The independent., 1903-04-09
FREIGHT RATES
The Kennedy Bills Slaughtered by tho
Railway L0bby-Kssnedy's speech


road lobby to again show its hand.
The lobby had no trouble in beating
him then, but Kennedy sowed the seed
which will some time result in the
political death of good many poll
ticians who SO joyously bowed their
necks to the railroad yoke.
As to what was done. we cannot
improve on Harvey Il. Newbranch's
special correspondence to the World
Herald. Under Lincoln date of April
3, he said:
Ominous of the approaching storm
against railroad companies that are
exacting unjust and exorbitant freight
rates from the people Of Nebraska was
the vote upon the Kennedy maximum
rate bills taken in the house OF repre-
sentatives this morning.
Though the railroad lobby was on
the ground in force; though the hiss
of It's whip was heard right in repre-
sentative hall; though the slave driv-
ers were beating their minions back
into line by main force, still there
were twenty-seyen republicans who,
on the first vote taken, dared stand
out against the demands of the rail-
roads. And when the second vote
was taken, though the lobby had in
the meantime leaped upon the re-
publican members as tiger leaps
upon its prey, there still remained
nineteen of them who stood firm for
lower freight rates in Nebraska. But,
while nineteen republicans voted with
the fusionists for the Kennedy bills,
forty-seven republicans voted the
dictates of their railroad masters, and
the bills were lost.
The republican vote for the bills
was Unexpectedly large. That it was
large tells, eloquently, how strong is
the popular demand for protection
from railroad extortion in Nebraska.
But, more than this, it was deserved
tribute to the splendid speech made
by Kennedy, on the floor Of the house,
in advocacy of his measures. Though
not much time was occupied in it's
delivery. the speech was easily the
most convincing delivered during the
session, and the facts and figures ad-
duced therein are destined to be
valuable educational influence in the
fight that is rapidly approaching.
AS soon as the house convened this
morning Kennedy moved that house
roll AL, directing the attorney gem
eral to institute proceedings to en-
force as many of the schedules Of the
maximum rate law as possible, and
house roll 451, creating state board
to have control of the regulation of
freight rates, be advanced to the head
fnf 1n cff 10 ViCat inn nsc
motion, Mr.. Kennedy proceeded direct
ly to argue the merits of the bills. To
do SO he made showing to prove
that freight rates in Nebraska are ex-
orbitant, and that they can be re-
duced to those prescribed by the
maximum rate bill and still leave the
railroads with high earning capac-
ity. He produced lengthy compila
ton of Nebraska rates on grain, as
compared with Iowa rates, to prove
that Nebraska rates are from so to rs
per cent the higher of the two for
the same distance. Here are a few of
his Illustrations:
To ship from Hastings to Omaha
over the Burlington & Missouri,
distance of Isl miles. costs 16 cents per
100 for wheat and IA cents for corn.
The Iowa rates for that distance is
91-2 cents for wheat and Z 9-10 for
corn--a difference of approximately Is
per cent in favor of the Iowa farmer.
To ship from Kearney to Omaha
over the Union Pacific, distance Of
199 miles, costs 16 cents for wheat
and IA cents for corn. The Iowa rate
is 10 67-100 for wheat and S9-100 for
corn. To ship from Grand Island to
Omaha, over the same road, a dis
tance of 156 miles, costs 16 cents for
wheat and IA cents for corn. The
Iowa rate is 8 63-100 for wheat and
cents fer corn. A difference of from
SO to rs per cent in favor of the Iowa
farmer.
10 ship from Norfolk to Omaha
over the Northwestern, distance of
119 miles, costs IA cents for wheat and
IL cents for corn. The Iowa rate is
S52-100 for wheat and 11-100 for
corn. The difference is 70 per cent in
favor of the Iowa farmer.
To ship grain over the Missouri
Pacific to Kansas City costs so per
cent less than to ship to Omaha over
the Burlington. For instance, from
Ea1lc Cify to Eancac Citv q die