People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1896-10-15
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
And the Relation Of the Republican Party
Thereto.
To the voters of Sumner County:

| desire by your permission, to call
your attention to the freight rate
question Of Kansas, and especially to
the history of the Maximum Freight
Rate Bill" The people have been
clamOrIng for, and demanding for
years, the passage Of law establish
ing a schedule Of freight charges SIM
liar to and in accordance with a law
known as the Reasonable Maximum
Rates of Charges" Of Iowa, or the
"Newburg Bill, "of Nebraska, and l
hope TO show you in a convincing
manner by citation to the records OF
the legislature as recorded in the
journals of the same, the reason why
such a law has not been passed, and
what party is responsible.
This question should not only inter
est the farmers Of Sumner county, but
the farmers Of the entire state, ire.
SpeCtiye Of party utilization,
| shall shall not undertake to con-
vince you of the necessity Of cheaper
transportation, as | feel sure we agree
upon that point; suffice it to say that
the farmers of Kansas pay rate Of
freight charges both into and out of
the state on agricultural products,
live stock and all articles Of merChan-
disc, from 20 to 100 per cent, more than
those of Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri or
Illinois.
We realize that by donation to the
various railroad companies in the
shapeof land grants, subsidies and the
voting of bonds, is nearly equal in
value to the value of the roads; also
realizing that the railroad companies
beat US out of the stock the country
exchanged their bonds for, then on
top of this discriminating against GER
tain towns and citizens 10 the way OF
rebates, etc., watering the stock until
not to exceed nne-fOurth is reality, or
rather Capitalizlng the roads 10 four
times their cost, on which they fix
their rates, which is nearly double the
charges for like services Of other
states, is more than suffering people
should longer submit to.
In 1890 the Peoples party platform
favored government ownership Of rail-
roads, operated in the interests OF
the people. The Republican platform
OF theSa year said; "We favor elect
ing railroad commissioners by a vote
of the people, and demand the regula-
tiOn of freight and passenger rates;
also demand the abOlishing of the pass
system
Let US see who carried out these
pledges to the people.
On page 424, under date Of the 18th
Of February, 1891, 9th legislative
day. the railroad committee of which
VIM. Campbell was chairman, report
ed House bill number 2lO: Gan act
to regulate and establish reasonable
maximum charges. ETC."
The same day, upon motion, the
rules were suspended, and House bill
number 743 was substituted for the
above House bill 2lO. This bill 743 is
known BY being copy Of the 'TOwa
maximum freight rate BILL"
Final action on the bill, as recorded
on page 709 of House Journal of 1891:
Mr.. Campbell called up House bill
number 743, which was read the third
time. The question being on the pas
sage of the bill the roll was called.
Result; yes, s., all Peoples party; re.
suit: no, %, all Republicans. Names
and votes recorded on page 713.
"a constitutional majority having
voted in favor Of the passage, the bill
passed and the title was agreed to-"
On February Is, page 5O7, Senate
Journal 1891, you will find this mes
sage:
Mr.. Speaker, am directed BY the Houss tn
inform the Senate that The House has passed
House Dill number TiS The bill Is herewith
submitted" BEN c. RICH, Chief Clerk
On page SOC Of the same journal is
recorded the final action Of the senate
on this bill. NJ. c. Kelley, chairman
OF committee on railroads, submitted
the following report:
MIR. President, your committee on rail.
roads have had under consideration Honse
phi number 7iS, IAN act to regulate and es-
taOllsh reasonable maximum freight rates.
PASSED"
This killed the bill, and prevented
any railroad legislation that session,
and the Republican senate did not
pass any bill for the relief Of the PEG.
pie or the redemption Of their pledges
on freight charges.
NEXT SESSION.
Again in 1892 about the same
pledges were made to the people by
both parties in regard to controlling
freight charges by law. AS a result
of the election the legislature was
composed of a Populist senate aud
Republican house. On the 9th dav