Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-04-01

tive and administrative acts. " "Third,
That uniformity is desired in congress
ional and state legislation on the sub
ject of rates, to the end that the pub
lie regulation Of rates may be practi-
cally reached by the active co-opera-
ton between state and interstate com
missions"
A lively discussion took place upon
the second resolution, which was
adopted by vote Of "a tot, in the fol-
lowing form: "Thnt it is within
the power of congress and the
state legislature to delegate the power
of reasonable regulation of rates to
boards of commissioners, and to make
their acts and findings upon questions
of fact, after fair legal opportunity
10 be heard, as conclusive and binding
as the findings and acts of other admin
istrative officers"
1t was so decided, Mr., Chairman, by
the great National meeting at Wash
ington, but still 1t is said that the
power of legally controlling railroad
corporations does not lie within the
legislature. want to say that the
cry that is going up from the lobby
that is pressing in from all sides is in
the interest of railroad corporations.
1 want to say that 1 want to see rail-
road corporations have the same rights
that individuals of the state have and
make the corporations no greater than
the individual and upon this basis was
based the conclusions of the Iowa
commissioners. Their work has been
SO satisfactory that there is strong talk
of giving the commissioners control OF
the express companies and public roads
within that state. Less than fair and
and reasonable rates If fixed by the
commissioners will be struck out and
set aside by our courts. The railroad
commissioners should stand between
the people on the one hand and the
shipper and the corporation on the
other and Judge as to reasonable rates.
Nor should the shipper be required to
make individual complaint. We find
that is exactly what the railroad peo-
ple of the state of Kansas are demand
ing and wanting US to do. Hundreds
of miles of railroad were built in the
state for purely speculative purposes
There was no demand for the roads at
the time but they came before the leg
islature to day and say that they ex-
pended their money in this specula
ton, it is the duty OF the legislature to
stand between them and the people
and give them the advantage OF the
people of the state. Now then l be-
lieve that l placed the conditions fairly
and believe that have good authority
to the effect that this legislature has
the right and power to create commits
sioners and give them power to fix
reasonable rates, to stand between the
people or the shipper and the railroad
corporations and decide what is right
and just and reasonable. realize the
fact that it is possible for a road doing
a large volume of business to do the
work of transportation cheaper thar
one doing small volume of business
So there must be a proper classified
ton of the roads.
Now gentlemen, you will tind by ex
aiming the report of the board of rail
road commissioners Of this state hal
where the Santa Fe earns $1,000 pei
mile, there are other roads, which only
earn from six to eight hundred dollars
per mile, In order to do justice to the
road doing small volume of business
you must classify your roads into pro
per classes. The bill that is before
you does not do that there is not sin
gle line or section in the Harris bill
that authorizes the board to classify
the roads-now mark that point. II
you would have law that would give
relief to the people Of this state such
as the people are demanding, you mus
give the railroad commissioners power
to classify the roads and 1 defy any
man to point me to the section in the
Harris bill that gives that power to the
commissioners. Now then first class
ify the roads, next you must give the
commissioners power to fix the rates
then you must give the commissioners
power to classify freight and defy Iyou
to point out anything in the Harris
bill that gives that power to the com
missioners 1t is not there. 1t was
there but the senate struck it out. Now
then to illustrate, if you pass the Har-
ris bill as it now is and shipper comes
up with complaint, aud you reduce
the rate, if it is second class to say
sixth class rate and your commission
ers have no power to fix the classified
ton, the railroads by SIMPLY changing
or re-classifying the freight, defeat the
efforts Of the commissioners to fix the
rate. You may give the commission
ers power to fix rates and keep from
than the power to fix classihcations,