The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-17
THE RAILROAD Bill.

Notwithstanding the unanimous
passage of the house railway bill, the
senate has taken the first step to
slaughter it.
It has been charged that the rail-
roads had the senate and were not
worrying"
Have they?
The senate committee on railroads,
of which Senator Belts of this county
is chairman, has voted six to four to
report against the bill.
There is a minority report, how
ever.
The objection is to section four, the
very meat and substance of the whole
measure If the senate means to cut
out section four. it might just as we'll
be honest and straightforward about
the matter and cut out everything
after the enacting clause. Section four
is a paragraph which gives the COM
missioners power to act and to act in
an effective way. Section nine, an
other important section, supplements
it by a provision for relief on inter-
state shipments.
In both state rates and the Kansas
proportion of interstate rates is the
state most unjustly Disseminated
against.
If the senate defeats the house bill
Senator Belts will be most severely
called to account. He canntt stand on.
both sides of this question, practically
1T qaI
that he would favor railway regulation
by the state.
In opposing and defeating in the
committee the favorable recommends
ton of the house, he has shown that
he is simply for the railroads. There
can be no two ways about this.
Why should not Kansas. even in the
mild manner proposed by section four,
regulate freights. as do the states of
Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska and
Texas, alth ough Kansas does not ask
for anything as drastic as exists in |
these adjoining states which receive |
freight rates half and less than half |
those charged in Kansas?
To paraphrase the remark of Cover |
nor Hoch in his inaugural address. |
Kansas is the rich. juicy meat in the !
railroad sandwich of states. Topeka Is
so friendly to railroads and-i is always
so generously inclined. especially toward |
the Santa Fe. our big institution, that |
it is easy to gather together a couple |
of dozen men, including the paid attor- |
neys and employees of the railroads who, |
Of course. are friendly, and pass resolu-
tons opposing any regulation of freight |
rates. This will explain in the measure /
last nights gathering of the twenty-six. |
A meeting of the Commercial club can
sentiments.
Senator Belts was for the railroads
and he simply worked a scheme to get a
nominal expression that the commercial
interests were joyful and happy over
present conditions. The broad minded
people must understand that freight
must be such that all locaIi-
ties will be given fair treatment and
rates. Topeka must not look
at this matter from a narrow view
point. The facts are that aside from
certain shipping interests, Topeka is
paying outrageous rates; two and three
times rates charged in other states I'M
der similar conditions.
The right adjustment of this freight
question will mean millions of dollars to
The state of Kansas and it will not
mean any injustice to railway corpora
tons.
The way to regulate is to pass the
house bill without changing sections
four ant nine. The way to preserve the
Did order Of things is to cut out section
four