People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-03-25
LeedV on Railroads.


son, on Jneir way to Port Arthur.
Il dlI on pleasure trip said the
goyerno to a reporter, land have no
time TO talk politics. What do |
think of the work done by the present
session of the Kansas legislature?
Well, have no opinion to express on
that subject at present, Some good
work has been done, but the htiga-
tiOn that will arise on account of the
passage Of many bills compels me to
reserve my opinion until later. l
have been very busy lately and am
going to try and get a rest for few
days now"
what do you think OF the presi-
dents message to cOngress?"
81 do not care to say anything
about that. | have read it, thought
over it, but will say nothing. II a
change in the tariff will bring better
times, then a change in the tariff is
what We want"
81 notice that there is some dissat-
isfaCtiOn expressed with the anti
dOckage law at the stock yards" he
said. well, it is the law and cannot
be changed until the next legislature
meets. | think after all parties adjust
themselves to it, they will be better
satisfied. For one thing, it Will stop
the shipment of unfit animals to mar
ket, and insure good, clean meat.
Some disposition will be found for
such as have been shipped"
Chow about railroad legislation in
Kansas
"Weli," said the governor, 1--WE
didn't succeed in doing anything this
time. There was so much diversity
of opinion as to detail that the differ
ent factions of the legislature were
unable to get together. But the next
one will see something DONE" he
added. "The people are awakening
to it regardless of party or politics. l
find Republicans and Democrats who
are beginning to talk for the max
1mum freight rate law, and the next
legislature will have to pass one."
Governor Leedy's pet theory, how.
ever, is the North and South road,
one built from the Gulf through the
states and by the states.
II regard the North and South rail
road as the only solution of the rate
problem" said Governor Leedy, as he
leaned hack in big arm chair,
with his hat on. "We can't expect
much from roads that are bonded and
watered up to $4,000 a mile. 1t is
useless to expect it. Those roads
were built long ago. Railroads can
be built much cheaper now, but it is
not reasonable to expect that roads
bonded for 10000 are going to throw
away the other $1,000 and come down
to the present cost of $4,000 and make
their rates accordingly. They won't
do it, But if a road can be built from
the Cuff of Mexico north through
Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and on
north"
Chow far, governor"
"Id like to see it 60 to Manitoba,
though we are not much interested in
it after it gets north of the north line
of KarsaS-it would be the solution
of the cntire transportation question.
We could do business on a $4,000 a
mile capitalization, make rates ac-
cOrdingly, and the result would be to
force the reorganization of every
trunk line in the country. 1t would
be- crOSS-cut road that would take
all the grain out of that territory to
the gulf, and the people would be bet
ter served by it than by meddiiDg
with railroads we have now, at ali.
ave don't have to have a bit of
private capital in it; the states can
build it. | have legislative commit
tee with me now that will meet sim
liar committees from the Texas and
Oklahoma legislatures to talk the
matter over.
"Why, do you know, that with the
overchArges of the railroads in the
territory, Of this one projected road
the saving on the removal of the pres.
ent crop could be built the entire
road? Well, it's a fact. By over.
charges l mean charges on transpor-
tation in excess Of what a fair charge
would be-
In addition to believing that the
road would be success, Governor
Leedy believes in his heart that il
will be built-some time.
"After the people have tried these
other railroad nostrums, said Govern
or Leedy, "and found that they will
fail, they will come to this. They
can't Eelp it, aud before die | ex-
pect to see such road in operation
too. talked to Republican banker
who is also state senator, about this
idea the other day, and he said TO mt
that he considered it the only solution