People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-04-09

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forced the railroads to it.
Sol futile, Of Caldwell. was called
and responded by endorsing Mr.. John
sons remarks.
A. c. Lambe, of Avon township, was
next. He made a very humorous, as
well as very sensible, speech. He
thought a petition to the railroads
would be barren of results. He thought
we would finally have to 90 to our
legislature. He was willing to take
relief from whatever political party
it came. Our remedy was at the
ballot box; we must get our relief from
that source.
A. W. Rose, of Osborne township,
favored agitation. He related similar
experiences in Illinois. He thought
the time had come to make our in
fueDce as citizens felt.
John BOwermaster, of Guelph, took
the floor and protested against re-
marks about going slow. That was
the trOuble-we had been going too
slow. We want relief for our present
wheat crop. 1t would be cheaper to
call the legislature in special session
than to be held up and robbed by the
present rates. Support 10 man who
will not actively support a relief bill.
E. H. Fitzgerald wanted to know if
our state legislature could make rates
to Galveston. Can our congress make
a valid law to that effect? ANSWER,
Yes, congress can do that-can do
anytf ing the people want, and many
things they do not want Can con-
greSs prevent a railroad from collect
ing profits sufficient to pay dividends
on watered stock?
Hon. W. j. Lingenfelter was loudly
called for. lie responded briefly, but
diSavOwed sufficient knowledge Of law
to enable him to go into details in
answering the gentleman'S questions.
He said, while railroads cost much
more to construct in the east than
they do in this prairie region, the
rates were far less. They did business
on the theory that they must collect
all the traffic will bear. 1t was a
vicious principle, If doctors and
Others charged on that principle,
where would we be? ae said there
would be as much virtue in petition
ing the railroads as in trying to ad-
minister physic to an Egyptian
mummy. He thought we must make
sure, in the campaign just ahead, to
send men to our legislature who will
support a maximum freight rate law.
Preston Wycoff was in favor of re-
pealing the interstate commerce law;
1t was a farce. Then let the states
take the matter up and pass maximum
rate laws.
Major Ferguson responded by pro-
testing against the cut of the wages OF
railroad laborers, withoutj reducing
salaries of the "big bugs" He favored
law compelling this. We have been
imposed on by railroads-Arst in Yot-
ing bonds to build them; then, in ex-
tOrtionate rates.
Harry Shapcott advocated sending
a few more farmers and less lawyers
to the legislature aud to congress.
Ivan Rogers advocated the select.
tiOn Of men for the legislature whose
sympathies were not only with the
people at the time Of election, but
always: men who could not be bribed
by railroad passes.
). ). Dey thought we ought not to
be unfair to railroads. Railroad cor
pOrations were not such tyrants as
they had been depicted.
Lyman Naugle said that he was in
favor Of agitation and any and all leg.
islation that would break the tyranny
that was practiced upon the people
by the railroads, but contended that
it would all be merely pa!liative-that
the real remedy sooner or later would
be government ownership; not all at
one bound, but by gradual steps lead
ing to it.
The committee on resolutions came
in and Senator FOrney read the report,
as follows:
WHEREAS, The congress of the II.
5, appropriated Ct million dollars
which was used in the building of the
JettleS at Galveston, Texas, for the
purpose of establishing sufficient
depth OF water to admit the largest
seafaring vessels. The ietties are
about completed and ships drawing
twenty-three feet of water can now
sail in and out of the Galveston bar.
bOrs.
WHEREAS, The exports of wheat
cattle, beef, meat products, bread
stutfs, ETC., of the states tributary Il
This port amounts to about s5O0OOO
600 annually, on which the people o.
the west expected a saving of at least
20 per cent of freight charges, amount
Ing to nearly 100000. 900. The Iatt
action ef the Western Traffic associa
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