The Globe-republican., 1889-10-23
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.


Questions Of the Interstate Commi.siom
Answered ny tho Kansas Railroad
hoard.
Topeka Kan. Oct 19.-rhe following
letter written BY the Board Of r. ilroad
commissioners to the s,atistican OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission. will be
interesting reading to those whose tusi-
ness brings them in contact with railroad
companies showing, as it does, the views
OF the Kansas board:
Henry C. Adams. ESQ. .,at;.,;c;,a y,,s--S,,,..
commerce Commission, Washington d. C.:
TOPEKA, Kan, Oct Il, 1889 Dear Sir: Your
Iettet OF september has been referred To the
BOARD OF commissioners and am directed To-
answer II as follows:
Inc Judgment Of the board is in accord with
the action OF the general conference O. the State
boards IN providing for practical uniformity
IN computation Of railway statistics in their
several reports, not from any comfy OF
omciai obligation. but believing it 20 be a CO.
operation ooth reasonable and profitable Such
uniformity. II is believed would result in great
convenience whenever comparison Of conditions
ana results might be found desirable or for
those VINO might desire, or he charged with the
duty OF compiling u consolidated repor: OF
portion. or of all the States as il becomes YOUR
DUTY TO do under the aus pices OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission
Inc board does nos understand however
~nat Is meant by you in saying that 1.-The most
eHectlve organization for statistical work is rot
attained when the State Comm ssons and the.
Interstate Commerce Commission adopt ;dent--
icaiiy the same schedules when YOU have
worked so strenuousIy and successfuiIv in
bringing about this very identicalnes- in form
ana ciassihca'ion OF schedules. upon blanks OF
your own deysiug
Answering your questions, as hereinafter re-
produced the board would say:
F1rst-"How fur is uniformity in the blank
form for annual reports OF carriers to the State
Commissions and the Interstate Commerce
Commission desrab,ey' To make comparison
OF like facts and results collated by the several
ooarus available for ready reference compar--
lson or consolidation in u report Of the Inter
state Commission, uniformity should be abso-
Lutte IN both ate and Inter-St tabulation of
all like facts. If co operation is desirable Mt
al! as aii nave 1T your instance agreed il was,
tnen IL must be in this absolute uniformity.
Second-"Does the form furnished this year
by the Inter State Commerce Commission meet
the requirements OF your State: III 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
Third-"Does the law Of your State interfere
In any way with the freedom OF your iryestiga--
tionsr 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 Inter State roads" 1t.
might be serviceable and certainly interesting
to have some company divide its records, ac-
counts and statistics into blocks. showing each -
State as unit, in all respects. but this would
be severe exaction upon the companies which
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 q 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
suggest themselves to you as worth
The question OF prime impor-
lance Is not SO much 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
they have by law created to serve
hem. To find some common plane o. interest
md sympathy for public and corporate inter
,Sts, which are SO closely allied as to be prac-
ically one to travel upon. The board is con-
trained TO look upon the question as one OF
wise statemenship rather than of elaborate
and that its statistical work and
which can be popularized, utilized, and made
Effective for immediate and benefit Of the
public.
I'm short, please give in your reply the result
If your thought and experience with regard 10.
he bearing OF statistics on the performance OF
he duties devolving upon railway commissions
md Of the proper adjustment OF the relations
,etween the State Commissions and the Inter
Stale Commerce Commission, SO far as
tatistics are concerned" AS to the final
question, the bard believes 1t 10 have
een substantially answered in the preceding
1t comedies the propriety of free
Interchange Of opinions and observation be
ween the several State boards and the Inter
state board, to the full extent of value in such
dvising relations. Also the uniform classih-
alton of al facts existing in common, to the
nd that the work Of each may be made access
ole to and easily understood by all the others
'ery truly yours, CHARLES S. ELLIOTT,