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

To the Editor of the Eagle.
In a former article, under the above
heading, the statement was made that
thorough knowledge of a subject was the
first requisite to intelligent legislation.
There is no assumption that any fact re-
gardipg this great field is established.
AS set out in that article 4 legislative iu-
quiry and report may make such dis
closures as may enable one after a study
thereof to find the root of the evil, if
any, and apply the remedy; or if no evil
exists we can then more patiently bear
the burden that seems to press on the
necks of our producers and shippers.
1t is asserted that the complaints of
people are met with shrugs and sneers,
that we are gravely informed that we
are mere novices and can not under stand
the railway problem. that we know not
what we ask that as we are bereft of I'M
Outstanding. argument is unnecessary;
hence we must from unwilling lips and
reluctant witnesses gain knowledge and
understanding and after that, legislate.
The object OF this article is not to ar
ray one class against another, bat it is to
subject concerning which all political
parties are pledged to legislate.
The legislation we undertake must
from our situation. condition, population
and traffic he in its nature partially ex-
perimental-but no more experimental
than the United States interstate COM
merce act. If railways complain that
we should not experiment the frank
-. ,,aIa sl,r Of LODI s.. 10
result of experiment, and without it,
there has never been any advancement
or progress in science, or business.
assert that whilst the legislation of
other states NAV be guide to our legis-
lature the effect OF it on other states does
not establish that the evil results thereof
would be an evil in Kansas. And bene-
fetal legislation for another state NAV
be injurious TO Us. Though this may
meet with railway 'horse laugh" we
stand on the proposition that Kansas is
an empire in itself. and that we need
laws applicable to our condition and sit
uation. The laws of other states are
only guideboards-we can so the way
the hand points or we may disregard it
| and reach our destination By another
route. We intend to treat this subject
Wiatit we DtllGNt 10 Tie bt1St hdESds
! standpoint, and If we are wrong we will
be corrected, if right our people will
recognize that we have stumbled on
truth.
First: The immensely of local traffic
of the eastern states proves that their
laws cannot apply TO US.
| The long haul ia Texas local freight
proves that their situation Is not as ours.
The fact that Omaha, the Kansas City
of Nebraska, lies on the west of Iowa
deprives the argument of its force as to
| an Iowa law for Kansas people
The fact that Missouri has st. Louis
on the east. ST Joseph and Kansas City
| on the west, is evidence that Missouri
| legislation is not applicable to Kansas.
| IL Omaha was in Iowa, then Kansas and
| Nebraska's situation would he. in a
measure, the same. IL Kansas City was
in Kansas. the legislation we demand
would be altogether different than that
which our situation and condition now
demands for our shippers and producers:
hence we assert that Kansas has a
problem Of Its own TO solve, and its
solution contains our future.
Whether we are 10 remain SIS an I'M