New-York tribune., 1896-12-06
KANSAS RAILROAD LEGISLATION.

One OF the first things OH the programme OF
the Populists whom the late election put in con-
troll of all departments of the Kansas State gov
ernment is understood TO be the enactment OF
drastic legislation against railroad corporations.
Railroad building Is one of the forms Of cap
jtallstic oppression resorted to by 1.-THE Money
Power of the East" A glance at the map OF
the State will disclose the fact that in proportion
10 her population Kansas is peculiarly blessed
or cursed-with transportation facilities. A net
work of railroad lines covers the entire State.
They were largely built by 1.-The Money Power
of the East with Eastern capital; indeed. with
The execution of such as owe their existence TO
Government subsidies, almost entirely. But
they were not built clandestlnely, or without the
consent of Kansas citizens. On the contrary, II
was not so long ago that they were clamorous
10 have them built. They might have invested
In the enterprises themselves. and so have en-
loved the profits Of their operation without the
risk of being oppressed and robbed by Eastern
capitalists; but they did not choose TO do so
doubtless having other use for their capital in
channels which seemed to them TO promise
larger return They preferred to let Eastern
captalists build the roads and take the risks
They enioyed seeing these enterprises multi
plied and were especially delighted when para-
lcl lines were built and rival corporations COM
netting for business reduced rates to their own
loss and the profit Of Kansas shippers.
But there came a time when. the State having
been thoroughly gridironed and pretty much
every group of farmers, great and small. FUR
nisbed with facilities for transporting their prod
nets 10 market. railroad building ceased. Then
from a variety Of causes-but chiefly because
increased production Of corn, wheat and other
agricultural products had the same effect upon
the farming interest that Overproduction or rail-
roads nad upon these corporations, and because
the multiplication Of transportation facilities
had widened the field Of competition-the profits
OF the farm began to fall off. The Kansas agri-
ct,lturist did not stop to take these causes into
consideration. His observation was confined to
the facts. first. that the price of his products
had fallen in the market second, that the cost
of production was the same, and, third. that the
difference between the amount he received and
the price charged by the purchaser at the point
of delivery went to the railroad company in the
shape of freight charges. Then he began think
ing that he as an active producer Of wealth had
rights which were infrlnged by the idle capital
ist. who. simply because he had invested his
money in railroads. was able to wiring profits
from the hard-wOrking tiller Of the soil.
Without stopping to inquire whether there
actually was any profit for the railroads in the
business Of hauling Kansas products to market
at the rates to which they had been reduced by
the competition of rival companies. but rushing
TO the conclusion that the unproftableness OF
their crops was due to exorbtant freight rates
they set themselves to find remedy. 1t was
close at hand in the shape Of legislative super.
vision and compulsory rate reductions They
have been trying 1t now for several years. and
ore proposing to 60 into 1t more extensively and
thoroughly during the coming winter. They
think they have the power to do 1t. and perhaps
they have. They are the more ready and eager
for II because Of the fac' that Kansas citizens