Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-01-12

pofationS. KaIIroads. wniIe owned ano
operated by private individuals, are quasi
public in their character; They are cnarS
tered by the public Under the laW OF
viii 10 traverse the private possessions
OF individuals. They sustain relation,
therefore, to the public not sustained by
ordinary business enterprises, ana pc
| cause OF this relation the courts have re-
peatedly affirmed the right OF the PUBLIC
10 control them within reasonable bounds.
Complaints are frequently heard concern.
Ing the relative freight rates n TINS ana
| other states in which 1t In alleged tnat
our shippers pay largely more than sim
liar shippers elsewhere. DISCRIMINATORY
between points in the state are alleged.
| Complaints are also made concerning the
| lnade1uacy of car service at certain sea
sons Of the year; the unfalrness to the
shipper In compelling him 70 pay oe.
| murrage, while the companies are not
compelled to pay the shipper FOR their
| corresponding failure to furnish cars
when needed; the negligence Of the com
/ panies in taking car to It's destlnatlon
| after II Is billed out OF station. Inebe
and other accusations come from sources
which render them worthy OF consiaera-
| ton and investigation: II Is your uu.y 70
| right these wrongs II they exist some
| OF them can only be righted, perhaps
/ by the Inter State Commerce commission,
| and call your special Afternoon 70 tne
| recommendation Of President Roosevelt,
IN his message to congress, concerning
| the enlargement Of the powers OF the
| Interstate Commerce commission, anu
recommend that you officially request our
| representatives In congress 10 renuvr
every possible assistance to the crystal
| zatIon of the presidents suggestions mo
law. believe, also, that our own STATE
| railroad law should be amended IN sever
nj particulars enlarglng me aulnori t,,r, VI
| the board 70 az TO give them more Jurls-
dIction in some cases and greater power
70 enforce their mandates. incidentally
let me suggest that the power OF tns
board be extended to al INES opersa nin
by electricity ana 10 Telegraph anu 'eiV
phone companies. .,
| LOUISIANA PURCHASE EXPOSITION
The legislature of 1901 appropriated
S75. 900 for the purpose of state display
I'd the great Louisiana Purchase exposdi..
| lion in St Louis The legislature or l9OS
added to this sum 100000. Five commits
sioners were appointed by Gov. Stanley
and to them was committed the arduous
duty Of wisely expanding this money.
This commission composed OF Hon. Jonn
G. Carpenter, Hon. !; 6. Morrow Morrow Hon md
r. T. simons, Hon w; r, aMrs nggedi their
duty and are now ready to give an &C.,
count Of their stewardship; Many statesl
expended more money at the great enpo-
sition. but none, | am proud 10 pg nHary
Kansas visitor to the great exposition
was proud of the work accomplished py
these our representatives. The Kansas
building gracefully and graclousy pre-
sided over by Mrs. Noble Prentlss, whlle
not so elaborate, was as cosy ana COIL III
| Portable as any state building upon tne
rounds Our agricultural display had
no superior In the great AgrlcnituTal
m the general exhibit, while we carried
on gold medals. 46 silver medals ana
| 76 bronze medals as the rewards OF merit
in that department. our hortlc9ltura.
display was highly creditaole ana mere
again we were awarded a grand prize prize.
together with a number Of gold, silver
and bronze medals, the exact NUMBER
now unknown TO me We also won gran9
prizes on our educational ana mines anu
netallurgy exhibits with q NUMBER OF
gold. silver and bronze prizes for spe-
cific exhibits. Our live stock exnlDits
we're also very fine, upon which we were
awarded prizes amounting to ABOUT
| thousand booklets continuing over 100
pages each, descriptive Of the state ana
| IA resources were distributed ana from
| the seed thus sown the state VIII doupI.
less reap rich harvest IN the tut III .h,s
was done without exhausting the limited
and meaKer appropriation placed IN the
| hands OF our commissioners ana tnht
they concluded their splendid lanors Wilt I'M
have about $4,000 to return to the state
treasury. I congratulate them upon the
| magnificent results they achieved WIN
such limited means at their command ana
believe them entitled to some klnd OF
oficIai recognition at the hands or the
legislature Of Kansas as well as the graf
itude OF all the people Of the state
TEMPERANCE.
The manufacture and sale Of intoxi-
cants has long since been universally
recognized as legitimate subjec, OF e go,X..
growing out of their use are universally
recognized The growth. of temperance
sentiment has been marvelous, but among
the most hopeful signs In this directioa
in recent years is the attitude toward aSd
the drink habit now sustained ny the
great corporations, and by businessmen
In all commercial circles. The business
world is now practically great tenn
perance society. and no railroad COM
pany or other corporation, no banker, no
merchant, no business man OF any KIND,
who places proper value upon highest
efficiency, now desires the services OF
those addicted to this habit, The tenn
perance question therefore, Is no longer
purely moral question-it Is great
business problem, and IL the great cor
porations and business concerns nave en-
listed on the side of temperance, not from
sentimental but from cold, commercial
considerations, how important II Is that
the greatest corporation OF all-the state
should maintain q correct attitude on
this subject Prohibition has now been
a part OF the organic law Vi ktli1 5tdeO
for "a years and while there are honest
differences among good people Of its Wis
dom, and while II fas been defective IN
operation, Its benefits must be conceded.
l hope. therefore, that this Legislature
will take no backward steps on this sub
bikes AND DRAINAGE.
The subjects OF bikes and drainage will
doubtless be presented for your consid-
Grafton Their Importance have been en-
phasized during the past few years.
Under present statutes the local restrtc-
lions are so great that is is practically
impossible for farmers In the low lands
and valleys, subject to inundation, to get
relief without additional legislation. For
the lack OF such legislation many farm
ers have suffered great loss, Missouri,
Iowa, Illinois, New York and perhaps
other states have laws upon this sub
ject which you may examine with proht.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
Every citizen OF the state will be graf
flied TO know that the educational insti-
buttons are in flourishlng condition.
Each OF the three asks additional appro.
Prias0RA g J Ssr Vim te SeS fEAAetr NsAgA i
them. No money is better spent than
that which is expended for the equip |
ment OF our educational institutions.
PENITENTIARY.
From the report Of the warden OF the
penltentlary you will learn that that in
stltution Is self-sustaining; that during |
the past two fiscal years there has been
returned to the state In cash and in