The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1897-06-11
TOPEKA CONFERENCE
Railroad Commissioner Campbell Tells
Why Nothing Was Accomplished.
Railroad Omeials Suggested ths Conferences
and Prior tc the Meeting Announced
Chat Nothing WoaId Be Done
Extra Session Favored.

TOPEKA, Kan, June A-In an inter
view here W. N. Campbell, member Of
the state board Of railroad commits
sioners, had the following to say re-
garding the recent conference with
representatives of the Kansas railroads.
The roads suggested the conference Several
Of the most prominent railroad men in the state
came before the board and requested it to get
the representatives. OF the different roads doing
business in Kansas together some way or other.
Didn't suggest any plan particularly. The
board, therefore, addressed a letter to the rep
FesentatiEes Of the different roads, stating that
it had been suggested chat 8 meeting
OF this character be had and the representa-
tiYes Of the roads responded and met the board
on the 9th Of May. They seemed, however,
to look upon the matter as huge joke. Had
come undoubtedly to equivOcate and keep up
show Of doing something, while every attitude
Of the whole body-one man excepted-Was
that nothing would OF should be done. And IL
fact before the meeting was convened Presi-
dent Ripley, Of the Santa Fe. went into the To-
peka State Journal with an interview, In which
he said;
"As to grain rates, Mr. Ripley, do you believe
9 reduction would be advantageous mot at
all It has been demonstrated to the satisfso-
ton Of the most radical exponent Of lower
rates that decreases in rates work injuries to
! the producers. A reduction Of the rate on grain
viii iniure the producer. The consumer pays
/ the freight Reduced freight rates would SIM
ply accrue to the advantage Of the consumer
ana not to the producer, There is no question
about this being true. It has been demon
strated beyond doubt"
This interview was given to the Journal be-
! fore the meeting convened. Mr.. Ripley vas tbs
leading spirit Of the railroad representatives,
and had come there, as a matter Of course, with
| the determination Of doing nothing. can see
/ but one object in their coming at all, in fact,
that is, with the hope that they might keep up
pretense OF making concessions, and thereby
staYe Of possible session Of the legislature.
The board, however. agreed to put its requests
| in writing; and the following day after the con
| ference, addressed letter to the representa-
/ tives Of the different roads, embodying its views
on the subject. But before the letter had left
the ONCE, nearly ali Of the Representatives
Low excepted-came out again in the Journal
and denounced the request Of the railroad COM
missiOners as being unreasonable and unjust
and that they would not be granted So, Sc
/ far as I am concerned, have no hope Of any
/ thing growing out of the conference It was
entered into ia the most kindly spirit by the
| railroad commissioners, hoping that some good
would result The board has done everything
! In its power to treat the roads COurteOusly and
| TO keep down any prejudice that would engen-
/ der bad blood But we have to admit we have
| failed and it clearly demonstrates one thing:
That the railroads, not only Of Kansas
but Of the whole country, will take every
thing they can get inside Of the law;
and this thing of expecting them ia
eOncede anything is simply ridiculous in the
face OF our experience. They go upon the
theory, and admit it, that they take all the
traffic will bear; take all out OF the stun that il
will bear and still move the market They are
the highWaymen Of this age. They levy tribute
at their own sweet viii. The people are pow
aFless. The creatures they have Created-thesC
artificial beings known as railroad corpora
tiOns-have grown greater than the people WhC
created them. The child is greater than the
parent and he proposes to run the whole shoot
ing match, state legislatures not excepted
OF course IdOn't know what Gov Leedy m8y
say, as to calling q special session; I have no
even asked him about it. know what would
t 10 if I were governor. IWOuld call the legis
tature together sometime in the near future
and if possible, would have a law passed tina
would enable the commission to maintain thu
dignity OF the state at least. don't know tina
have any particular kind OF bill to suggest
think that the time has come when all side
ought to cOhCede something in the way Of ;
compromise Kansas is evidently in need o
something along that line or else she has got
commission on her hands that Is more Orna
mental than useful. However weak as the Law
may be; inadequate as it may be- am in favor
so far as am personally concerned, of Jestinl
it to the utmost, and showing its general weak
aess and inadequaey, so that the people maJ
know, to an absolute certainty, just where the!
stand, and just how much law they have ant
now much is needed.
The following table is submitted fol
the consideration Of those who want
to study the freightrates Of three west
ern states;