OF the general conference Of the State
boards In providing for practical uniformity
In computation OF railway statistics in their
several reports, not from any comfy Of
ofncial obligation, but believing 1t to be q CO.
operation both reasonable and profitable Such
uniformity. 1t is believed, would result in great
convenience whenever comparison OF conditions
and results might be found desirable, or for
those who might desire, or be charged with the
duty Of compiling consolidated report Of .
portion. or OF all the States as 1t becomes your
duty to do under the auspices Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
The board does not understand. however.
what is meant by you in saying that 'the most
effective organization for statistical work Is not
attained when the State Comm ssions and the
Interstate Commerce Commission adopt ident-
ically the same schedules" when you have
worked so strenuously and successfully in
bringing about this very identicalness, in form
and classification Of schedules, upon blanks Of
your own devising
Answering your questions. as hereinafter re-
produced. the board would say:
First-"How far is uniformity in the blank
form for annual reports OF carriers to the State
Commissions and the Interstate Commerce
Commission desiraber' To make comparison
of like facts and results coliated by the several
boards available for ready reference, compar-
fson or consolidation in a report of the Inter-
state Commission, uniformity should be abso-
Lutte in both 5. ate and Inter-Stat tsbulation Of
all like facts II CO operation is desirable at
all, as all have ut your instance agreed it was,
then it must be in this absolute uniformity.
Second-"Does the form furnished this year
by the Inter State Commerce Commission meet
the requirements OF your Statef II not point
out the particulars in which it fails" Yes, the
present form meets the requirements OF our
State and is substantially the same as hereto
fore used
Thrd-"Does the law Of your State interfere
IN any way with the freedom OF your investiga-
tionsf' No. The law does not dictate nor
limit the field OF investigation. The board is
left with full freedom and discretion.
Fourth-"Would you think it wise, for pur
poses Of statistical inquiry, to separate roads
into State roads and Interstate roadsr' It
might be serviceable and certainly Interesting,
TO have some company divide its records. &C.
counts and statistics into blocks, showing each
State as q unit in all respects, but this would
I,ou vSoav
has thus far been deemed by the board as cost
ing more than its value. II, however, the Inter-
State Commerce Commission has the power
and the disposition to enforce such a division
the board would be pleased to accept reports
from companies OF this State made in compli-
ance with such exaction.
what questions OF importance in railway
economy suggest themselves to you as worth
investigatingY' The question OF prime impof
lance is not so much a statistical showing OF
what we have as the practical application Of
common sense in correcting the abuses and
healing the differences which have arisen in
the relations OF the people and the carrying
corporatio 8 they have by law created TO serve
them. To find some common plane OF interest
and sympathy for public and corporate inter-
ests, which are SO closely allied as to be prac-
tically one. TO travel upon. The board is con-
strained to look upon the question as one Of
wise statemenship rather than OF elaborate
statistics. and that its statistical work and
Celebrations should begin and end with that
which can be popularized, utilized, and made
effective for immediate use and beneft OF the
public. y
''In short. please give in your reply the result
OF your thought and experience with regard to
the bearing of statistics on the performance OF
the duties devolving upon railway commissions
and OF the proper adjustment OF the relations
between the State Commissions and the Inter-
State Commerce Commission, so far as
statistics are concerned" As to the final
question. the board believes 1t to have
been substantially answered in the preceding
paragraphs. 1t comedies the proprety Of a free
interchange OF opinions and observation be
tween the several Stale boards and the Inter-
State board, to the full extent OF value in such
advising relations. Also the uniform classf-
cation OF all facts existing in common, TO the
end that the work Of each may be made access
ible to and easily understood by all the others.
Very truly yours, CHARLES s ELLIOTT.
Secretary