The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-01

\ gail us. anu De an Independents Sldlc II
fact, as in theory, is the question tina
confronts us and has confronted us since
the south and west of Kansas became
open to settlement.
The fact that the Missouri river towns
from habit. have learned to complacent
ly lick the hands that smite them a!
hunting hounds: that as spaniels they
fawn on their master, and disgust hin
by their serviie obsequlousnesS; that OBJ
serving that their commercial prosperity
is now bound up in the future of Kansas
City, No.. that the righteous deprivation
of Kansas City of certain privileges en-
joyed in years gone by means prosperity
to the rest of Kansas, and some
loss to them in consequences, thif
and all this may cause unkind and
unpleasant remarks to all that part OF
Kansas that takes up the cudgel in be
half of Kansas as against the ''fungu:
growth" on our eastern border. If oul
legislature does any act that wounds the
Missouri lion, you will hear a howl from
every whelp ON the Missouri river in
Kansas. And yee to infiict wound on
Kansas City is the only way that Kansas
jobbers, shippers and producers will evel
get their just rights
We can submit forever or we can
fight and conquer, or fight and be de-
| feated. The end we aim at is worthy a
struggle, worthy our united, earnest
effort. worthy the labor of the intelli-
gent brain of Kansas; and if we succeed
the state is not only richer by it, but it is
then an independent state; instead of a
railway mendicant, begging for its own
| from the robber that impudently claims
ownership because of our long, long
delay.
Trespassers in profusion gain property
by the statutes of limitation, and the
years of our delay in demanding rights
has given some cOuntenance 10 the claims
of Kansas City to fix our railway rates;
which claims would never have been
made il Kansas had, years ago, stub
bornly and manufuliy contended for its
rights. Our labor is harder by reason Of
the supineness of the early Kansas towns
in submitting to robbery without pro-
test, and asking as favor that which
| they should have demanded as right.
The writer hereof is not a shipper or
producer, yet as private citizen he
hopes that the business interests of Fort
Scott, Pittsburg, Newton, Arkansas
City, Fmporia, Salina, Concordia. Beloit,
Hutchinson, Mcpherson and Garden City
and adjacent cities will see that it
is to the interest of Kansas
as a state entirely to get freight rates
made for its benefit, instead of for ST..
Joseph and Kansas City and their Kan
sas vassals. Each years delay makes
the situation worse.
For the first time in the history Of
Kansas, many feel that Kansas has
much to hope for, if we go to work
boldly and courageously. They want
but simple justice.
Will Kansans who are truly kansans
assist in the work and help the admin
istratiol to act intelligently and wisely ?
sECOND-FIvE RAILROAD COMMISSIONERS.
The present railway commission con-
sists of three men, who may be chosen
from any part of the state, and yet ter
ritory large enough to make two states
has never had commissioner. There is
wrong somewhere, and without pass
ing on the question of the kind of a law
as 20 rates that should be passed, after
the legislature possesses itself of the data
to act, wisely-we believe that the repeal
of the present law creating three COM
missioners, and the enactment of Il law
creating five commissioners will be a
wise act. We know by observation that
an officer directly responsible to some
part OF the state, works for his constitu-
ents. Therefore, if we can have railway
commissioners selected from different
parts of the state, each part will at least
stand IN even show for its rights.
Therefore we urge on the next admin
istration the passage of Il law creating
board of Railway commissioners to con-
sist of five men, one commissioner to be
selected from each of five commissioner
districts and each commissioner to be a
resident of his district during his term
of office, and if he removes therefrom
the office to be vacant. These districts
should follow railroad lines to the end
that each commissioner should have a
line or lines of railway under his special
control. And it should be made the
duty of each commissioner to receive
complaints from town and city shippers
and producers in his district and lay the
same before the railway board, thereby
providing for an easy and speedy way to
get complaints heard by the entire board.
Each commissioner would have duty
TO perform in getting complaint taken
UP and promptly disposed of and would
have an interest in assisting the people
of his district to obtain fair treatment at
the hands of the board as well as the
railroad companies.
We suggest that the first district be
composed of the following territory. viz:
Commencing at northeast corner of
Kansas, and run west to northeast cor
ner of Republic county, thence south to
southwest corner of Dickinson county,
thence east following county lines and
making following counties the south tier
of the First district, viz: Dickinson,
Morris, Wabansee, Usage, Franklin and
Mama. thence north to beginning
The second, of all that part of Kansas
lying east of Sumner, Sedgwick, Harvey
and Mcpherson and south of the first
district.
The third district all that part of Kan
sas bounded as follows: Commence on
territory line between Cowley and Sum-
ner and run north to northeast corner of
Harvey, then west following county
lines on north line of following counties:
Harvey. Reno. Stafford, Pawnee, Hodge
man, Garfield, Finney, kearney, and
Hamilton, south TO state line, east TO be-
ginning.
The fourth, all that part of Kansas
commencing at northeast corner Repub-
lie, then south to northeast corner Sa-
line. then west to Lincoln, south to Els
worth, west to Russell. north to Osborne,
west to west line OF state.
The fifth, all that part of Kansas ly-
iny west of the first and south of the
fourth district and north of the third
By this kind of railway commission
districts the fha first district