The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-17
LEEDY ON RAILROADS.
Wants North and South Road Built
by the States-StiI1 for Silver.

Kansas City March 17.-Governor
Leedy was in the city yesterday, ac-
companied by Mrs. Leedy and their
son, on their way to Port Arthur.
Il am on a pleasure trip" said the
governor to a reporter, land have no
time to talk politics. What do I think
of the work done by the present ses-
sion of the Kansas legislature? Well,
1 have no opinion to express on that
subject at present Some good work
has been done, but the litigation that
will arise on account of the passage of
many bills compels me to reserve my
opinion until later. 1 have been very
busy lately and am going to try and
get a rest for a few days now"
What do you think of the presi-
dents message to congress?
Il do not care to say anything about
that. I have read it and thought over
it, but viii say nothing. If change
in the tariff will bring better times,
then a change in the tariff is what we
want. But a change in the tariff Will
not bring better times added the gov
ernor, with decided emphasis.
THE only thing that will benefit the
condition of the great mass of people
in this country is a change IN the nm
ancial system. Gold has proven fail
ure, high tariff viii probably prove such
and then something else must and viii
be tried, whether the party that advo-
Gates it is called 'Populist,' Popocrat1c'
or 'D6mOcraC1c. Inc pest lIlIiS the
POpulist senators and congressman can
do is to refrain from ObStructing Re
publican legislation. The Republicans
claim that they can bring on better
times; let them prove it.
q notice that there is some dfsSat1S-
faction expressed with the anti-dock-
age law at the stock yards" he said.
well, it is the law and cannot be
changed until the next legislature
meets I think after all parties adjust
themselves to it, they will be better sat
isfied. For one thing, it will stop the
shipment of unfit animals to market
and insure good, clean meat Some DIS
position will be found for such as have
been shipped"
How about railroad legislation in
Kansas
We'll" said the governor, eve didn't
succeed in doing anything this time.
There was so much diversity of opinion
as to detail that the different factions
of the legislature were unable TO get
together. But the next one Will see
something DONE" he added. The peo-
pie are awakening to it regardless OF
party or politics. 1 find Republicans
and Democrats who are beginning 10
talk for the maximum freight rate law
and the next legislature will have to
pass one"
Governor Leedy's pet theory, however,
is the North and South road, one pullt
from the Gulf through the states and
II regard the North and South rail-
road as the only solution to the rate
problem said Governor Ieedy, as ne
leaned back in a big arm chair WITH
his hat on. We can't expect much
from roads that are bonded and water
ed UP to $4,000 a mile. 1t is useless to
expect it. Those roads were built long
ago. Railroads can be built much
cheaper now. but it isn't reasonable to
expect that roads bonded for $50, 600 are
going to throw away the other $4OooO
and come down to the present cost OF
nd ma
W. They won't do it. But if road
can be built from the Gulf of Mexico
north through Texas, Oklahoma. Kan
Sas and on north
How far governor"
I'd IKE to see it go tG Manitoba.
though are not much Interested IN
it after 1t gets north of the north line
of Kansas-it would be the solution of
the entire transportation question We
could do business on $4,000 mile
capitalization, make rates accordingly,
and the result would be to force the re-
organization of every trunk line in the
country. 1t would be a crOss-cut road
that would take all the grain out of
that territory to the gulf, and the peO-
pie would be better served by it than
by meddling with railroads we have
now. at all
I'VE cont have to have bit of pri--
vate capital in it, the states can build
it. I have a legislative committee with
me now that will meet similar commit
tees from the Texas and Oklahoma leg
islatures 10 talk the matter over.
why, do you know, that with the
over-charges of the railroads in the
Territory, of this one projected road the
saving on the removal of the present
crop could be built the entire road?
Well, it's a fact. BY OVer-charges
mean charges on transportation in ex-
cess of what a fair charge would be-"
In addition to believing that the road
would be a success, Governor Leedy
believes in his heart that it will be
built-some time.
After the people have tried these
other railroad nostrums,'' said Cover
nor Ledy, and found that they will
fail. they will come to this They can't
help it, and before 1 die expect to see
such roaN in operation and in sue
cessful operation, too. 1 talked to a
Republican banker, who is also state
senator, about this idea the other day,
and he said to me that he considered it
the only solution of the transportation