The Topeka state journal., 1905-02-15

mission any interstate rates, the KAN
sas portion of which may be consid-
cred unjust. There are many cases OF
this kind Not infrequently when a
carload of freight crosses the Mis-
souri, river it takes on a rate double
that which carried it east of the river.
The states on three sides of US all
have railroad laws which permit the
regulation of freight charges Kansas
is not making an experiment. IL y
simply trying to put itself on a basis
with other states. The shippers do not
see why Kansas City, Missouri, should
draw its sustenance and life from the
state of Kansas and be given the most
discriminating freight charges against
us What this state wants is fair treat
ment Other states have secured equtt-
able rates by legislation of this kind
Kansas means to adopt a similar policy.
The law as it passed the house is
milder than the laws governing railroad
transportation In adjacent states. 1t
is a bill which has run the gauntlet in
the house without a dissenting vote. 1t
has the approval and support of Cover
nor Hoch and of the speaker Of the
house. Mr.. Stubbs.
The subject will now come before the
senate. What the shippers of this town
and state desire was expressed unan-
imously in several meetings held in To-
peka last night and this morning and
that is that the senate put through the
house bill.
The chairman of the railroad commit
tee in the senate is Senator J. B. Belts
of Topeka. The public will hold him
largely responsible if the house bill be
not passed. In a meeting at the state
house held at noon today, thirty odd
representatives of the manufacturing,
mercantile. milling, live stock, grain
and a variety of interests unanimously
urged that Senator Belts use his best
efforts to put through the bill in the
senate just as it came from the house.
Senator Belts in reply to a statement
that he had lodged the committee yes
terday said that he was not a dodger;
that he was obliged to be out of town
yesterday on personal business. In 4
speech he said that he was opposed TO
a commission of men regulating the
business of anybody. This could only
mean that he was opposed to section
four of the railway bill. Mr.. Belts sta
ted. however, that he had voted for
measures in the senate toward which
he was not personally favorable, but
for the reason that he believed his con-
stituents wanted him to do so. 1t was
following these remarks that the mo-
ton was unanimously adopted urging
the senator to support the railroad bill
just as it came from the unanimous
vote in the house.
The constituents of Senator Belts
are disappointed in his recent attitude
in view of the pronounced expressions
he had made favoring railway legis-
lation before the manufacturers COM
mittee of the Commercial club and
before committees representing the
shipping interests of Topeka and
Kansas.
If Kansas is to have reasonable
freight rates, she must adopt the
methods similar to those Of other
states toward this end. There is no
disposition to do injustice to the rail-
road companies, but there is a de-
mand that the railroads do justice to
the people. Railroads are profitable
in Illinois, in Missouri, in Iowa, in
the Dakotas, in Nebraska, in Texas
They can be profitable in Kansas Jun
der a law miIder than that of any of
the states named. Even in Texas,
with the alleged drastic rules and
regulations of rates. there is said to
be more railroad building than in any
other state in the Union. The public
is satisfied and the railroads have
come to be.
If Senator Belts does what his con-
stituents will hold him to account for. |
he will aid in the passage of this law
just as it came from the house.
VIII do