Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-06-24
HELPS THE FARMER.

Railroad Commissioner William
Campbell has undertaken to prove that
the theory held by President Ripley,
that reduced rates injure the producer,
is incorrect. When in Topeka recently
Mr.. Ripley said to journal reporter:
sit has been demonstrated to the sat
isfaction of the most radical opponents
of lower rates that decreases in rates
work injuries to the producers,
That statement by the head of the
Santa Fe is the thorn in the flesh of the
populist rate men. All declare that
President Ripley does not know what
he is talking about, but the president
thinks he does, and stands ready at all
times to demonstrate his theory. Mr.
Campbell, the original maximum
rater, the man who prepared the first
maximum bill or severe anti-railroad
measure which appeared in the legis-
lature after the birth of populism,
takes the most vigorous exceptions to
the ideas of the Santa Fe president.
81 think" said Mr.. Campbell, "that
is one of the most remarkable state
ments l ever heard coming from an in
telligent man. can hardly under
stand how a man of Mr. Ripley's promi-
nence can make such statement to an
intelligent people. He practically says
that all the efforts made by the differ
ent states in the union to curb or check
the rapacity of railroad corporations
in their eXorbitant charges were not
only foolishness, but injurious to the
people sought to be protected. He says
that reduction of rates works injury
to the producer; or, in other words, ii
the people in this state could have
rates on grain reduced one-half, that
it would be disastrous to them to that
amount. ! suppose, upon this theory.
that if the rates were reduced three
fourths, it would absolutely bankrupt
them, Docs any man of common sense
believe this theory?
"Now, let us illustrate it. Suppose
we lived on turnpike with toll gate
at the end of every mile, which charg
ed team and wagon cents at each
gate, making the total charge for
drive of 20 miles 81. A farmer, haul
ing his produce over this road to a 10
cal grain center, would thus pay 81 60
ing to market and 81 returning, MAX
ing 80 toll on every load of grain haul
ed to that market. Then, suppose that
half of said toll gates were removed,
would he not then have saved 81 on
each load hauled to that market? Now.
are not freight charges a toll, tax
levied upon the freight to all intents
and purposes, just as much as a toll
upon a turnpike? II this be true, how
possibly, could n reduction of rates
hurt the producer of Kansas? The
prices of products are generally sup
posed to be governed by the law of
supply and demand. Liverpool, Eng
land, is the worlds central market for
wheat, and practically fixes the export
price of that commodity. A man pro-
duces wheat within five miles of the |
wharves on the coast line of California.
He hauls that wheat directly from his
farm to the elevators at the ship land
ing; then he pays . cents for elevator
charges, cents for commission and
cents for ocean freight, thus getting
within cents, transportation charges,
Of the Liverpool market for his wheat.
Nov man in Harvey county, Kas.,
raises wheat. lie pays 10 cents per
Dushel to get it to Galveston, 2 cents
elevator charges, . cents commission
and cents ocean freight, paying in
Ill % cents to get his grain TO Liver
pool, or, in other words, 10 cents more
han the producer in C .lifornia. Now,