The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-01
RAILROAD LEGISLATION.

There has been so much elamor Tor
railroad legislation,for some years past,
especially on the part of the party now
in control of the legisla ture, that it
seems almost certain that something
will be done. Now that the emporium
ity is offered for doing something along
this line, it does not appear wholly
clear to many, just what should be at
tempted.
While the charging of excessive and ex-
tortionate rates has been alleged against
the railroads of Kansas, the allegation
is weakened somewhat by the undenia-
BILE fact that the roads are not making
any money. Perhaps after all the trou-
bic is not too high rates in general but
too high rates, inequalities and discrim-
nations in particular quarters.
The fact that not a railroad in Kansas
is paying any dividend on its stock and
has not been paying any for years is an
object lesson which shows that rail-
roads as well as the people are in hard
lines.
In their efforts to prove that rates are
not too high the representativ es of the
railroads certainly presented strong
case before the railroad committee of
the legislature last week. If it shall be-
come evident to the legislature that
these gentlemen are right and the peo-
pie are mistaken, still it will not do
away with the other proposition that
just grounds of complaint are afforded
by unequal and eXtortionate charges
and determinations in certain locaH-
ties.
Surprising this to be the case, then
what is the remedy. Owing to the ina
bility of the railroad commission to en-
force its DEGREES, it can do nothing. An
arbitrary maximum freight rate bill
would not cover the case and while it
would probably work an injustice to
shippers in many instances, would most
certainly prove disastrous to many rail-
roads.
There is probably no man in the state
who wants to do anything to cripple
any Kansas railroad or cause it to lose
money.
The Journal does not believe that
maximum rate bill would prove salts
factory to either the people or the rail-
roads, no matter how carefully framed.
1t would be too arbitrary and too gen.
eral in it's character
Leaving a maximum rate bill out of
the question, then it would appear that
what is needed is a disiaterested tribu-
nal for the settlement of all matters of
controversy between the people and the
roads specifically and as they arise 1t
would be necessary of course that
this tribunal should have power to
enforce its DEGREES. The board of rail-
road commissioner could be constitu-
ted such tribunal by the enactment
of appropriate legislation. With the
right sort of men on the board theft
need be no uneasiness on the part of
the railroads or the people.
| AS matters now stand the roads have
| everything their own way. Under a
maximum rate law the people would
| have it all their way. Neither condi-
! ton is desirable. There is a middle
ground and that should be sought
A railroad board should not have
power to absolutely fix rates and take
the running of the road into its own
! hands, but it should have authority to
fsecure justice to the, shippers and to the
transportation company. It should rec
ognize that both railroads and their
patrons have rights which each must
respect. Both parties to the controversy
| ought to prosperous. To help along
] good times for both is one of the prob
lens of craftsmanship. VIII the Kan
| sas legislature be wise enough, careful
enough, and just enough to start the
/ transportation problem toward it's prop-
er solution?