The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-01
Maximum Freight Rate.

The principal plank in the Populist plat
forms since 1890 has been that on maxi
reached this question he quoted from the
records of the Populist managers as re-
corded in the house and senate journals,
stating that they had not only failed to
pass the maximum law in 1897 but that
Governor Leedy. voted against the prop
osition which the Populists now demand
railroad commissioners by the people. On
this question Mr. Stanley spoke as fol-
Their position on control of railroads has
been so questionable that We are force to
the conclusion that they have never been
sincere.
In their platform of 1892 they commend
ed the Populist house for the passage of
a maximum freight bill and condemned
the Republican senate for allowing the
campaign of that year went before the
people on that issue.
They elected the governor and senate.
but no relief was granted the people along
the line of maximum freight rates. They
refusal of the Republican house to assist
in the passage of the measure.
of the maximum freight rate bill passed
by the senate in 1893 and condemned the
ure. That year the Republicans were
successful. but the PopuIsts still had con-
freight rate bill was again introduced and
passed by the senate in the session of 1895:
before the people on a platform declaring
lot ma Pb1 foo IN bnTsS d 9rs
gOons.'
For the first time they had complete
and had an overwhelming majority in
both branches of the, Legislature.
If the members of the state adminiStra-
ton were honest. nothing stood in the way
OF the enac d Of ma * 9bn ITglgnt
which they had so lavishly made to the
With a Populist majority large enough
to pass any bill and with the promises of
LEGISLATURE buried the Xin1lDn
Gabriel has yet been found who had the
temerity to blow the horn for it's resur-
rection.
Having failed to redeem their promises
relative to the maximum rate law, the
R9fIrnsd agitaf7on had been their stock in
trade and they suddenly found themselves
without any goods on hand to carry on
The questions growing out of the regu-
lation of the railroads had afforded fruit
he had been diligently tilIing the soil.
but when the time came for action he
The time for the campaign of 1898 was
coming on and the railroad question could
party were compelled to abandon the max
imum rate theory because on that ques-
and found wanting, and they adopted a
platform declaring in favor of enlarging
sioners to be elected by the people, CIV
ing them the power to fix rates
It is safe to presume that these prom
Uses will not be fulfilled if the party man
ayers are given anOtner opportunity rs they
have too firmly established a reputation
for breaking promises to justify a belief
that they would keep one now.
But we are not left to conjecture. The
present mana gers of the party have placed
themselves on record and have declared
against the doctrine now set out in the
party platform
In 1898 Mr.. Greenlee of Reno county,
who was a member of the house and a
large shipper, prepared a rate bill provid-
ing for the enlargement of the powers of
the board of railroad commissioners and
their election by the people
Mr.. Greenlee himself was a Republican,
ing also Republican. This bill was in
harmony with the Republican platform of
1892 and in line with the Republican prece-
dent of keeping promises and fairly sets
out the Republican position the rate
question
senate a maximum rate bill was before
the senate and during the discussion Mr.
O'Bryan of SedgWick, a Democrat, offer
ed an amendment providing for the cleo
ton of the board of railroad commission
ers by the people and leaving the maxi
This amendment was defeated by PopuIist
votes. A disagreement having arisen be-
tween the senate and the house. two con-
ference committees were appointed to ad-
lust the differences. 1t may be proper to
say that W. w. Price, one of the members
candidate for congress in the First dis
The greater part of Mr. StanIey's speech
was devoted to state issues Each ques-
ton which the POpulistS have raised
either in their platform or in their cam
paign speeches, was dealt with at length.