The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-18
The FIGHT is ON
To Force the Railroads to Make
Lower Rates.
Speeches Heard by the Railroad
Commissioners Today.
LEEDY'S HOT WORDS.
Semi-POliticaI Address Made by
Populist Solon,
Giving His Reasons Why Rates
Should Come Down.

The traffic managers and representa-
tives of the various railroads in Kansas
are before the board of railroad com
missioners today.
They are here in response to circular
issued by the commissioners requesting
their presence to confer relative to a re
adjustment of all freight rates.
The board has received numerous
petitions from various parts of the state
asking for lower freight rates and it was
in response to the petitions that the
roads have been asked to be represented
before the board today.
State Senator Leedy of Coffey county
is the principal representative OF the Pc
titioners He is prepared to show that
freight rates are edisproportionately high.
Ex-Gov. Chas Robinson has been invited
by Gov. Lewelling to be present, and he
will also appear in behalf of the peti-
tioners. Gen. Bradshaw of Topeka will
also have something to say. Brigadier
General Sears of the Kansas national
guard is evincing much interest in the
conference
At this mornings session many repre-
sentatives of the roads had failed to ar
rive, and Judge Kelso of the Missouri
Pacific asked that the hearing be ad-
journed to 2 p. M.
Senator Leedy said he would not OBJ
ject, but he opened up and made a rous-
ing speech against the freight rates now
among all classes" said he, s.that freight
rates are too high. Many people also
complain that the companies make bet
ter rates to Texas and western points
than to points in Kansas. People who
live on lines removed from competing
points feel that they are not given a fair
chance. 1t seems to me that, for some
reason, the grain men at competing
points have an inside edge on the rate.
II tried to buy grain myself in the lit
tie town in which live and found my
self forced to sell to the grain men at
the competing points. The rates were
SO high l could not ship"
Senator Leedy then took up the money
question.
1--WE have adopted different stand
ard of money" he said. ''The money men
tell us that it is best for US and that our
dollar will purchase more, and if that is
true our dollar ought to buy
more freight but there is no difference
in the rate than before the new system
was adopted
.'The bonds of the railroad companies
are made payable in gold and they are
largely responsible for the condition of
things as they now exist"
He then took up the question from a
political stand point. He said that all
the platforms of all political parties de-
clared in favor of lower freight rates.
AT the close of Senator Leedy's speech
an adjournment was taken to 2 D. m.
The railroads are represented as fol-
lows: J. c. Lincoln, assistant general
freight agent Missouri Pacific; John A.
Sargent, assistant general freight agent
Kansas City, Ft: Scott & Memphis; A. T.
Drew, general freight agent M. l.. 81 I.
E. H. Wood, assistant freight agent
Union Pacific; F. n. Sedgwick, attorney
for NJ. K. & T.; n. II. Loomis. attorney
for Union Pacific; Judge Kelso, attorney
for Missouri Pacific; e. r. Hudson, as
G.
S. F.
Afternoon Session.
When the board of railroad commits
sioners met at p. M, Hon. Bailey p.
| Waggener, attorney for the Missouri
Pacific. asked whether a rate schedule
had been prepared by the board and
whether there were any specific charges
of unjust freight rates.
| The board then conferred and the
chairman, Mr.. Vincent said that the
board had called the traffic managers to-
gether to consider the matters contained
in the petitions.
GAS look at these PETITIONS con-
tinued Mr.. Waggener "they appear
to have all been written on the
same typewriter, and no doubt by the
same man. Do you know that the rail
roads are not making money; that three
| of our large systems are in the hands OF
receivers, and by this political move
ment, for that is what it is, you propose
| to confiscate the property of the railroad
companies? You do not give us the
time allowed before a justice of the
peace in $40 case, and you evidently
| propose to readjust the entire freight
| traffic in Kansas
Mr.. Waggener asked under what Sec
| tion of the statute the investigation was
ordered, and denied the right of the
railroad commissioners to act in the
matter and quoted from the act creating
1.-THE board. He asked for thirty days
! time 20 allow the companies to prepare
/ Mr.. Leedy objected, but the Santa Fe
and Union Pacific representatives SAID
they would require at least that much
! time.
AT the time of going to press the mat
ter of a continuance is still being argued.