The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-06-19
THAT RAILROAD PLANK.

legislature. In so doing these Peoples
party politicians are banking, as usual,
upon keeping the people ignorant of the
true facts.
In the closing days of the last session
of the legislature the Alliance adopted
| in caucus what was called maximum
rate BILL" 1t was SO long that it was
never even read through in the house of
representatives. All discussion upon the
bill was limited to two hours. 1t con-
tanned extravaganza provisions which the
Republicans and The majority of Demo-
Gratis and some even of the Alliance
members themselves did not approve.
There was no time to study the bill and
ascertain what its effects would be and
the Alliance caucus decree permitted no
amendment. One thing seemed clear:
It failed TO specifically provide against
some of the worst evils of the present
system-such as the discrimination
against which The interior cities of KaE-
sas are now lighting; and in the opinion
of competent judges it would have left
lis as much as ever under the heel Of the
Missouri river jobhers, Unable to sup
port such a bill under such circum-
stances, yet earnestly desiring some
legislation on this question, tie Repub-
licans held conference ard unanimously
decided to support the bill prepared by
Mr.. Douglass OF Wichita.
This bill provided for the immediate
selection of temporary board Of COM
missioners, one to be chosen by the SEN
ate, one by the house and one by the
governor: and for the election Of a new
board by the people in 1892. 1t greatly
enlarged their powers and specifically
provided as follows:
The board of railroad commissioners
shall also have the power to prescribe
schedule Of reasonable maximum
charges for the transportation of freight
over the railroads of this state; said
rates so prescribed to be adjusted with
view to fair and equitable treatment of
shippers and producers and equal and
exact Justice to the railroad companies
affected thereby, having in view the
cost of construction. operation, present
value and earning capacity of said
roads"
One section of the bill also provided
specifically a remedy for the gross dis
elimination to which the wholesaling
interests of the cities in Kansas, west Of
the Missouri river, are now subjected.
The remedy provided was exactly the
one which the commissioners have since
sought to apply, and their power to do
which is now being contested in the
courts. But this bill, had it become
law. would have given the sanction of
the legislature in advance to the action
of the commission. A declaratory clause
attached to the section in question shows
well its scope and purpose:
''The true intent and meaning of this
section being to empower the said board
of commissioners to supply a remedy
for alleged discrimination against dealers
and consumers in Kansas, and to enable
buyers and shippers in Kansas to COM
pete for the trade and business of Kan
sas upon a footing of equality $50 far as
freight rates are concerned) with buyers
and shippers of the like commodity at
the most favored point in any other
state reached by said railroad company"
The bill also contained provisions for
the relief Of farmers and other shippers
from some of the special annoyances and
charges which, upon different
preteXts, are imposed upon them. This
bill, which was the one measure that
could have been intelligently adopted
and might have become a law, was sub
mitted by Mr.. Douglass on the Goth of
February, 1891, after an earnest speech |
in its favor. 1t received the unanimous |
vote of the Republicans, the vote of the
majority of the Democrats and even of |
two or three of the Alliance members.
But the majority of the Alliance, eau
and led by p. P. Elder, in
solid phalanx voted down this bill, not
that III the Judgment of
the most conservative Alliance members |
privately expressed twas a vastly better |
bill than the bill they voted for and af-
forded the one opportunity which sensi- |
BILE men saw to secure the legislation |
which was demanded by the people.
But King Caucus was omnipotent. |
The Douglass bill was voted down and a
bill was sent to the senate SO long and |
that no man in the /
house knew what it contained, that was |
in fact never read through in the house,
that got to the senate too late for sena-
tors even to find out what ii meant and |
which under the circumstances was
never expected TO become a law.
At the next session the Republicans
will take this business in hand 1t Will /.
then be settled and settled right. In the
let the Farmers Alliance /.
the responsibility for the fail
lre TO secure the needed railroad legis-
ation in 1891