The Wichita daily eagle., 1904-05-26
MAN BEHIND
THE PLOW THINKS
Man with Railroad Goes to
See.
MAN WITH THE PLOW
BoquetS and Promises Are
Freely Offered.
Editor Ea gle

Editor Eagle:
On the 4th inst. an announcement ap
'peared in the Kansas City Star beginning
thus: Paul Morton, vice president il
charge of traffic of the Atchson, Topek
Il Santa Fe railroad system is responsible
for an innovation in railroad service. II
company with the leading traffic official
OF the system Mr.. Morton left Kansas
City this morning for two weeks tou
of Kansas and Oklahoma The featur,
OF the trip is that the officials are max
ing the tour for the purpose of gettinf
III touch with the shippers and patrons OF
Ehe system.
"A schedule of stops was prepared and
word sent out in advance with an invita-
ton to city and county officials, shippers
and other users Of railroads to meet the
officials for conference as to the best
methods TO promote the interests of the
railroad and the communities served by
the railroad. An opportunity will be given
dor an interchange Of opinions as to the
betterment of the service given by the
railroad and the railroad officials are pre-
pared TO give close attention to any COM
plants that may be made
A visit with like purpose by the Rock
Island people preceded this a few days.
and we understand it is the intention of
other great roads operating within the
limits Of our fair state, to make like
visits for like purpose. The question
Is, what is this purpose? What is the
meaning of this unusual activity by the
railroads in the interest of the people at
this particular time? | say unusual. for
Mr.. Morton says, Il believe that is the
first time that a systematic schedule has
been arranged for such purpose" In
another place he says, I'VE have adver-
tised the trip and have sent invitations to
our patrons to meet u.s." Now as to the
purpose of these much advertised visits
by these high railroad officials A Wichita
man, well known for his honesty as well
as for his want Of sagacity, readily an
swered. The officials have frankly told
us their object was to get in touch with
the people, their patrons" So we turned
to the printed announcement and found
that this was the language used, but
then we remembered that Talleyrand said
that language was invented to conceal
ideas, and so we looked further for the
real purpose. But how do they expect to
get 'in touch with their patrons on the
transportation question, by one ante-elec-
ton junketing tour, when Mr.. Morton
tells us not to carry the question into
politics? To touch" a man. in the
rogue's vocabulary, is to rob him, so they
can't mean that; we suppose. and will
so accept, that they mean to use that
word in the French sense of zen rapport"
meaning, in sympathy with
Now let us accept the words in this
sense and then charge them with dis
tngenuousness-falseho would be bet
ter word for they mean nothing of the
kind. If they were honest and really
wanted to get in touch with their patrons:
with those who had furnished the traffic
20 fill their treasures to over1owing,
they need not make these expensive trips
the cost of which will he collected from
an already over-taxed commerce
If they really want to get in touch
with the people, let them send for their
claim agents. instructing them to bring
all claims for damages filed to date Let
them provide plenty of room and plenty
of clerical help to perform the honest duty
of examining these complaints and decid-
ing them upon their merits. upon the well
understood obligations of common car
Tiers, measured hy the common law in
use when they secured their franchises
Let the mread the seventeen annual re-
ports Of the interstate commerce com
mission and they will soon get in touch
with their patrons and their patrons
grievances.
This commission was created seventeen
years ago by an act Of congress in ac-
Cordance with the plain provision OF the |
federal constitution. in which the control |
Of commerce is made a Legislative func- |
tion. This act directs the commission to |
make ar annual report to congress and /
particularly makes it a duty of this high |
court to recommend such additional legis- |
lation as they may deem necessary to |
give fun effect to the intent of the or !
fginal law The act of 1887. as drawn by !
Senator Cullom seemed adequate TO the |
wants of commerce. in fact was too sat |
isfactory 10 the people 70 be permitted to |
pass without emasculation by railroad |
attorneys and their allies in both houses
of congress. and as finally passed was
declared 10y the supreme court to be of
no effect.
As We remember these annual reports.
not one failed not only 10 recommend adj
ditional legislation. hut to urge in strong
est language and argument the neces-
siiy Of such in order 10 give effect to the
intention of the original act All such
efforts We're defeated by railroad inhu-
ence. and with this history Of the master
ful domination of the railroad in all
branches OF our government it comes with
g bad grace from Mr.. Morton to tell US
during this visiting trip to keep these
1;estions out Of politics"
re says, They are purely business
,;,'t stions. You don't want any Texas |
avs. IN fact you don't want any legis-
istion- II you have any cause OF COM
plant. bring it to US. We VIII treat you
fairly
To those acquainted with the facts. this
pretense that the railroads are ignorant
OF the complaints of the people and are
out hunting for facts deserves only de-
Yfsion. These railroad officials know that
their patrons knew that every one of
these visiting railroads has a claim de-
partment TO which all claims for damages
are referred. and that these claims run
w into the thousands in numbers. and
Into the millions OF dollars in amount.
md that their claim agents are instruct
ed TO make substantially the same an
swer 10 every claim regardless of its
particular circumstances or merit. This
IS a broad assertion. but no assertion has
been made or viii be made IN anything
We shall write of which we shall not
be able to furnish satisfactory proof
Take this stereotyped answer and rem
der it into plain English and it means
about as follows:
Your claim for damages which we