Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1889-01-26

X[kIK -
MY sman compared WITH tAs advsstissd CO
naL GocE: In 3os(ics to those Who desiro 10
iotm banking eorporetiocs, thsss Ghould s. some
n jostioe % thsm = Ven . To bnsinsss puSlic,
NO. ahoed b an cot regulating The G1h3ecf 8;
osnks sad banking ssnssslly. Nth soma pcwsr y
Which misht b iodssS ~isa bsnt oo%mi ioo.
sIssnos. This :hoold b done With ess, snd
interest and in spirit Of justice 70 those iesit.
iimatsH engaged in highly important businees.
inSofv'ns great trust and responsibility.
suraxn COURT co.nussrox.
I9S lass Lesialatnre created what i sylsd
durs Sa;Ise%s Govt Cont Co%misaion. vhoes
will expire in Msrch OF next ssr. nnis.s en-
t.n1ed BY act Of the Legialainre It ths present
RAILROAD REGULATION.
inyiss your attsntiSs te the subject of stses
jodicious ystem Of public regulation OF tie fsii-
| road. hrmly but disereetly admioisfeFod. h no
longer a question Of doubtful public policy.
lation similar to that which exists IN Kansse.
and where precipitate and unWise action has been
| avoided. many evils which before were the sub-
Jet q nnrsdressed complaints have BEEN cor
receed, and Development and growth has been in
no wise retarded. The people of Kansas have
| In this, a. in other matters manifested Q clear
!ecoenton OF the fact that Justice to all interests
L
OK permanent prosperity.
naStaie like Kansas, where the railroad system
scompe!stivelynew,an and extensions progress with
to arise which must be ssttled. The successive
volumes OF reports which have emanated from
the Board Of Railroad Commissioners bear Wit
adjusted, and that in their adjustment the spirit
OF the law has in the main received . fair and
since this Board was created vast ensruu has
been displnyed In the construction Of additional
railroads in the State. and the extension Of sys-
tens . Are saisting Within little over hve
from 5, 7l6 to 8.799 miles, Doubtless some OF this
has not been wisely planted but it is certain that
the people would not be willing to relinQuish
single mile of that which has been built. 1tmAy
be further remarked, that such is the extent OF
our territorial area, further development viii re-
quire &C ns!dersble additional mileage. especially
tiles.
The freight and other traffic has not grown In
an equal ratio. From the reports issued from
the office of the Railroad Board it appears that
the total number of tons of freights carried over
ell Ioads for the year ending June 80. 1883, was
feisss tonnage to
increase, compared with the former year. Of
9,942, 77. or 4s.l2 per cent. The earnings from
Of the former year icing Sls,ls5 ssl g. and those
Tor the fiscal year last past amounting to 49,
st9, S66.18-en increase OF 4,z14,0si.54, or asa
p0I cent 1uI6 ueuOt09 al dppfOX1mdt6 6Vef080
reduction of the freight charge upon freight
traffic of 1883, compared to that OF 1883, OF N.58
per cent. From the same source it appears that,
from s' D sss to s.Ss
1888 an increase of S42Ay 269 So or Is 4 per cent
believe that a careful review OF the present sit
inves tments in this stats will reveal nothing
that should create serious approximations or dis
courasement.
The Board of Railroad Commissioners in their
last report recommended some additional legis-
lation in respect to the functions exercised By
them. which appear to me to be Just and adapted
to increase the usefulness and efficiency of that
Office. The first relates to the enactment OF ap.
propriEts provisions for the due enforcement OF
their orders and decisions. Heretofore this has
not been found to have been neceseaIy: ard due
regard for the authority rposed in that Board
The Board represents in all its official utterances
the State. There are many matters arising In
tbs operation of railroads affecting the conven-
public. which do not rest in welcomed legal
OBLIGATION on the one hand. and OF absolute
right on the other. the due regulation Of which.
this Board. Its findings. decisions and recon-
mendations As to these. a. we'll a. other matters.
upon which its authority il invoked. cannot be
and bringing its fonctions into contempt. Suit
able provision should therefore be made to give
legal sanction to their decisions. orders and rec
concentrations. and secure compliance there
with.
The second is a matter Of present, and win
become one Of growing Importance to
t i. 70 confer interests es Ss Bsad s:
power to require the adoption Of joint freight
tariffs upon freights passing between two points
to prescribe the rate to be charged. and the pro
rata share of each carrier whenever it shall APP
pear to be just to the business interests Of the
Under the existins statute, the powers OF tho
Board touching rates Of transportation extend
only to the revision Of rates complained Of, and
5sonsn tSs Il %ost
tive points, undue disproportion will ensue be-
tween the rates at such points and those main
tanned at places where competition does not cx-
should be subjected to such adjustment and re-
vision from time to time a. necessity may arise.
to assure to the public fair treatment. To this
lodged in the Board Of Railroad Commissioner,
by additional statutory provision, which In such
cases may not require the Intervention OF q for
Board should have greater affirmative iurisdic-
ton. and be clothed with unquestionable power
to enforce its reasonable orders and decisions.
The growth Of public sentiment in support a
constitutional prohibition in Kansas is steady.
healthy, and unmistakable. In the last CAM
mand resubmission Of the question to the peo-
pie, In tho face of popular verdict ihst has
been repeated and emphasized every time the
popular sense has been taken. As an issue in
Kansas politics, resnbmission il az dead -
slavery. The saloon as factor in politics. a.
moral iniquity, has been outlawed and made a
fugitive and vagabond on the face Of the
earth" or that part Of it within the territorial
limits Of Kansas.
The present legislation In aid Of the prohibi-
tory amendment 10 perhaps not perfect nor free
from objections. but so nearly satisfactory that
doubt II pubic opinion demands any radical re-
vision; snd Law saould be but public opinion
passed over into public will. Results justify
the opinion. The law generally is being no
spected and enforced. because BY sort Of educa-
fed in the public mind with other
criminal statutes. This was necessary, for tho
reason U ut it was legislation denouneing a. q
public offenss what had Lot been theretofore, and
10 not Fer se, criminal Convictions are thus made
easier where the proof warra. ts it. because juries
and courts have come 70 regard the law - e 10
reflected in the light Of public judgment. Fra
quent change in such law especially tends to
onsettle public confidence. and besets distrust
Rnd doubt. Tho records Of courts and Of pris-
one, from the city calabooee to the penitentisry,
Phow Q elimination Of crime and q fAlling-od in
our prison population, bearing the most incon-
estable evidence Of the efficiency Of the preeent
Btxte OF the law and of the prohibitofy policy
which the Law II designed to enforce.