Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1894-04-11
ToPEkALETIER.
TOPEKA. KANs., April 9th

TOPEKA. KANS., April 9th 1894.
For many years the transportation
question has been one of SURPRISING
Importance to the people of Kansas.
The question has been discussed by
men of all shades of opinions; newspa-
pers have been furnished with articles
calling attention to the unjustness of
the existing freight rates and legisla-
lures have been petltiOned for redress.
The legislature IN 1853 enacted the
present railroad law, creating d board
of railroad commissioners and confer
ring upon them certain powers. For
time after the passage Of this law pub
lie feeling was allayed to a very large
extent. Later, the people discovered
that, either on account of the lameness
of the law or the inefficiency of the rail
road commissioners no relief was af
forded. Again the agitation of the
question was renewed with vigOr, and
since that time hardly platform has
been adopted by either of the political
parties in the state that did not contain
a plank demanding railroad legislation
and reduction in freight rates. In
campaign of 1880 this agitation culmi-
mated in electing large majority to the
lower house of men pledged to radical
reform on this question, and as the re-
suit the populist house passed what is
known as the maximum freight rate
bill. This bill was defeated by the re-
publican senate which left the matter
still undecided. In the campaign of
1892 the question was again brought
before the people. The platforms OF
both political parties incorporated Wig
orOuS resolutions favOriDg railroad leg
islation. In obedience to these de-
mands the DOpulist senate in 1898 pas
sed the maximum freight rate bill. but
1t failed to be considered by the repub.
lican house and the result was, the leg
islature adjourned without having
affected any reform on this question.
1t has been the aim and determine
ton of the present state officials to re.
deem every promise made to the people
so far as lay in their power, and true to
their pledges, the present board of
railroad commissioners has been zeal
ously at work for months on the detail
work of formulating Il just and equita
BILE schedule or tariff freight rate sheet
for the entire state of Kansas. They
have progressed far enough so that 1T is
safe to say that should the schedule as
contemplated be put into effect it Will
save to the people of Kansas, on ba
Sis of last years business, several mil
lion dollars. 1t is their earnest desire
to treat all interests involved with eX
act and even justice. After full and
patient investigation of this Impor
tant problem they have decided TO take
action in accordance with section eIgh
teen of the railroads commissioners act
of SO, which will put the farmers, stock
shippers, and the merchants in the
small interior towns on an equal basis
with the larger ones.
The board is to be congratulated for
the care and energy exercised in this
work. They took sufficient time after
being installed into office to fully ac-
quaint themselves with the duties per-
tanning thereto and have proceeded in
this matter conscientiously as they be-
lieve to be their duty and their actions
Will be approved and appreciated by a
long suffering people regardless of past
or present political affiliations.
J. NJ. p.