Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-10-24
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.

Questions of the Interstate Commission
Answered BY the Kansas Railroad
Board.
TOPEKA. Kan, Oct. lathe following
letter written by the Board of Railroad
Commissioners to the statistican of the
Interstate Commerce Commission, will be
interesting reading to those whose busi-
ness brings them in contact with railroad
companies, showing, as it does, the views
of the Kansas board:
Henry c. Adams Esq, Satistjeida Interstate
Commerce Commission, Washington, D. c.:
TOPEKA Kan, Oct Il, 1889 Dear Sir: Your
letter OF September , has been referred to the
Board of Commissioners and am directed to
answer it as follows:
The judgment OF the board is 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
Official obligation, but believing it to be CO
| operation both reasonable and profitable. Such
uniformity, II is believed, would result in great
convenience whenever comparison OF condltlons
and results might be found desirable, or Tor
those who might desire, or be charged with the
duty Of compiling a consolidated report OF
portion. or OF all the States, it 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 1.-The most
effective organization for statistical work is not
attained when the State Comm sslons and the
Interstate Commerce Commission adopt ident-
! cally 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 deviSiug
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 desirableF' To make comparison
OF like facts and results collated by the several
boards available for ready reference, compar-
ison or consolidation in q report OF the Inter
State Commission, uniformity should be abso-
| lutte in both ate and Interstate tabulatiOn Of
all like facts. If CO operation is desirable at
all, as all have at 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 State? 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.
Third-"Does the law OF your State interfere
| IN any way with the freedom of your investiga-
| tions:' 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 roads, 1t
| might be serviceable and certainly interesting,
| to have some company divide its records, &C
| counts and statistics into blocks. showing each
| State as unit, in all respects, but this would
| be a severe cXactiOn upon the companies which
| has thus far been deemed by the board as cost
I fha Into
| State Commerce Commission has the power
and the disposition to enforce such division
| the board would be pleased TO accept reports
| from companies OF this State made in compli-
I ance with such eXaction.
! What questions OF Importance in railway
/ economy suggest themselves to you as worth
| investigating" The question OF prime impo<-
! lance is not so much n statistical showing OF
what we have Us 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 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 benefit Of the
public.
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 propricty Of 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 classif-
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 ). ELLIOTT,
| Secretary