The Topeka state journal., 1905-02-15
THE RAmROAD BILL.

house Tuesday morning by the remark
able vote of 112 to is the measure
which the shipping interests have
agreed will give them relief and with
proper execution secure equitable, fair
and reasonable freight rates.
It is indeed rare that a measure is
thus given unanimous support.
The fact that not a single vote was
cast in opposition to the BILL must show
either one of two things:
First: that the bill has been so care
fully prepared and modified before its
presentation that it is satisfactory to
both the shipper and the railroad. This
would make an ideal bill for the reason
that all fair minded people simply wish
justice and fair treatment both from
the railroads and for the railroads, and
for the shipper and from the shipper.
The railroad companies have admitted
much in the past sixty days They have
acknowledged that they have given re-
bates and made Determinations. They
have admitted that all shippers have
not been treated alike. They have ad-
mitted various injustices and irregular
tiles that have grown up in the conduct
of their business. They have even gone
so far as to say that they want many
OF these things corrected. Along the
line of failure to present any opposition
in this instance, the railroad companies
have given the inference that they
recognize that certain legislation is
bound to come and that they are ac-
cepting the inevitable.
Second: On the other hand, the ac-
quienscence of the railroad companies
in this bill and their failure to develop
a single vote in the house in opposi-
iChf al he
companies had determined that they
would let the bill go its way in the
house and count upon the senate to
defeat the ends of the shippers by
amending the bill. or substituting one
which would absolutely, or in the
main, annul the action Of the house.
The shippers have made modiica-
tions from the original bill, have done
away with certain so called drastic
provisions and have agreed upon a
measure less favorable to the ship
ping interests than the law in Texas
and other western states, but yet one
which should secure fair treatment
for the corporation and put the peo-
pie of the state of Kansas more
nearly on footing with the people of
Illinois, Iowa, Missouri. the two Da-
kotas Texas and Nebraska, in regard
to equitable and reasonable freight
rates. In these states adjoining or
near to Kansas, rates are so adjusted
that they are from two-ffths to one
half of the rates in Kansas.
The meat of the whole bill is in
section four. If this section is
mutilated, set aside. or materially
modified. it will Illustrate the efferts of
the shippers to secure relief. That is
the position they take.
This section reads as follows:
Sec 4. The power and authority is
hereby vested in the board of railroad
commissioners, and it is hereby made
its duty, to supervise all railroad
freight and passenger 2chedules of
rates, tariffs and classifications, and all
rules and regulations governing car
service, the transfer and switching of
junction points, or where entering the
same city or town, all charges made
therefor, well as the rules and reg
ulations adopted by any railroad COM
pany for the operation of it's road in
the running of trains. It shall be the
duty of said board, from time to time
to alter, change, amend or abolish any
schedule, classification, rate rule or
regulation established by the railroad
company or companies, which the
board, either upon complaint as herein
after provided. or upon its own motion,
may find to be unreasonable, unjust or
amended. l.
tered or new schedule, classification. or
rate, rule or regulation shall be put
into effect by such railroad company or
companies within not less than thirty
days after receiving written notice of
the order of the board"
In this section the two important
points are that the board of railroad
commissioners is given the specific
power to adjust and regulate rates.
and also to amend rates upon its own
motion. whether complaint is or is not
made. These two points are meant to
cover the weaknesses in previous rail-
road legislation. The board has been
largely advisory. without the force be-
hind it to put in what it might deem
a reasonable rate. In the next place
an individual shipper was compelled
to make complaint and take his case
through the various courts in order
to even attempt to secure an adjust
ment- Many shippers could not AFFORD
this litigation and if they could. it
merely settled a charge in one instance
where a similar unjust charge might
exist in hundreds Of other cases in
the state concerning shippers similar
ly situated.
railroad companies with their facili-
ties and ease for handling legal mat
ters, to show that a rate is unjust il
the commissioners see fit to put it into
effect
Another important section, No. 3,
gives the commissioners power to take
up with the Interstate commerce COM