Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-06-02
SENATOR HARRIS AND RAILROADS.

a few weeks ago we stated that Sen
ator Harris, the new senator from Kan
sas, will offer an important amendment
to the Foraker Pooling Railroad bill.
we desire to retract that statement.
Senator Harris has offered substitute
for the Foraker bill, it is true. but it is
as wIshywashy as his railroad bill
which was passed by the state legisla-
ture and vetoed by Governor Leedy.
The Harris bill differs from the Forak-
er bill i'll only few particulars, 1t
abolishes the Inter State Commerce
Commission and establishes national
court of railroad commissioners con-
sisting of two more members than now
compose the present commission. The
members of the proposed new court are
not TO be elected by the people but the
president of the United States appoints
them. Under the provisions of this
bill the power to sustain or annul
pooling arrangement lies entirely in the
new court, and experience has taught
us all what can be expected from
court or commission which is not elect
ed 10y the people. On the whole, the
Harris bill is strong corporation
measure which will tend TO increase in
stead of 10 lower railroad rates. The
same old watered stock, fictitious CAPT
! taliZatiOn is allowed to stand and il
will be declared perfectly legitimate to
! fix transportation rates at such figures
that Will yield handsome dividends on
| all this enormous capital. The COM
mon people will play the fiddle while
the railroad magnates dance.
1t is with a feeling of regret and dis
appointment that we note Senator Har-
ris' course. He is an entirely changed
man since he represented this state as
congressman at large few years ago
1t is not for us to say what influence
was brought 10 bear on the Senator but
it becomes our duty to say that he has
ceased to represent PoDulist principles.
He seems TO be great stickler for con
centrating almost Unlimited power in
the hands of a court or a commission
which is not elective, but appointive.
His idea is to get the law making power
as far away from the people as possible
and to encourage corporations in plu n
dering the people. Senator Harris has
made the campaign for congressman
at-large Of Kansas twice and his
speeches and sentiments were far diff
ferent then from what they now are.
He then favored q maximum freight
70 70
rangements. deplored the fact that
railroad charges were based On inflated
capital, watered stock and branded the
interstate commerce commission as a
farce; but now he is the author of a bill
which is no better than the present ar
rangeinent relative to transporta
tion charges. Oar first suspicion OF
Senator Harris arose when he, as
chairman Of the committee on railroads
of the state senate, introduced the mis-
erable, weak and Doodle inviting bill
which was subsequently passed under
protest By the legislature. but which
was fortunately vetoed by the COVE m
or. Our next suspicion arose when he
, was given place on the Pacific rail
road committee Immediately after ht
had taken his seat IN the U. S. senate
Usually new members do not get sucl
important places but Senator Harris l!
an exception to the rule, and it seems
that the railroads are very well satisfi
ed with his course.
: The legislature made a great mistake
when it retired Senator PETER and tool
up Senator Harris. This fact is being
made more evident every day.