Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-11-26
Ml.. LEwELLINas VIEWS.

The Kansas City Journal oil las
Friday contains an interview will
Governor Elect Lewelling which con
tains several points of general interest
When asked to express himself con
corning the dispatch to Eastern pa
, pers that by inaction he would permit
the return Of the saloon, in accordance
with pledge made to The convention
that nominated him, Mr.. Lewclline
replied that, so far as the pledge goes
he had never made one. There Is M
TRUTH" said he, ain this talk about
pledges. have hamprred myself Ia
no way. As yet no policy has been
outlined for any department Of the
state government or in any relation
whatever; and therefore the report
that laws will he nullitied is without
foundation. In the choice of hoard
of railway commissioners l shall have,
OF course, only one voice on the exec
uiive council, but shall certainly be
in favor of able and conservative men.
We have no disposition to injure cor
porations; all we shall demand OF
them is justice and equity. l think
the board should he made up Of men
broad minded. capable aud conscien-
tious. The offices OF commissioners
are the most important in the state
and due care will he given to the cleo.
ton of servants. notwithstanding The
fact that the railroads were arrayed
against us during the recent cam
paign, they will receive from us fair
and equitable treatment. They will
not be dealt with IN a spirit of retalia-
ton; but we shall insist upon our
rights. 1t is the opinion Of our people
that numerous railway corporations
took desperate hand against In the
late contest"
swell, talking about railroads, will
there be any legislation next winter in
relation to freight raies3"
Undoubtedly some will be de.
manded."
"In what direction ?"
"The people will probably demand
a maximum rate bill similar 10 the
one passed by the lower house two
years ago: or in place Of that they
may ask for the creation OF Il COM
mission with power to fix rates. Some
favor both, while others think that
commission to fix rates is enough, AS
it could and probably would nullify
the tariff prescribed by such bill. l
incline to this view myself"
"Would YOU have the commissioners
elected or appointed 2"
"rhe people seem to feel that the
commissioners should be elected, aud
/ believe the people can he trusted"
"What freight rate IN particular do
the people complain OFF,
"a comparison of the tariffs in force
in Iowa and other states with those IN
use in Kansas will show you that on
many articles OF shipment we pay ex'
orbitant rates. This is particularly
true of coal"
Mr.. Lewelling was asked whether
all the attention of the legislature
would be given TO the railroads, and
he prefaced negative answer by say
ing that the common impression that
the legislature intends TO upturh
everything is wholly out of reason.
The peoples party is willing, he said,
10 stand on the record il made IN the
last house. Some extravagant propo'
si,ions were advanced, of course, just
as is the ease in any body, but the
house is to he estimated by the meas.
ures it puts through. None were dan
gerOus.
1--WE shall probably" he resumed,
:'do something to relievethe miners by
the passage OF a screen law and by eS
tablishing q weighing system similar
to that in Missouri. The screening
system prevailing in this state Is a
robbery, aud the practice OF payih:
the miners in due checks and thus
commanding their trade is wrong.
eve shall also probably try 10 in
trodure the Australian system of bal
loting, or some modification Of 1t. We
tried this two years ago, but the re-
publican senate prevented.
"As 10 the rate OF interest, l do not
think anything will be done In that
direction, unless it should he done to
lower the maximum rate. Not much
fault is found with tho minimum rate.
ave shall also try 10 pass u school
book law, so that the state will either
publish the books and sell them at
cost or furnish them in some other
way. At present work of fiction or
history can be purchased for 70 cents,
but school hook of the same size aud
STYLE costs $125. The school book
trust works great hardship to the
people and it must be broken"
swell, will you do anything for the
farmer?"
"For the farmer we shall try to
make some provision whereby he can
redeem property sold under foreclos-
ure-sOme such law as they have In
,,ost ~ tho Eaafarn efAtoR"