The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-04

SAY the HouIO808 Must % E9lH-So .oOte
Discrimination Against Kansas to the
Gulf VIII ex-senator Campbell says
They VIII Try Two Ways IL One Doesn't
work-Wnl Meet tho Interstate Com
merce Commission at Austin, Texas.
APRIL l6-May Recommend an Aurora
Borealis Railroad.
The transportation committee appoint
ed by the legislature in the latter part
of February to look into the matter Of
rates for all classes Of freight transpor-
tation to Galveston, met in the Carey
hotel yesterday and held an informal
conference with some Of Wichita's ship
pers. The committee consists of Sena-
tor George Campbell of Labette county,
Senator King of Cowley county, Repre-
sentatiyes Hackney of Sumner, Brown
of Pratt and johnson of Nemeha, who
will meet similar committee from Ok
Iahoma and both Of these with another
committee from the Texas legislature,
will meet the interstate railway commits
The Kansas Committee went from
here 10 Guthrie last night and will meet
the Oklahoma committee Monday, after
which they will go back home with ar
Engagements to meet in Austin, Texas, on
the 10th inst.
This committee was appointed last
winter in the effort for railroad legisla-
ton to carry on the work for readjdst-
ment of rates and was allowed $500 for
their expenses and pay. They will take
up the matter of rate dissemination
with the interstate railway commission
at Austin on the 18th OF this month and
attempt TO secure an adjustment and
equitable listing OF rates for freight of
all kinds to the south and il this can be
secured through the joint action OF the
three state committees with the inter-
state commission the object will be ac-
complislied, but IL not other steps will
be taken. The legislature of Texas will
probably continue in session until the
committees from Kansas and Oklahoma
arrive, though if ar adjournment is
taken a committee Will be appointed
with full power 10 confer and agree up
OIL a plan of action for the three state
legislatures in case no concession IN
freight rates is made by the roads.
Senator George Campbell of Oswego,
who seemed to be spokesman for the
party, said in reference 10 the object Of
tee trip:
1--WE have two plans to secure equit-
able rates to the south for Kansas. We
will lay the case before the interstate
railway commission, showing the unjust
discrimination of present rates and ask
that the matter be readjusted. If the
commission Will take it up and we can
get concession from the roads we will
stop there but we do not propose that
rates shall be from a fourth to one-third
, higher to the south than it is 10 the bas-
ing line east. In other words, we are OPP
posed to any arbitrary manipulation of
rates so as to cause US to ship east for
the benefit of somebody else and dam
age ourselves ultimately"
Here some one in the room remarked
that the rate from Wichita to Galveston
was IS cents as against 20 cents from
Kansas City.
If We fail In this" continued Mr.
Campbell, I'VE have a scheme for build
ing a railroad from north Kansas 10
Galveston. Like this. Texas will take
the matter up and put the road to the
south line OF Oklahoma. and Oklahoma
will further the work from there to
Kansas, after which Kansas will push it
along as far north as is desired. OF
course, the state cannot do this for the
constitution forbids that a state shall be-
come party to any internal improve
nent, but the different counties can
take 1t up separately in the course OF
building progress and get II through
just as We'll. The state can appropriate
money 20 the counties and the governor,
secretary of state and attorney general
become the directors OF the road, having
full control of its operation. Texas has
S10,000,0 900 in the state treasury and
those people have sign;fed their desire
10 take hold of this matter If nothing
else can be done. I think we can ac-
complish our object, if not one way, then
another. and It will be a great thing for
Kansas and Oklahoma"
1t il probable that these committees
may formulate a plan of action for the
legislatures and it is quite probable that
Kansas and Texas will have extra
sessions upon their recommendation
Either some common freight law for
hotn states with the hope of getting the
same in Okhoma VIII be attempted or
steps taken to put N a double track
road 10 the north line Of Texas with one
bed from there north or two diVerCinc