The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1891-01-21
,hoxin9 Il eminentlx sa,isfactorx.

q showing 10 eminently satisfactory. IN
biennial period covered by the report EN-
!, braces the last ten months of Captain job
81. Smiths wardenship. and fourteen month
Q Of the term OF Colonel George H. Case, tn
s present warden, who, with the valuable nj
{ OF Deputy Warden John Higgins and othe
I faithful subordinates, has fully mantaine,
the deservedly high standing Of the institu
1 ton as a model prison.
During the first year Of the biennial perio,
there was received In cash and paid into tn,
State treasury from contract labor, boardin,
United States prisoners, sales Of coal, ant
from other sources, the sum of Sl0s So l9
During the second year OF the period tn,
amount received in cash and paid into tn,
State treasury, from the same sources, va:
slO5, 25S. 10.
The expenses of the institution for the firs
OF these years exceed the cash receipts rs
above given by s6O,y.6.s2, and the expenses Of
the last year exceed the cash receipts by
S,32936
The total number of prisoners from the
various counties of the State i'll custody June
30 1888. was So. The number received during
the ensuing two years was 615; number dis
charged during the two years was ZOE. The
number in custody June 80. 1880, was NO On
| the LIST of January, 1851, there were $50 State
prisoners confined in the penitentiary; on
the lst of January. lsss, there were S.ss on the
| 10th OF June OF that year, there were So; on
January !, 1889. there were Sjl; and June 30,
| 1879, the number. as before stated. was SD.
| These figures indicate q slight falling off
| tendency in our State prison population since
| 1887. The board OF directors report the health
of the inmates, and every thing pertaining
to the institution, as in excellent condition.
| Railroads and Railroad Legislation.
The subject of State regulation of railroads
| is one of surprising Importance and never
| ending public solicitude. In respect to meth
DDS OF control, the commissioner system has
been demonstrated to be the most satisfac-
| tory, and has received the sanction of nearly
all the states of the Union. This system, au-
mnistercd by boards of mmissOners has
come to be regarded as necessary part OF
government. Such board has existed in
| this State since 1888 by predecessors have
spoken Of the work of this board in terms of
unqualified commentator, and it is believed
that careful review OF their labOrS can not
be otherwise than satisfactory.
During the last eight years OF the exist
encc of this board there have been built in
this State 5000 miles of railroad, and the
duties of the commission have been cOrre-
SpOndingiy increased. In the exercise of its
power the board has repeatedly required re-
auctions to be made in the rates of trans
portation charges, and an examination OF
the figures for the period covered by its ex-
istence can not be otherwise than interesting
and profitable \ comparison of the tonnage
OF 1888 with that of 1889 emphasizes the above
statement. In the former year the tonnage
OF all the roads operating in Kansas, accord
ing to the reports on file in the railroad COM
mssiOners' office, was H,SSl ,322 -. For the
year 1889, the tonnage of the roads in this
State was 2f,45a,ss, or nearly double the
tonnage OF the former year.
The earnings from the tonnage of 1888. ac-
cording to the same authority, were SI5, 49,
33l; for 1889 they were SJ6,9.O,G35, or only
twenty five per cent. greater than the re-
ceipts of the former year.
While it is doubtless true that the tendency
of transportation charges has been steadily |
downward, and that reductions in rates are
Il result OF consumption and q constantly in |
crcasing strife for business, as well as a re-
Spouse to the popular demand for cheaper |
service, yet it is also true that the existence |
of the commission has contributed in large |
degree to this result. |
The board has. by repeated orders. caused |
the abatement of determinations which had |
been long maintained upon the freight tar |
ifs and which, so long as they existed, pre-
vented the establishment, upon Il secure |
basis, OF commercial and manufacturing en-
terprises in any interior town in the State.
These discriminating tariffs were Il menace
to capital: their abatement is an invitation to
Its investment among us, and the creation of
more diversified industries
With view to promoting the efficiency of
the board, INVITE your attention to the ex-
pedlency of cOnferrin2 upon it, by apprOpri-
ate legislation, the power to require Joint
freight tariffs to be made over two or more /
railroads which connect with each other,
SO that continuous shipments may be made
over such connecting roads from one point
in Kansas to another IN the same state such
JOINT tariffs to prescribe rates not to exceed, |
beyond reasonable transfer charges single
and continuous rate for the same distance
by this means the business of this State |
" neither it be whOlesaing or manufacturing |
existing in any interior town in the State,
may be placed upon favorable footing so
Tar as transportation charges are concerned.
AZ IKE kinds of business originating i'm other
states and reaching the same points and des-
tination in this by single rate.
/ am further OF the opinion that. in addi-
ton to the penalties now provided by law for
neglect to comply with orders made by the
board. provision should be made for the
specific enforcement of its orders and the
egal effect of such orders should be defined.
For example: The findings and decisions of
he board respecting the rcaSOnabiencss of
my existing rates, which are the subject of
are made prima faeie evidence of
he reasonableneSs of the rates they pre-
hem But the law also authorizes the board
o make findings and decisions in numerous
,ther matters pertaining to the opera |
ion and management of railroads. such |
rs the enlargement increase of ter | :
ninal and depot facilities, the increase
IL Dettcrment of train service, repairs of
rack and the supply OF joint connecting
racks, etc. There is no law defining what
hall be the legal status of such orders. 1t is I
recommended that n speedy remedy for the {
enforcement of these orders should be pro-
'ided by statute in any case of refusal or | {
neglect to comply with them by any railroad i
and that in proceedings brought 8
or that purpose the findings and decisions 8
# the board should be made prima facie evil I
ence of the duty and obligation of the COM {
'any in respect to the matter decided.
In addition TO these recommendations for +
urther legislation in respect to the powers {
# the board. deem il eXpedient to call at $
ention to another provision, which, if en- +
cted, would increase its useful functions S
Il the transportation of goods and mer- +
handise over railroads, claims frequently 4
rise against carriers for damages occa- a
Toned by loss or injury to the goods en- !
QUITE. Where the goods are carried over f
wo or more roads, each road being inde- s