The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-20
Gov. Leedy, Who Has Just Re-
turned From the Meeting
Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission at Austin,
is MUCH ENCOURAGED.
Believes the Question of Lower
Freight Rates
Is Now on the Road to a Salts
factory Solution.

0AISA a week SOJOQTn IN oAdAo
working as best he could towards Sc
curing more careful consideration by
the people of the Importance of lower
freight rates and urging the necessity
of immediate relief and the superior
advantages of the gulf as the outlet for
Kansas products going to foreign mar
kets, Governor Leedy today resumed
consideration of affairs of state.
A speech upon the subject of freight
rates, attending the hearing of the
Kansas grain rate case before the in
terstate commerce commission and also
participating in the conferences being
held by the legislative committee repre-
senting Kansas in the south kept the
governor busy, but he returns not only
refreshed in body and mind but radiant
in the hope that in the near future will
come to the people the relief which has
been so persistently demanded and in
opposition to which the railroads them
selves cannot offer reasonable Objec-
tions.
The governor expressed himself as
being amused at the statements made
by President z. P. Ripley OF the Santa
F'e who attended the hearing and to-
day passed through Topeka on his way
to Chicago. Mr.. Leedy went home to
Lawrence on the 4 o'clock train to
which was attached the presidents
special car. The president rode in the
special car on the rear of the train
While Governor Leedy paid his fare
and went into the smoker, on the head
end.
Mr.. Ripley before the commission .
said the governor today, STATED that
the present rates with perhaps the eX-
ceptions of a few Determinations were
not excessive. He said, and I confess
surprise at the statement, that a reduc-
tiOn of reight rates would injure the
farmers of Kansas.
BY what process of reasoning Mr.
Ripley reaches such a conclusion I am
unable to determine, but it is my Opin-
ion that he is simply talking for effect
to hold his job as it were-or that he
is greatly mistaken.
THE fact is that lower freight rates
would be a vast benefit to the farmers
of Kansas, as such reductions would be
advantageous to any other state or the
citizens thereof. The railroad magnates
of the east and the newspapers of that
section of the United States laugh at
the theory that 1t would be cheaper for
Kansas to go to the gulf than to the
Atlantic seabOard. This is in my opin-
ion, another grave error into which our
friends have fallen.
such claims are without foundation
so far as the facts are concerned. By
no possible means can any one show
us by figures or other methods that
such proposition is correct The dis
tance is much shorter to the gulf and
the facilities are as good as those main
tanned in the east. Why we should be
compelled to pay tributes to the people
of the east upon their own say-sO and
permit them to manage our business at
our expense, / cannot understand. l do
except possibly a few railroad attorneys
and presidents whose business it seems
is to get up schemes which will benefit
them at the expense of the people"
Discussing the interstate commerce
hearing which will be resumed at St.
Louis next Monday and will be attend
ed by Judge Martin who represented
the state at Austin, the governor said:
L do not know why the railroads
asked to be permitted to introduce
further testimony, unless it was be-
We had completed the Kansas case
then the railroads asked to have anoth-
er hearing which was granted them
and it will be held in St. Louis"
Asked for an opinion as to the outlook
for the Improvement in existing rate con-
ditions the governor said:
There is undoubtedly a great sentiment
in the west and south for lower freight
rates and the time is coming when fhis
1oeae,1ra 0f saIief viii he affor3 ed ths ,ear
pie The conditions are such that it must
come and the manner in which it will be
visited upon US, is now the great Ques-
whether or not the railroads will make
the reductions and inauguTate a system
OF rates that will be just and equitable is
a question which can not be answered a
confident that the people of these western
states, Kansas Oklahoma and Texas. and
their respective constitutions that they
may be permitted to build road to the
gulf This may in time be the solution
of this great problem
That it must be solved in some man
J
is a fact which no man disputes. 1t is to
my mind one of the greatest and most
important subjects which now confront
the people"
the legislative committee now in Texas
the governor said:
when I left Austin the committees
from Kansas. Texas and Oklahoma were
in session hearing represent ntatives of the
gulf territory on the subject of rates
Plans had been almost completed for the
organization of a permanent committee
which Will have charge of the work of
It viii be made up of representativ of
the three states and Will be authorized to
continue work
The governor was particularly pleased
with the fact that Texas millers who filed
an intervening petition in the grain rate |
case before the interstate commerce com
mission, did not appear at the hearing.
This intervening petition adds a phase !
to the fight for lower grain rates which |
might seriously involve the anticipated |
good results The rnillerS are very deSir-
Gus of securing rates on grain but they
do not want reductions on grain products. |
such as corn, flour, meal. etc. Their |
scheme was to get lower grain rates and /
ship the stuff south, securing also for /
exportatiOn. The millerS. however did /
not appear and it is believed that they |
have abandoned the plan
Asked if he would call a special session |
of the legislature today, the governor re-
piled:
win you call a special session soon?''
win you call a special session at any
time this year?"
Not so far as know now
Then you don't know; have not de- |
cided what Will be done with reference to |
no indeed l have not" replied the
governor frankly. Il do not know wheth- |