People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-04-09
Western Traffic association, it has
has proven failure and delusion.

seabOard, irrespective of distance,
sets at naught the spirit of the inter-
state commerce law 10 regard to the
long or short haul. In place of the
farmers OF the west receiving a benefit
as promised by the government ex-
penditure II s6,0OO,0OO. it Injured to
the benefit of the traffic associations
and the corporations, consisting of
railroad companies and ship lines.
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That we demand of
the Western Traffic association a re-
duction Of freight rates to and from
Galveston, based upon mileage, taking
the charges TO New York as a guide.
We, the people Of Kansas. look upon
the late action in restoring the old
rates to Galveston, especially during
the present financial depression, as an
objectionable sta
RESOLVED, That our representa-
tives and senators in congress are re.
queSted to so amend the Interstate
commerce law as will give the inter
state commerce commission greater
power TO control commerce and. if
necessary, increase the number of the
commission and clerical force to make
their work more effective.
RESOLVED, That the people of Sum-
ner county realize that they have do
mated large sums to assist in building
the railroads which enter the comfy
and that they have been deprived of
the value Of all the stock received in
exchange for said aid, aud that SAID
stock has been rendered worthless by
the action of said railroad companies.
and that they have been aud are being
Disseminated against in freight rates,
not only upon her products, but also
upon all goods shipped into the coun-
ty by way of Gall eston.
WHEREAS, The freight rate on
Cattle and hogs to Kansas City has
for years been fixed at a certain sum
per Car load and not by the rate per
pound; That the railroads have re-
Gently made change in their freight
charges, fixing rate of so much per
pound; That this change is in the in
tereSt of the railroads and is an ad-
vance in freight rates on all live
stock, working an injustice against
the shippers and producers of live
stock, whereas this convention de-
mands the restoration of the old rates
RESOLVED. That we condemn the
determinations in freight rates from
different points in Sumner and ad-
joining counties as fixed by the tariff
going into effect on April |, 1896.
RESOLVED, The recent change in
the freight on grain to Galveston,
making lower rate at points where
crops were a failure, leaving no sur
plus for shipment,and making much
higher rate where crops were good,
show plainly that it is not the inten-
ton of the traffic managers to give
to the producers of this county any
adequate relief unless compelled to do
so:
RESOLVED, That we demand the
same rates to and from Chicago that
places enjoy having same mileage to
Chicago in northern Kansas and Ne
braSka; also the same rate to Calves
ton from all stations south and west
Of Newton that is charged to Chicago
from The same points.
RESOLVED, That this convention
demands of our representatives to be
elected this fall, regardless of what
political party they come, that they
vote for, and use all honest means
TO secure, the passage Of maximum
freight rate law.
A. G. FoRNEY,
Chairman.
There was some discussion over the
report and some changes made before
they were adopted. Mayor Savage
advocated little stronger language
with reference to the freight discrim-
nation at stations where corn was
raised last year. We print the reso-
lutions above as amended.
The last resolution, favoring a max
imum freight law, was offered sep
arately in open convention by Lyman
Naugle, having been voted down in
committee. 1t received nearly the
unanimous support of the convention.
There were four votes against it, one
OF whom was A. A. Richards of the
Mail.
W. A. Johnson, Of Guelph said that
we had passed our resolutions; now,
to whom were we going to present
them. They would amount to moth
ing unless we lodged them in some
port. He was in favor of demanding
relief Immediately, else we should
have an extra session Of the legisla.
ture, and so moved.
A. A. Richards opposed this, saying
that a committee could be appointed,
If the convention were so disposed, to
present these resolutions to the West
ern Traffic Association, and moved an
amendment to this effect to Mr..
Johnson's motion.
As a substitute for motion and
amendment Lyman. Naugle offered
the following resolution:
RESOLVED. That, if these resolu-
lions are not acted upon favorably, we
demand that the governor call the
legislature in extra session, to give
the people relief from the present
extortion before another crop is out
of our hands, and that copy OF these
resolutions be sent to the officers of
the Western Railway and Traffic