The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-10

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the shipper bill of lading or paper
and has him sign it, filled in with fine
print, wherein he valves nearly all of
/ his rights, but which he hasn't time
to read. Well, there may be DELAYS or
damage, and when he finally presents
4 his claim for it he is informed that
the fine print part of his paper is a
contract he signed waiving all such
claims, and yet if he did not sign it
the stock would be left at the yards.
So the little joker of that section null
/ lilies the balance of it.
The interstate commerce commits
| sion for years has been asking con-
gress for power to classify and fix
rates. 1t has failed to get this power,
so that while it may determine rate
is excessive, it has no power to say
what shall be the proper rate under
the circumstances in any given in
stance. The commercial interests
asked the national Republican conven-
ton for a plank favoring the granting
OF such power to such commission.
They were refused this recognition by
the Republicans. They came before
the Democratic national convention
and asked for such a plank and their
request was granted. Such power is
needed in order to accomplish the
purpose of its existence, and our SEN
ators and representatives from this
state should be forced to take interest
enough in this matter to get behind
the measure and push it through.
The Texas Law.
But how can we remedy the mat
teri By adopting law based upon
the Texas and other state provisions
in so far as the same may be ap-
plicable- We want railroad commits
sioners allowed by law to do some
thing. Under the Texas law it is
their duty after full and fair hearing
upon reasonable notice to make clas-
sifications and fix tariffs. freight and
and this rate is deemed conclusive
upon the proposition unless attacked
by direct proceedings in the courts
brought by the party aggrieved. This
gives the courts then the right to de-
termine the question whether such
rates are reasonable, and if they SO
decide then such rates are the ones
that the roads are governed by. The
commissioners do this of their own
motion and do not have to wait until
some one makes complaint. The law
allows them to employ experts to
make full and complete investigation,
and so they go into the cost of the
building of the roads, the condition
of the country, the indebtedness, etc,
and they investigate the rates in other
states and ascertain the conditions
where such rates are in effect, and
when they have concluded the state
has a schedule of rates affecting all
the roads of the state. Heavy penal
ties are provided against discrimina-
ton, etc. In short, the law amounts
to something. OF course no state law
can affect interstate commerce, but
there is provision in the Texas
statute that the railroad commission
ers shall investigate all rates affect
ing interstate commerce and if they
find the roads are not doing the right
thing in any given instance such COM
mission brings the matter before the
interstate commerce commission,
which relieves the private individual
and the municipalities from the bur-
den of prosecuting. That is one of the
good features of the Texas law.
And the federation, in a recent al
dress to the voters. states: 'It is fur
Their the object of the federation to
of the different parties for the legis-
lature as are known to be and fairly |
express themselves in favor of a rail-
road law giving the commissioners
Their measures that have proven bene- |
fetal in Texas, Illinois, Iowa, and
other states"
Had the railroad property in the |
state, $50, 492,0S7 as shown on page 62 |
of the auditors report, been increased |
the same per cent as farm and other |
property, the increase in assessment of
railroad property would have been $4,- |
164. 446. The average rate per cent of |
tax for 1903 in the state. as shown of |
record in the auditors office is 4.39 per |
cent. This per cent on $4,164, 446, the
amount of railroad property would have /
been increased If raised as other pro- /
perty was, would amount in tax to
S1S2S19.1S.
The Railroads of the State Saved This
Amount-Other Taxpayers Paid 1t.
Having shown that on the assess
ment of 1908 railroad property was low
cred, and all other property raised, let |
us see if the raise was made equitably <
over the state, or if the board favored .
some and Disseminated against others. .
In the tables which follow every tax
payer can see Just what was done in
his county and to others. The result is
There were but two of
the los counties in the state that re-
ceived a straight reduction on all tax
able property in the county as returned
were Miami and Neosho. (The
of the state treasurer and aud
itor). Out of the six counties in the
entire state that received a reduction on
property as returned by the
county clerks were those of Miami. Ne
state treasurer, auditor and secretary
of state). Miami and Neosho received .
a straight reduction of 90 per cent on .
personal property.
4Ano while this average increase over
the state was 241 according to this
pamphlet, Miami county (kelly's) the
raise was 20 per cent, amounting to
$50.
Smith county. CBurrow's) 7.3 per cent.
amounting to 81. 343.
Neosho county, CWells) 12.7, amount
ing to $2SS2.
Sedgwick county. 3s.s per cent. $1s,-
205
Summer county. 264 per cent. SO. 09S.
Reno county, 3S.7 per cent, S14,55S.
Kingman county. 25.4 per cent, $40 500.
Harvey county, 21.7 per cent, Sc, 309.
Cowley county, 29.1 per cent, SO, 293
Butler county. 27-S per cent, SO. 622-
Harper county, 29.s per cent. $4.s13.