The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-10

| within It's power demands immediate
performance. Vast amounts of gas
are constantly going to waste in all
| the gas fields of the state-a condi-
| ton which Indiana and other states
have learned, to their sorrow, should
not be permitted to continue. Strin-
gent laws to prevent this waste should
| be Immediately enacted. Our oil in
| terests are also in jeopardy I am a
| firm believer in the competitive sys-
tenn and entertain with caution any
proposition tending to the centraliza-
ton of governmental power over
commercial enterprises which should.
as far as possible, be left to individual
ownership and control. / have been
a student of these subjects for years
and am grounded in the philosophy of
the competitive system in contradis-
tlnct1on to the socialistic idea of gov
efnmental absorption of business en-
terprises- The competitive system is
essential. in my Judgment, to healthy
industrial growth, while socialism is a
soporlf1c which would put the indus
trial world to sleep. But, while pro-
foundly 1mbued with this conviction,
| refuse to be blinded by a theory
however sound or confused by mis-
leadlng terms. II an arrogant and al
most Omnipotent monopoly is to con-
troll in any business circle. the COM
peLlLIVe system is slaughtered in the
mouse or its friends, for monopoly is
but one form of socialism MASQUERADE
ing under the name of competition
Monopoly destroys competition and
that is all socialism does considered
from an Industrial standpoint Rath-
er, therefore, than permit the great
monopoHes to rob us of the benefits
or the vast reservoirs of oil which
nave been stored by the Creator be-
meath our soil, am inclined to waive
my objection to the socialistfc phase
or this subject and recommend the
establishment of an oil refinery of
our own IN our state for the preserva-
ton of our wealth and the protec-
ton OF our people. A respected cor
respondent objecting to this PROPOSE
ton says that Every Kansan has al
ways Wlshed that our corn might be
converted into beef and pork before it
was shipped, but no one thinks it
would be good idea for the state to
go into the business of feeding corn in
0Tder 70 bring about that result"
Ihis is plausible, but not a sound
argument. The cases are not analog-
GUS If a trust should become able fl
universally control the price of corn.
detriment of its producers. then fhe
cases would be similar, and I appre-
mend my friend can now see the fall
ldcy OF ms argument Our producers
are now compelled to sell their crude
oil entirely too cheap while the con-
sumers OF the final product are com
peIled to pay too much for it. Thus.
are we pelng ground beneath the up
monopoly. and the people are right
ruIly demanding relief
Railroads
NO single material interest of fba
state is of greater importance than the
rsllroad interests. Their assessed value
Is Almost equal to the assessed value of
al the personal property in the state
Lhey nave been powerful factors in
the upbuildfng of Kansas Thew are
4 vital part OF our Industrial system.
EVefy thoughtful person apDrecjafes
their importance and every reasonal,ie
Individual recognizes their rights. No !
demagogic attacks upon them in Ter-
lsIallve nails. or out of them should |
true. it is your duty, on the ofbeT
hand, to see that the interests and
rights of the people are protected from +
me cup1dlty of temporary managers
VINO from time to time get in control
OF these great and necessary CORPORA
TONS Railroads, while owned and on
Grated by private individuals, are
quasi public in their chara cteI- TbaI,
are chartered by the public. Under
the law of eminent domain they are
permitted at will to traverse the DTi-
Vate possessions of individuals Thew
sustain relation, therefore to fbe
public not sustained by ordinary bus
mess enterprises, and because of this
relation the courts have repeatedly af-
hrmed the right of the public to con-
troll them within reasonable bounds I
Complaints are frequently heard con-
corning the relative freight rates in /
this and other states in which it is /
alleged that our shippers pay largely
more than similar shippers elsewhere
Determinations between points in the
state are alleged. Complaints are al
SO made concerning the inadeuuacy
or car service at certain seasons of I
the year; tn e unfairness to the simmer
in compelling him to pay demurrage.
While the companies are not compelled
to play the shipper for their cores
pondfng failure to furnish cars when
needed; the negligence of the compan-I
les in taking a car to its destination
after 1t is billed out OF a station These
and other accusations come from
sources which render them worthy of
consideration. It is your duty to RICH
these wrongs If they exist Some of
them can only be righted perhaps, by
the Interstate Commerce Commission
and call your special attention to the
of President Roose-
welt in his message to congress, con-
corning the enlargement of the powers
of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion, and recommend that you offici-
ally request our representatives in
congress to render every possible as
sfstance to the capitalization of the
presidents suggestions into law. 1 be-
heve, also. that our own state rail-
road law should be amended in several
particulars enlarging the authority of
the board so as to give them more
Jurisdiction in some cases and greater
power to enforce their mandates. In
cidentally, let me suggest that the
power of the board be extended to all I
lines operated by electricity and to
telegraph and telephone companies.
Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
The legislature of 1901 appropriated
$4,000. for the purpose of a state dis
play at the great Louisiana Purchase
exposition, in st. Louis. The legisla-
ture of 1903 added to this sum $780,
900. Five commissioners were ap-l
pointed by Governor Stanley and to
them was committed the arduous
duty of wisely expanding this money
This commission, COMPOSED of Hon.