Hutchinson gazette., 1899-01-12

yhlh lth mbhohb oIuVlohcy'
\ iRAllroAda.
IsFot years There hhse boon unfrlondly rela
lions oxlgbug helweah the railroads ana thl
| people OF THIS gtata, during which time Tho rat
road questlOn.hua heen tho source OF hnimatA'
| discussion, 6Ofnetlmes resulting In hitter an
| tag0nlsm In the earlier history OF Ransni
this condition did not exist Az settlement
pushed westward from tho oastorn border th'
| necessity for means Of transportation was NJ
| great that counties. townships and cities gave
large subsidies 10 encourage tho Building o.
railroads, Tho people giving this aid expected
that tho advantages afforded by new or add
tlonal lines OF railway would IN some way com
pensato for their self-imposed burden whict
the granting OF MD created The railroad com
panies responded 10 this friendly asslstan e
and became ofliclent agenclosln the otttlomenl
and development OF the country, They made
lavish expendituresln advertising the resources
OF the tate and spec oil sf0rts 10 encourage i'm
migration, They entered Into Agonerous rivalry
with other Int rests In mlkllg Kansasa great
stats. This friendly co operation produced
great results md soon our advantages were 10
vol advertised that Kansas attracted much at
tention and thousands OF homeseokers found
tholr way 10 this western Mecca.
The railroads have always borne their full
share OF the public burdens, The last available
data shows that they ply-in the way Of taxes
more than the entire personal property OF the
state, and one third ns much M our entire
taxable lands. In addltlo, 10 all this, tho
operation OF the railroads In the state furni 'hcs
employment TO about 5000 employees and pays
out In the way OF salaries md wagcs, about
$4,000 900 annually,
IL seems strange that agencies that have done
~ much for tho state, arc now bearing such u
large part OF its burdens md furnishing om-
ployment 10 40 many OF It's laborers should bo
met by tho people IN spirit OF unfroudliness,
II not hostility; yet II Is app rent that such u
spirit exists. The causes OF this condition arc
numerous, On the ono hand the political DEM
agoguo has been constant, In season and out OF
season. In melting the people against the rail-
roads that he mlghn galn personal or political
advantage On tho other hand the railroad
management has afforded ample ground 10 the
discomfort which exists. IN can hardly be
hoped that there will be establishment OF
the old time relations Of oordlallty and good
will while these reason remain,
The railroad companies have largo sums In
vested In Kansas and should be allowed 10 re-
alize o reasonable profit on the amount invest
cd. 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 o reasonable income on
their capital, or from paying to the great army
OF laboring men they employ good wages' They
believe, however, that the ra lroads have dis
crimlnaled against Kansas communities, and
out OF this belief has grown much OF the feel
Ing OF dissatisfaction which now prevails,
This same condition confronted ny ton years
aua To, la 40. IN laa,lg In,
Governor Martin In treating this question said;
"And worse than oil, aud OF state a. vol M To-
cal concern several OF the railway lines OJ
Kansas are so operated as to build up and ios-
tor alien communities, 10 tho detrlment or de-
struotJon OF our towns and cities. Several n
not most OF the ra lroads traversing our state
are no operated as TO rotard 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 bonehcar-
les Of this prodlgal generosity should recognize
their Obligations to the people OF the state and
80 operate their lines US TO confer the largest
possible benefits md advantages upon Kansas
Since that message was delivered many
changes and some adjustments have been made,
but the language used by Governor Martin
would fltly describe present conditions, Gov
ernor Martha closed the subject. as follows:
Appeals TO the justice and fairness Of many
railway managers have been trleA again and
again for many years aud have fdcd TO ac-
compIsh any important results. II Is time to
try what stringent laws, backed Undetermined
public sentiment, will do"
Tho methods pointed out have been largely
pursued but they have not brllgod the DIM
cultlos Laws passed In the heated discussion
Of partisan controversy are often defective,
sometimes unconstitutional Remedies through
tho courts are generally tedious md expensive
md frequently inadequate to meet the case
and especially IL this true where the discrlml-
nations are made In matters Of Interstate COM
merce, and, consequently, matters over which
our local courts havS no control. But In oil
matters OF state commerce the state has very
great powers OF regulation and control
The benefits and obligations accrung TO and
resting upon the stato and the railroads are
and mutual Each desires the larg-
sst advantage possible consistent with the
rights of the other, and however and whenever
The difference Is adjusted IL must be done on
The basis OF the reciprocal rights OF both par-
.ics.
The now law-jus passed ut the special ses-
,ion-is entitled TO u fair trial. II called into
iso for tho pu pose Of enforcing rights or re-
lresslng wrongs II Is hoped that It's provisions
nay bc ample; but l would expect better re-
suits II an honest attempt should be made TO
adjust matters along friendly lines legal
Methods being resorted TO only when friendly
Methods fail. l am satisfied that the people
lro fair AAd will meet the rillrond cmpanleI
lalf way. II the management OF the railroad
companies are willing TO have an eQultabli I'd
ustment Of the dlnlcultles which exist, | have
10 doubt that the representatives Of the people
will be equally willing to meet them on the
,ass OF fairnes' and / think we could accom-
,lish In two years OF effort In this direction,
more than we have accomplished In decade OF
trlfe and contention.
Prohibition.
For eighteen years the prohibition OF the
and sale OF Intoxicating liquors
las been the settled policy OF this state but the
enforcement II this law h = been attended with
Indifferent success. The dlnlculty Of the stu-
Ition has been owing largely to thejfact that ]
prohibition has beon made political rather
han an economic question, This p9rverSion OF
he question has resulted In such condition |
hat, In Kansas, prohibition md temperance
% not Synonymous. The misfortune of pro /
libition Is that II has largely been made u |
political question every two years, TO lapse
Turing long intervals only to be rohablitated !
md brought into use at each recurring election
or political purposes, The result OF the last
wo general elections In Kansas demonstrated |
hat, as purely political question, 1t has about
'un Its course. AS IN economic question II Is |
untitled to u much more serious consideration
Ind ought to command our earnest attention.
As the law now stands It Is hardly profitable
% discuss whether prohibition is wise or an