Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-10-24

R0eS 4ND SNS"|ns
&uessss.s q che Interstate conns-.so.
4 Ansv<rs4 By the Kansas R.ilre.d
Board.
ToPKKA Kan, Oct. 19-fhe following
letter written by the Board OF Railroad
Commissioners to the sfafisflczn OF the
Interstate Commerce Commission viii be
interesting reading 10 those whose Dusi-
ness brings them in contact with railroad
companies. showing. as it does, the views
-ex-ehs kansas board:
Henry C. -zdnn.s Es1 yaxiaics1a Izt<r-sfate
SoMn~c< cSD1ai<sioa. Hashi1gton D. c.
iofEkA Kan. Oc- Il. Is59-Dezr S-r- Your
.etISi OF september has been referred 20 tt
answer Il - follors-
Inc Judgment OF the board is in accord with
~ -S-1o1 =. lne general conference OF tie State
. ooAIo.- In p1osidinE for practical uniformity
Ia comP1saticn OF railway statistics in their
several reports. from .rx comfy Of
cncizi obligation but believing n co be = CO.
operation both reasonable and proe..bie Such
un-IolHIIs- ~ Is oeAesed- would result in great
convenience whenever comparison OF eo1dSioas
and results might be found desirable A. so-
those who might desire. or be charzed xfts the
duty Of compiling consolidated report Of a
portion On OF al the States. IL becornex>-our
duty 70 do under the auspices Of the IaterlSsate
Commerce Commission
The board does not understand hoAerer
what Is meant oy You in saying that the most
attained when the State Comm ssious and The
Interstate Commerce Commission adopt sdenf-
ica-lJ the same schedules when yuu have
worked so s.reuuoussy and successfully IN
bringing about this very icenficaIness. IN form
and Classification OF schedules. upon blanks OF
your own ccvising
Answering your Q1estioas as hereinafter re-
produced the board would say:
FirsiN-HoE Ear Is uniformity in the blank
form fog annual reports OF carriers to the State
AID he Int At
Commission desirabieF' To make comparison
OF like facts and results colIafed BY the several
boards available for ready reference. compar-
ison o. consolidation in report OF the Inser-
State Commission. uniformity should be abso-
lutte n both ate and Interstate Ia5uiaIion OF
All IKE facts II CO operation is desirable a.
Al as all have q; your Instance agreed Il was.
lnen II must De IN this absolute uniformity
oecolc--Does the form furnished this year
D. the Inter State Commerce Commission meet
tne requirements OF your State: III cot point
out the Particulars In which n falls Yes. the
present form meets The requirements of our
State and = Substantially the same a. hereto
fore used
Tnirc-..Does the Law OF your State interfere
IN any way with the freedom OF your iurestiga-
tions:- No The law does not dictate nor
limit the fed OF investigation The board Is
left with full freedom and discretion
Fourth--Would you think il wise. for pur-
poses OF statistical inquiry. to separate roads
into State roads and Interstate roads, Il
TO have some company divide its records. acs
counts and statistics into blocks showing each
State as q unii IN all respects but this would
be . severe cKaction 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 = division
the board would be pleased TO accept reports
from companies OF this State made il compli-
sLce with such eIaction-
What o1estions OF importance in railway
economy suggest themselves 10 You Is worth
ilyest5gating- The question OF prime imeot
tance IS not much statistical showing OF
what we have a. the practical application OF
common sense n correcting the abuses and
healing The differences which have aYisen in
the relations Of tie people and tie carrying
eorporafio they have by Law created 70 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-
ticziiy one to travel upon The board Is con-
strained 10 look upon the question one OF
wise statemenship rather than OF elaborate
Statistics and that its statistical work and
Celebrations should begin and end with that
which DC popularized. utilized, and made
effective Tor immediate use and benefit Of The
public
In short please give in your reply the result
OF your thought and experience with regar; to
the bearing OF statistics On the performance Of
the duties cevoIsIng upon railway commissions
and of The proper adjustment OF The relations
between the State Commissions ana the Inter
Stale Commerce Commission far As
statistics are concerned" As 10 the final
question. the blard believes Il 10 have
been substantially answered IN the preceding
paragraphs II comedies the proprle.y Of = free
interchange OF opinions and observation be
tween the several Stale boards and The Inter
State board the full extent OF value N such
advising relations Also the uniform cizski6-
cation OF al facts existing in common, 10 the
end that the work OF each may Be made access
fble to and easily understood by all The others
VERY truly yours- CHARLES ) ELLIOTT.
Secretary