Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-10-20

Branch railroad, and those ATTORNEYS
brought an action, in conjunction with
the Attorney General, to compel a count
and a declaration of the result of the
election according to the returns; but
While the action was pending the owners
Of the Kansas Pacific and Solomon roads
bought the Central Branch, and the at
torneys being unable to act anv longer
in the case, notified the farmers to get
other attorneys. The farmers being I'M
able to raise any more money did not
hire other attorneys, and the case was
dismissed.
In the mean time the road was built
to Beloit, and the railroad com pany was
clamoring for the bonds, and as Beloit
city had voted bonds to be given the
railroad company in case the company
did not succeed in getting the county
bonds, the people of Belcit were natur-
ally very anxious to have the railroad
company get its pay from the county,
as the city's proportion OF the county
bonds would be much less than the
city had voted. Then it was that Mr..
Ellis commenced the bond contest case
IN the district court, which was finally
decided in favor of the county, and
saved us about fifty thousand dollars, and
that, too, without injuring Beloit, for it
was afterwards discovered that the vot-
ing OF bonds by the city was Illegal.
For his services he never asked or re-
ceived one cent. The county commits
sioners voted him 5000, and he took the
script to the county treasurer, Endorsed
it Donated to Mitchell county," signed
his name to it, and gave it to the county
treasurer, and although that was nearly
thirteen years ago this is the first time
the fact has ever appeared IN print.
The farmers of the county had given
lot Of notes to W. G. Ingram, as trustee,
to pay attorney fees and expenses in the
case, and Mr.. Ellis directed Mr.. Ingram
to give them up their notes which he
did.
Every one in the county in those DAYS
knows he could have made lots of money
to have let the case go by default, and
everyone Lnows he didn't do it.
In making this statement it is not in
tended to underyalue the work of Levi
Cooper and Clark A. Smith, both of
whom rendered important services to
the people in that contest. The fight,
however, was undertaken by Mr.. Ellis
alone, and in the contest case he was the
only attorney of record, although he
freely acknowledges that he received aid
from the two gentlemen just named, and
from Mr.. Cooper especially, and to the
latter gentleman, then county attorney, |
is fairly attributable The credit Of having |
we'll fulfilled his duty.
Any populist who desires to ascertain |
whether these statements are strictly |
true can do so by writing Hon. J. S. |
McGrath, who is now a popuIist, and |
member OF the board Of regents of the |
state normal school. His address is
Beloit. No permission has been obtain
I'd to refer to him, but he knows all the
acts in the case.
But this is not all Of Mr.. Ellis rail-
'oad record.
When the present railroad commits
'ioner law Of Kansas went into effect the |
reight rates in western Kansas were
much higher in proportion than they
we're IN the eastern part OF the state,
nd to secure reduction Mr.. Ellis pro-
'ured the com mon counsel Of this city
o make complaint against both the rail-
Dads then doing business here, and
Without any compensation whatever he
those two cases, and secured
victory the fruits of which every far
ner in Western Kansas has been eniov-
ne ever since. In that contest Mr..
ellis went once to Atchison and three
ines to Topeka, paying his own ex-
lenses, and, single handed, conduct the
ght for the people, against such legal
ghts as Everest q Waggener, Judge
Jsher, and e8-Goy John @. B own, OF
It. Louis.
We cannot do better than to quote
rom the record in regard to the pro-
ress OF these Eeloit cases, which were
he first cases ever commenced under
he present law, and were bitterly con-
ested, for they were justly styled test
asses. AS the flies in the case show,
Il. Ellis secured orders from the board /,
equiring the railroads to make a com
lee showing Of their business, so that !
ne whole facts were il evidence at the !
me of the decision. II
In the reroet OF these cases, in the {,
.eport OF Railnoad Com nlissione Is for
882, at page II, occurs the following:
''The first com olaint charging that
be rates foe freight were excessive and
Dreasoaa5le came from Beloit. The ,
ompiaints affected the Missouri Pacific, +,
enCial Branch, and the Union Pacific |
Dads. Repeated delays were experience I
4 in prosecuting the investigation Of I
lese complaints, which at the time !
ere unavoidable. The compIainants :
e. industriousiy and iateIiyentlv as !
sted by Mr.. a. II. Ellis, who appeared :
3 their attorney. At the time and :,
lace OF the Il st meeting to examine :
ito these com plants, the chief officers J
the representative roads, who had J
cen suUpenaed, appeared, but it was :
zen disclosed that the records, from =
hlch the chief evidence must come, =
ere not under the keeping aud control !
these officers, but were kept at the :
7nefal offices, beyond the limits Of the
ale. To insure accuracy aad creditude,