The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-01-20
department Us will serve TO make for and main
tain It's highest efficiency.

department as will serve to make for and main.
tain its highest efficiency.
Railroads.
E. For years there have been unfrlendly rela
t,ons existing between the railroads and the
people OF this state, during which time the rail
road question has been the source OF animated
discussion, sometimes resulting in bitter an
tagonism. In the earlier history Of Kansas
this condition did not exist As settlement
pushed westward from the eastern border the
necessity for means OF transportation was so
| great that counties, townships and cities gave
large subsidies to encourage the building OF
railroads. The people giving this aid expected
that the advantages afforded by new or add-
tional lines OF railway would in some way com
pensate for their self-imposed burden which
1 the granting of aid created. The railroad com
panies responded to this friendly assistance
and became efficient agenciesin the settlement
and development Of the country. They made
lavish expenditures In advertising the resources
OF the state and spec al sfforts to encourage i'm
migration. They entered into generous rivalry
with other int rests In milking Kansas great
state. This friendly cooperation produced
great results, and soon our advantages were so
we'll advertised that Kansas attracted much at
tention and thousands OF homeseekers found
their way to this western Mecca.
share OF the public burdens The last available
data shows that they piy-in the way OF taxes
/ more than the entire personal property OF the
state and one-third as much as our entire
| taxable lands. In addition to all this, the
operation of the railroads in the state furniShe
employment to about 1910 employees and pays
out in the way of salaries and wages, about
| Sl5 900 annually.
| 1t seems strange that agencies that have done
| CD fnr at nr hearing such n
| large part Of it's burdens and furnishing ON
| ployment to so many of its laborers, should be
met by the people in spirit Of unfrlendliness,
II not hostility; yet 1t Is apparent that such
spirit exists. The causes OF this condition are
numerous. On the one hand, the political dem
| agogue has been constant, in season and out OF
season, in melting the people against the rail
| roads that he mighn gain personal or political
advantage. On the other hand the railroad
! management has afforded ample ground for the
discomfort which exists. In can hardly be
hoped that there will be , re- establishment OF
| the old time relations OF cordially and good
| will while these reason remain.
The railroad companies have large sums In
vested in Kansas and should be allowed to re-
alize reasonable profit on the amount invest
! ed The people OF the state are too fair minded
to so limit the rate Of transportation over rail-
road lines as to cripple the companies, prevent
| them from realizing q reasonable income on
| their capital, or from paying to the great army
| of laboring men they employ good wages. They
| believe, however, that the railroads have dis
| eliminated against Kansas communities and
| out of this belief has grown much or the feel
| ing of dissatisfaction which now prevails.
| This same condition confronted us ten years
| ago. In his message to the legislature in 1889
Governor Martin in treating this question said:
"And worse than all, and of state a well as To-
| cal concern, several OF the railway lines OF
| Kansas are so operated as to build up and fos-
| ter alien communities, to the detriment or de-
| structIon of our towns and cities Several. II
not most, of the railroads traversing our state
| are so operated as to retard the growth and
damage the prosperity Of communities that
have materially aided in building them, and
that are bearing heavy burdens OF taxation to
meet indebtedness contracted for that purpose.
Millions of acres OF state lands and millions OF
| dollars in bonds have been given by our people
| to aid in building these roads The beneiclar-
| les of this prodgal generosity should recognize
| their Obligations to the people of the state and
| SO operate their lines as to confer the largest
possible benefits and advantages upon Kansas
communities"
Since that message was delivered many
changes and some adjustments have been made,
but the language used by Governor Martin
would fifty describe present conditions. Gov
ernor Martin closed the subject rs follows:
Appeals to the justice and fairness of many
railway managers have been tried again ana
again for many years ald have failed to ac-
complish any important results 1t is time 30
try what stringent laws, backed by determined
public sentiment, will do"
The methods Pointed out have been largely
pursued, but they have not bri1ged the difll-
culties. Laws passed in the heated discussion
Of partisan controversy are often defective,
sometimes unconstitutional Remedies through
the courts are generally tedious and expensive,
ami frequently inadequate to meet the case;
and especially Is this true where the discriml-
nations are made in matters Of inter- state COM
merce, and, consequently matters over which
our local courts have no control. But in all
matters OF state commerce the state has very
great powers of regulation and control
The benefits ana obligations accruing to and
resting upon the state and the railroads are
dependent and mutual Each desires the larg-
est advantage possible consistent with the
rights of the other, and however and whenever
the difference is adjusted it must be done on
the basis OF the reciprocal rights Of both par
ties.
The new law-just passed ut the special ses-
sion-is entitled to fair trial. II called into
use for the purpose of enforcing rights or re-
dressing wrsngs it is hoped that its provisions
may be ample ;but 1 would expect better re-
suits II an honest attempt should be made to
adjust matters along friendly lines, legal
methods being resortod to only when friendly
methods fail. am satisfied that the people
arc fair and will meet the railroad cmpanie'
half way. II the management of the railroad
companies are willing to have an equitable ad-
justment of the difficulties which exist have |
no doubt that the representatives, of the people
will be equally willing to meet them on the
basis of fairness, and think we could accom- |
p!ish in two years of effort in this direction, |
more than we have accomplished in u decade of
strife and contention.
Prohibition.
For eighteen years the prohibition of the |
manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors
has been the settled policy Of this state but the
enforcement If this law h s been attended with
Indifferent success. The difficulty of the stu
alton has been owing largely to the fact that
prohibition has been made political rather
than an economic question. This perversion Of
the question has resulted in such condition
that, in Kansas, prohibition and temperance
not Synonymous. The misfortune of pro-
hibition is that it has largely been made
political question every two years, to lapse
during long intervals, only to be rehabilitated
and brought into use at each recurring election,
for political purposes The result OF the last
two general eleFtions in Kansas demonstrated
that. as purely political question it has about
run its course. AS an economic question it is
entitled to much more serious consideration,
and ought to command our earnest attention.