People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-07-15

commissioners, as provided in the
Harris railroad bill, with the powers
granted to said court by said bill,
is a tribunal which will be in a posi-
ton to formulate equitable rates for
every railway and other carriers in
the United States.
MODE OF APPROVING RATES.
The Harris bill provides that all
railways shall present their schedule
of rates and classification offreights,
which, before becoming effective,
mist be approved by the 'court of
railway commissioners" 1t also pro-
vides that where inequalities exist or
injustice has deem done, that the
right Of appeal is given to the in
jured party, to the circuit court OF
the United States, but this right OF
appeal cannot be used, as under
existing law, for the purposes of de-
lay and the defeat of justice, but the
decision of the "court of railway
commissioners" shall at once take
effect and remain in effect until it is
reversed by the higher courts of the
United States.
In short, the Harris bill is said to
give a remedy for the adjustment OF
every possible wrong, 1t makes that
adjustment speedy, complete and
perpetual, unless reversed by the
higher courts.
AS TO GOVERNMENT OWNERSHIP.
In the meantime it must not be
forgotten that Senator Harris is earn
estIy urging and supporting every
measure looking to the acquisition
by the government Of the Union and
Central Pacific railroads. 1t is his
belief that no complete and full solu-
ton of the transportation question
will ever be arrived at until at least
there are a number of great trunk
lines owned and operated by
the government. This will give a
comDetitiOn which really completes.
The sluggishness and indifference of
governmental roads, IS illustrat, d
abroad, he declares, will be spurred
into activity and progress by the
energy and enterprise of the private
lines. On the other hand, the greed
and selhShnesS Of the private roads
will be held in check by the level of
rates and low charges Of the govern
mental roads. 1t is. pointed out
there will be a constant effort on
both parts to afford the most salts
factory, ample and speedy facilities
for transportation. Again, there will
be no freight wars, destroying alike
by their uncertainties and caprice
the interest of the carriers and the
public.
In conclusion, it might be well to
quote the following from the minor
ity report of Senator Harris when d
member of the house committee on
railroads in 1894:
"These agents of the state for the
performance of a pubic duty have
as a rule, proven incompetent and
dishonest; incompetent in protecting
the rights and interests of the public
and dishonest in using the great
powers intrusted to them wholly fol
selfish ends, and for the purpose Of
building 10 vast private fortunes al
the expense of the people.
THE STATE AND PUBLIC HIGHWAYS.
Transportation has become 4
great and universal public necessity
1t has been the duty of the state from
time to time immemorial to provide
highways and all the means anC
channels of communication and com
merce. 1t is a growing and eve
increasing necessity, and with tht
great interdependence of the variou.
portions of the country upon eacl
other, the duty of the state becomes
more and more imperative to SET
that this vast power is exercised 70
the general good, and as rapidly a
possible to resume and directly ex
ercise its functions. The highway
of a country belong to the state, ant
transportation over them is not
mere matter of merchandise, to b
sold or refused solely as private in
tereStS or avarice may dictate"