The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-08-03
THE RATE QUESTION
Plain Language From senator Bentie!
on Railway Legislation.

To the Electors of the Twenty-nine Senatorial
district:
The convention which honored me
with a nomination for state senator in
this district was held this year about
sixty days earlier than usual. For that
reason I have said nothing upon the
issues of the pending campaign, as the
Republicans of this county have not yet
begun their canvass. A decent respect
for the opinions of my friends,the bust
ness men of this city and county, and
citizens generally, impeis me to define
my position and make the following
statement:
When went to the last session OF the
legislature carried in my pocket let
ter signed by the secretary of the board
of trade of this city, which letter pur-
ported to echo the sentiments of the
business mer of this community. 1t
said in substance that extreme ieglsla-
ton might be expected, as the house OF
representatives was Alliance. 1t asked
for conservative action on my part. Lie
said in substance, let the railroads, banks,
loan companies, interest laws, etc., alone.
The same letter in substance was given
to the Hon. George L. Douglass. To
the best Of my ability, being there IN a
purely representative capacity, l carried
out the sentiment of the business men OF
this city and country. Late IN the ses-
sion, house bill No. 743, known as the
maximum railroad rate bill, was mes
saged to the senate. This bill has been
lately referred to. 1t has been discussed
at great length, by men who never saw
,, the bill. and have no conception OF Its
contents. After careful consideration,
by the railway committee of the senate,
the chairman of that committee, one OF
the most practical farmers of Kansas, re-
ported against the bill If their report
had been otherwise, would in any event,
have voted against the bill. And Tor
many reasons, among others, the bill
classified all the railways of Kansas
upon the basis Of earnings, the
idea being to allow the weakest
roads TO charge the highest rates.
The bill lowered all of the long and in.
creased all of the short hauls. The bill
| was drawn in interest of Kansas City,
Mo-. as glance at its contents Will
show. 1t would have wiped the stock
| industry of Wichita from the face OF the
earth. The bill, III short, divided the
railroads of Kansas into classes a, b, and
C. Take for example the main line OF
the Santn Fe as class a, the line from
| t1G Ill oto
Wichita and Western as class C. By the
terms of the bill 100 was fixed as max
| imum, the rate was fixed on the per tor
per mile plan. Class a, railway could
charge 80 per cent of maximum
class b, 100 per cont OF a maximum
class C, no per cent of maximum
Wichita would have several classes OF
railways under this bill. Glass Frisco
and Rock Island; class b, Santa Fe anc
| Missouri Pacific. class c, Wichita anc
Western and Kiowa branch of the Ms
souri, Pacific. Wichita then would be {
| junction of strong and weak lines
At such point the law o.
competition, would force rates on all II
the lowest, or drive all but the rich ROAD
with the low rate, out Of business. No
only would this he true at junction
points, but at all stations on parable
lines close enough for common traffic
to elect its line. On this theory towr
on the main line of the Santa Fe, would
have ten per cent. per ton per mile, ad
vantage ON all freight over this city, ant
20 per cent per ton per mile over King
man. Where would this place the stool
industry of this city or the salt industr,
of Kingman? So glaring are the ab
surdities OF this bill that Mr.. Dougla
voted against it in the house, and offere
a substitute so fair in its terms, that
the substitute had passed the hosse, i
all human probability would hav
passed the senate. 1t would have re
ceived my vote But the Douglas sui
stitute failed in the house. A careful
examination of house bill No. TAB show
the fol lowing:
| ADVANCES IN RATES ON LIVE STOCK FRO