The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-17
RAILROADS TO BE JUST
Conference of Lawyers Hurd,
Low and Waggener.
At st. Louis Today to Arrive at
a Method
Of Doing Away With Determinations
Kansas Which Will Afford Relief
to the People Without Fur
Their Legislation.

There is being held in ST. Louis today
a conference of Kansas railroad attor-
neys, which if carried out in good faith
may bring great benefits to the people
or this state, inaSmuch as it is the pre-
urinary movement to secure an ad-
Justment of freight rates towards a de-
crease and the removal of discrimina-
tions against shippers.
A A Hurd of the Santa Fe, NJ. A.
Low of the Rock Island and B. P. Wag-
gener of the Missouri Pacific left To-
peka yesterday afternoon to attend the
conference, which has been brought
about by Mr.. Waggener himself.
The narrow escape which the rail-
roads had at the hands of the legisla-
ture and the proposal to have a special
session to regulate the freight and pas
senger rates has brought the managers
of the Kansas lines to a realization of
the fact that unless Determinations are
brought to an end and eXtOrtionate
charges cease, they are yet likely to be
placed under the provisions of a Strin-
gent law. To make an effort to deal
out exact justice the railroads are now
trying to get together, and the St. Louis
conference is the first step.
The plan was first suggested by Mr..
Waggener, who sought an interview
with Governor Leedy upon the subject
last Friday. The Kansas attorneys are
comforting with a view of securing a
meeting of the Western Traffic associa-
ton, which governs the territory in
which Kansas is included, at an early
date for the purpose of promulgating a
new series of tariffs and rate Sched-
uleS.
In his conference with Governor
Leedy Mr.. Waggener admitted that I'M
just Determinations and unreasonable
rates were in existence in many parts
of the state but he explained the dis
ordinations by the statement that
they are very generally caused by one
line cutting rates and forcing others
To he VV9 G
merely a business proposition and not
an effort to force inequalities upon the
people.
80 far as the Missouri Pacific is con-
cerned,'' said Mr.. Waggener to the gov
ernor, 1--WE are entirely willing to place
our rates upon an equal and just
basis.''
1t is possible that fair and honest
compromise with the people is really
proposed in this new move. Upon the
admissions of the railroad attorneys
with reference to determinations, some
of the legislators were inclined to push
the effort to amend the bill which went
down in defeat because of the veto by
the governor, and force it through, even
if it required all summer without pay
to members.
Senator Householder, on the evening
following the governors veto. had ar
ranged to spring upon the senate sur
prise with reference to railroad legis-
lation and offer an amendment which
ions. He desisted, however, upon re-
quest of Governor Leedy, who asked
for another day to examine the situa-
ton. That night the senate held
caucus and decided that such an effort
would meet defeat and agreed that for
the present railroad legislation should
be deferred.
Contemplating a change of heart
among some of the members who voted
against the Populist ideas when they
meet their constituents, the governor
holds himself in readiness to call
special session this fall. To preclude
the possibility of another trial before
the legislature, the railroads are now
stirring themselves towards securing
for the people the relief which the SUI
preme law making power of the state
failed to afford.
That the railroads are fearful of the
consequences of a special session is
clearly demonstrated by the very gen.
eral effort to make amends for sins of
the past.