The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-15
THEKANSAS NEOCRACY

AOllOW Iuc course III WHICH, IL las
been directed-pushing its financial meas
ures to the front and passing them. The
coming weeks will be somewhit varied b,
she introduction and discussion of th
pending railroad legislation. ANY mem
bers who spend this Sunday at home will
probably put up the cold Cash for far,
both ways while the railroad pass liei
neglected The railroads are Watching al
legislation closely, and the state senate is
also over-interested for some reason Of
0ther in the houses actor on railroad
rates. 1t is thonght by somethat the sen
ators, as an act of self-presrvation in q
political way, will take up with such leg
islation on the part of the louise and not
throw up the barrier that elists between
them on financial questions The senate
may also wish, it is not unjust to suppose,
90 impress the railroads with the import
ance of their concurrence q non-concur-
renee with the house plaIs, and their
power. 1t is denied by NEST Of the SEN
stors, however, that they sill have any
thing to do with the houses "highfalut-
ing' ideas on railroad rates
The senate's position tow.rds the finan-
cial turgidities of the Allialce is not doing
all the good that it is supposed. The lob
byists and visitors who ire feeling the
public pulse continually CAIN that it is
now impossible in the greaer part of Kan
sas to get new loan at al Eastern loan
companies are already alling IL their
money, stopping all new loans, and fore
closing old mortgages. Tieir agents write
them that there should b no fear, as the
Republican senate and governor stand be-
tween the Alliance houseand the statute
book. These loan compnies, ore after
another, write back, in 'eply, that that
may be all so now, but wat viii it be in
two years? Consequent! the state, it is
claimed, is drained of mney. Singularly
enough, the Alliance, recognizing it, dis
claims all blame for brindng on this state
Of affairs. They say that it was not the
Alliances success that gave rise to the
suspicion Of repndiatiOn,Dut the Repubii-
can newspapers that published such posi-
bilities before and after the election.
Everybody can draw an iIdividual opinion
of the weight of such flaim in a consid-
GRAFTON of the measures be Alliance house
1as already taken favorable action upon.
The actions and policy,f the Republican
members of the house hive been the sub
Ject of some warm comment. Whether it
is better TO butt your head obstinately
against an obdurate minority, or fall in
with tie crowd and kand a chance of
catching a few crumbs from the whole
bakery that is cast uponthe whole lot, is
question that has divihd that small but
active minorit in the house. Douglass,
particularly, has been accused of running
in "cahoots" with theAlliance. it is ap-
parent that his accuser have not thought
TO rather compliment bs tact and diplom-
acy, which would have been more becom-
ing of them. He, alon, of the Republican
members in the hous, has obligated the
Alliance to him. and the obligation is of
some weight; and, in return for what he
has done for them, tIere is a pro liability
that the Alliance will vote for the resub-
mission of the probbitory iqu or law,
which is one of Doughss' prime IN easures.
On the other hand, tlere are the lsepubli-
cans who do no blieve in vie lding an
inch, either for diplonacy's or obligations
sake. Icy do mt expect anything
from the Alliace, and, after
the course, they have taken, it
would be foolish to 10 so. It Isl nothing
more than question of policy. Douglass
believes that the pOtestations of the mi
nority are campaign ''yawping," and Mr..
Douglass enemies re just as sure that
Douglass behavior is trucking. What
iver may be said against him, nobod y will
leny that whatever Douglass does has
always the stam of sincerity, which
alone would suflic for any such criticisms
as the above Hfwever, if Douglass is
pleasing his constituency. as it is clai med,
md Mr.. Reeder, Who holds just the Oppo-
iite opinion on tie matter, pleases is, it
s a question of PERSONAL policy, and one
with which the public should have little
30 do.
The railroad legislation will he cent cred
n one bill The committee on railr Dads
las introduced his as a substitute for
bill rhe following is the sub
stance of the bill;
The committe bill will reduce FIRE light
'ates percent The railroad comps mics /
leclare that it will reduce them 40 per
,ent or per cint less than the Iowa rate. |
The first section of the bill provides that |
he railroad company shall be limite TO /
he maximum charges provided for ini the |
and classiiieS the railroad IN I
he state into ihree divisions, as follows:
Glass A-Rads with gross annual earn |
ngs of 81, ,000Or more per mile.
Glass B-R1ads with gross annual earn |
ngs between$3, 600 and 81. 600
Class C-R9adS with gross aanual ea rn- |
ngs less than So, 600 per mile
For the purpose of this act. Kansas is /
ivided into ihree districts as follows:
First dlstrct-The counties Of Nemiha, /
acksou, Shawnee, Usage, Cotfey Wood |
on, Wilson aud Montgomery, and all |
ounties lying east of them.
Second district-All counties west of /
hose included in the First district to and 1
The counties of Smith, Osborne. /
russell, Barton, Stafford, Pratt and Bar
er
Third d'strict-Al counties west of the
econd district.
The SIKH section of the bill ms,kes il the |
uty of the railroad commis>io to |
erve notice on the railroads prior 10 April |
1891, Of the provisions of the, bill and |
roceed TO classify them.
Section permits the railroad companies .
0 tile protest against the charges fixed 1
nj try their cases before tn railroad
ommiSSloners 10 determine W neither the |
ates fixed are unjust.
Section imposes fine of not less than /
5000 nor more than $4,000 for every fail /
re GU the the part of a rallroa Q company
D observe the rate fixed Ii his fine is I
OF paid within thirty days the charter of /
ne Offending company 10 do business in /
he state Will be revoked. The various /
Dads in the state are 70 he G Gssited the /
rst Tuesday in April of each gear The 1
iaNimum rates 10 be establish led must be
adjusted as TO prevent an prohibit a
reater charge being made Cor short
aul than Tor a long one.
Section IA OF the bill virtually trans
orms the board of ra lroad commission
RS into court of justice. ma king provis-
rms for suhpenaing witness, - aud fining
or contempt, aS in district courts. Wit
eSses before the commissioners are TO re-
GIVE cents per mile for mile age.
section ID contains the maxi mum freight
ate schedule. The board of commission
r. is required to publish Aug. 1 of each
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