The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-31
IT WILL NEVER DO IT.
Senator Farelly Says a Legis-
lature Can't Fix Rates
Because 1T Hasn't the Time Nor
the Information.
a Board of Railroad Commissioners
With Proper Authority and Many
Months to Study the Question,
the Only Body to
Make Rates.

''I am of the opinion that the railroad
bill passed by the last legislature should
have been signed and not vetoed by the
governor" said Senator H. P. Farelly
of Chanute today. 81 supported that
bill and have not changed my mind
concerning it. Other men to whom 1
have talked are in precisely the same
position. That law gave to the state
board of railroad commissioners power
to- fix rates. The board under the pres
ent law has no power at all. 1t simply
calls for the annual expenditure of
large amount of money and carries no
benefits to anyone. 1t does not lind
itself able to help the shipper in any
instance. The members claim they
have power. If they have power, why
don't they do something? During all
the time the present board and the
boards which have preceded it held Of
flee, the members have been powerleSS
to do anything of benefit to the people
of this state.
THE fact that the legislature insisted
upon retaining the board of commits
SionerS, and I am not opposed to that
idea if the board is given proper power
and authority, is in my opinion ample
reason for the signature and not the
veto of the bill by the governor. L
think we should have given a bill of
that kind a trial. The governor is now
unable to do anything except call
special session, but do not believe the
present legislature would pass a Dill diff
ferent from the one he vetoed.
I think it is a mistake for a legfS-
lature to attempt in the short space of
two months to indulge in the making
of rates for a whole state. Even the
most radical members of that body, the
most ardent supporters of the maxi
mum rate proposition, admit that they
know nothing of rate making. 1t is a
science. 1t cannot be done by men
who do not understand it. That is one
of the principal reasons why L have
urged that the commissioners should be
given the fix They
could devote months or a year if nee
essary to a study of the question. They
could experiment with rates, and have
no doubt they would be able to arrive at
conclusions which would not work the
great injusticeS against the railroads
which are easily found in some of the
proposed maximum rate bills. Inflex-
ible rates, in my opinion, can never be
successful. I think it is absolutely
necessary to have a sliding scale, or one
capable of adjustment to conditions.
Until such a law is passed 1 do not
believe the railroad question will be
solved in Kansas"
1T is a little early for plans of the
next campaign to be discussed said
Senator Farelly, but I should say that
unless the POpulists recognize the Dem
ocratic party in the distribution of Of
fees there will be no fusion in Kansas
Senator Farelly is a Democrat.
In the last campaign the Democrats
took the electors and gave the POpu-
lists the state offices. Now the ques-
will divide with us what they now
have arises and must be disposed of be-
fore the next campaign is inaugurated.
L have talked TO but few Democrats
upon this subject, but I do not believe
the party will permit the Populists to
take all the offices and then insist that
we give them unqualified support.
AS to the issues of the next cam
paign there will be no division of opin-
ion upon the fact that free silver will
be the main issue. 1t will unite the
allied forces of Kansas and the west.
1t will make a party which will defeat
the Republican party, not only in Kan
sas, but throughout the western states
which at the last election went on rec
ord, by a large majority, favoring that
principle.
silver will be the issue in Kansas
This will be true notwithstanding the
efforts of some of the Populist leaders
to bury it under the railroad question.
The railroad question, in my opinion
will continue in the future, as in the
past,one of the principles of a PLATFORM
but l do not believe that it is of such
paramount importance as to be given
the lead over every other public ques-
tiOn,''