Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-01-17

sWo fOaos af0 double those OF one; the capital
invested IN them - doubled; and. at tho same
time the transportation business Of the country
they traverse IL divided The natural results
are combinations or agreements to maintain
n1Rher rates, and = long postponement Of those
conditions which invite and make possible q
reduction Of froights and fares Competition in
railway building, when IL goes beyond the
volume OF tho carrying trade OF any section Of
the country, does not and can not eject re-
ductton Of transportation charges On the con-
u2ry, It retards or prevents such reduction
RAILWAY BUILDING IN KANSAS
do not. for these reasons. regard the extra
ordinary era Of railway building that has char
acterized the past four years, rs an unmixed
blessing. Many Of the new lines, it 10 true arc
legitimate and necessary. They were demanded
Dy the marvellous development Of the State and
the enormous increase of its carrying trade
But it Is not an exaggeration to say that of the
s. iSo miles OF railway constructed in Kansas
during the last four years, at least 1850 miles
were not demanded by either the growth of the
State or the increase of its trade; that they are
hindrance rather than a help to prosperity,
and that they will not earn enough, for many
years to come, to Day their operating expenses
Their construction, has entailed upon the peo-
pie OF many OF our counties townships an0
cities enormous municipal debts, which will be
burden, If not curse, to their populations
for generation.
It is often said that these municipal debts
were voluntarily contracted by the people But
this statement is not, in all ases based fact.
In many Instances, indeed, the votes author
izng them have been secured by compulsory
process. Directly or indirectly the people have
been informed that failure to vote bonds would
result in the location of railway lines by such
routes as would seriously injure utterly de-
stroy existing communities. in which were CEN
tered all the hopes, the efforts, and the accumu-
lations of years Of labor and enterprise. In this
age railways make or unmake cities and towns,
and when community, knowing this fact, has
a railway bond proposition submitted to it the
alternative is well understood and the freedom
OF action allowed its people is not very clearly
apparent.
DETERMINATIONS AGAINST KANSAS INTERESTS
Many communities, too, have been deluded
by hopes or defrauded by promises OF local ad-
vantage that have not been, and never will be,
realized. And worse than all, and OF State as
well as local concern, several of the railway
lines OF Kansas are so operated as to build up
and foster alien communities. to the detriment
or destruction OF our own towns and cities.
Extravagant and burdensome as Is the volume
of municipal indebtedness our people have
voted to aid in bull ding railways, it would not
be disastrous il hese corporations. the Great
ures OF our laws and the recipients OF the prod.
igal bounties of our municipalities, were so
managed as to build up, promote and foster
Kansas interests and Kansas communities.
But several, if not most, of the railroads trav-
ersing our State are SO operated as to retard the
growth and damage the prosperity OF commu-
mites that have materially aided In building
them and that are bearing heavy burdens OF
taxation to meet Indebtedness contracted for
this purpose.
The Board Of Railroad Commissioners, in its
last annual report, calls attention to some of
these Determinations against Kansas interests
and communities, and asks that additional
powers be conferred upon the board, by law, to
compel the railways to deal justly in such mat
ters cordially indOrse this recommendation,
and trust that the Legislature will vest in the
board ample authority not only to redress the
wrongs specially mentioned, but to protect
Kansas communities and Kansas interests gen.
orally against determinations and injustice.
That such legislation is necessary, no Observ-
ing citizen OF the State will question. On sew
eral Kansas railways, trains and frelghts
and fares are adjusted for the benefit OF alien
communities, that bear none of the burdens OF
our Government, and have no common interest
in the prosperity of our people. One great line
of railway, traversing large portion of our
State, has termini at two points on our border,
both outside the limits OF Kansas. Another
line disregards the orders and defies the au-
thority OF our Board OF Railway Commission
ers. The rights, the interests, the welfare Of
Kansas towns ana cities ignored by many,
If not most. OF our railways, or il justice is
done them it is grudgingly conceded not
as right but as favor. It is time that the
law making power of the State gave these
matters its serious attention. Kansas commu
mites are justly entitled to all the benefits and
advan tages that Kansas railways can give
them. Millions of acres OF State lands and
O66n
our people to aid in building these roads. The
benefciaries of this prodigal generosity should
recognize their obligations to the people of the
State, and SO operate their lines as to confer
the largest possible benefits and advantages
upon Kansas communities The Legislature
by wise and firm enactments, should demand
that the trade and commerce of the State
shall not be utilized for the sole benefit OF
alien cities and towns. The Board OF
Railroad Commissioners should have ample au-
fHnr ty 70 mt inir I,0tn
Kansas community either in the running Of
trains in the adjustment of freights and fares,
or by any other form of discrimination hurtful
to Kansas interests or Kansas people. Appeals
to the business and fairness of many railroad
managers have been tried, again and again, for
many years, and have failed to accomplish any
important results. It is time to try what
stringent law, backed by determined public
sentiment will do to secure justice for Kansas
at the hands OF Kansas corporations.
ILLEGAL METHODS
call your attention, Also to methods adopted
by several counties and municipalities for
evading the existing limitations put upon their
tax-levying and debt-creatlng authority. The
Legislature OF 1879 enacted law ito enable
counties, municipal corporations, the board of
education of any city. and school districts. to
refund their Indebtedness" It was the plain
intent and purpose of the Legislature in enact
ing this law. to confer upon these municipalities
boards and districts, authority to refund bonded
ind ebtedness only; that is to take up outstand-
ing bonds and issue others in their stead. But
the letter of the statute confers upon any one
Of these municipal sub divisions of the State
power to compromise and refund its matured
and maturing Indebtedness of every kind and
description whatsoever. upon such terms as an
be agreed upon. and to issue new bonds =
1 In payment for any sums so compromised
In several, if not in many counties cities
townships and school districts OF the State I
ana informed that the authorities have issued
warrants or orders on the treasury for any pur-
pose whatsoever, and whenever these warrants
treated them as 'smatured indebtedness" and
proceeded to compromise and refund'' them
by issuing in their stead interest.bearing bonds
I'm some OF the newly organized western coun-
ties such warrants have been issued to pay ex-
penses incurred in conducting county seat con-
tests, as well as for other unauthorized or ex-
travagant expenditures.
This law should be so amended, at once as to
embody its original purpose in plain language,