The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-13

for its prosperity: the men who keep
the wheels moving
Its opening sentence is why not be
fair and honorable and decent about
That is exactly what we want to be.
1t also would carry the idea. that
these people, whom they characterize
under the general heading of walking
delegates, candidates and so-calIed
shippers organizations as being very
! hostile to the railroads. would destroy
the value of their stocks and who arc
disturbing the public peace and har-
mony of society by keeping up a per
petual agitation of questions pertain
ing to the railroads" and always for
personal ends" Considerable is said
about their desires to '-SWipe the rail
roads. " smash the railroads." etc, etc.
Now in the discussion of this article
We shall adopt also as our motto,
Why not tell the truth2'
The statement is made that there is
nothing in this railroad agitation ex-
cept some mercenary motive or desire
for Office That the Kansas property
owners want more and better rail
roads better service, faster time and
are ready and willing to help for all
OF it." This is true The Kansas ship
per, the Kansas farmer and cattleman
are willing to pay fun value for all ser
vice rendered by the railroads. bit no
more 1t has fortunately been decid-
ed years ago that railways are public
carriers subject to state supervision
and control.
Therefore these various associations
are not altogether outside their rights
IN their so-called agitation. Let us
briefly inquire whether there is any
excuse or Justification for this agita-
ton at this or any other time quote
the following from the last report of
the interstate commerce commission,
page L.
The commissioners comment as fol-
lows on the present management or
railroads in the United States.
a sense of the wrongs and injustice
which can not be prevented in the
present state of the law. as we'll as
the duty enjoined by the act itself. i'm
pels the commission to reaffirm it's rec
concentrations for the reasons so often
and so fully set forth in previous re-
ports and before the congressional
committees. Moreover. inview of the rap
id disappearance of railway competition
and the maintenance of rates estab-
lished by combination. attended as they
are by substantial advances in the
charges on many articles of household
necessity. the commission regards this
matter as increasingly grave, and de-
sires to emphasize its conviction that
the safeguards required fer the pro-
lection of the public will not be pro-
vided until the regulating statute is
thoroughly revised
Again on page 3 the commissioners
make the following statement regard
ing recent advances in freight rates.
RECENT ADVANCES IN FREIGHT
RATES.
zone of the most significant things in
recent railway operations is the steady
advance in the cost of the transporta-
ton of freight by rail A few years
ago the impression was general that
freight rates could not and would not
be advanced When the commission
had under consideration certain con-
sOlida tions of railway property. the
eminent gentlemen who had brought
them about stated under oath that the
purpose was not to advance but rather
to reduce rates. Recent history bellies
these predictions. This increase in the