The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-08
Grief From Too Many Governors.

| Grief From Too Many Governor
Between the acquisitive authorities OF
the three states after which it is named, the
! Missouri. Kansas and Texas railway seems
/ TO stand a pretty good chance to be dis
membered. Local jealousy is apparently
the chief cause. Blu. the reckless determi-
nation displayed in the conflict at present
bids fair to give the road but little chance
for existence.
Years Of active strife over the location of
the general offices of the road recently cul-
minated in the enactment Of laws in both
Kansas and Texas requiring all roads doing
business in those states to locate their gen.
eral offices within the state boundaries. Up
TO that time the much coveted offices were
located at the Missouri town Of Sedalia.
They are still there But tbs war over
them is waxing hot and the officials grow
anxious and more and more perplexed.
Since the governor of Kansas demanded
the removal Of the offices to that state under
the provisions of the new compelling statute
the governor of Missouri has checkmated
the movement by calling official attention
to the lately enacted Missouri law requiring
"every corporation. wherever or however
treated as existing, which owns, controls, or
operates a railroad Of $50 miles or more in
length in this state, and which railroad 10
this state was constructed under franchise
or charter granted by or derived from this
state, shall have its general Office for the
control, operation aud management OF such
railroad situated in this state, and on or
near the line Of the said railroad. At such
eR,a k1o he ~ ha
superintendent, general manager, traffic
manager, auditor treasurer and paymaster.
general freight agent and general ticket and
passenger agent"
Further the act provides that "any cor
| poration failing or refusing to obey or COM
ply with any of the provisions OF the fore
| going section for the period Of six months
shall be deemed and held to have forfeited
the charter of franchise granted by or de-
rived from this state. and shall be enjoined
from trensscting any business in this state"
While these rather exciting proceedings
are in progress Texas seems to be content
to hold off in the capacity Of deeply inter
ested spectator of the curious tussle.
such a contest is both foolishly grasping
and injurious TO the property. Manifestly the
road cannot obey three conflicting statutes.
So unreasonable demand will only serve
to relieve it Of the obligation to obey any of
them. No high court of equity could hold
a company responsible for the neglect to do
what was absolutely impossible. Nor could
such putative default be held as a reason
able cause for destroying the autonomy and
commercial value Of a great enterprise.
Really SO great road should be allowed
to locate it's general offices wherever they
can be placed for the best advantage of the
administration. fragrant discrimination
against any state might justly De prevented
or punished. But such arbitrary aud un-
reasonable demands upon railroads only
serve to harrass the management and in
jure the property.
Satisfying all Of these contrary demands
made upon the Missouri, Kansas and Texas
is absolutely impossible.
Meanwhile the road is in the hands of a
receiver whose principal business just now
appears to be receiving the mandates of the
various members of the triumvirate of in
exorable governors