The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-05
KANSAS c0MAENT
LUCIANO THE RATE LAW.

RO0AA4NtT 111E4 Raj 4 La W.
Judge Smith. general counsel for
the Santa Fe, is authority for the
statement that the santa Fe has no
intention OF Joining in the move to
DEFY the Kansas maximum rate law
as a retaliation upon the independent
oil re1ners, and as a means Of getting
the matter into the courts. The maxi
mum rate law was enacted last win
ter as a means Of protecting the indie
pendent refiner against collision be
! tween the railroads and the Standard,
and to make it possible for independ-
| ent oil to find a market. It presum-
aDly took into consideration the ex-
pense of transportation and allowed a
talr margin of profit to the railroads.
the roads have been operating under
1t for something like q year, and there
has been no COMPLAINT that the rate
was unprofitable-up to the present
time As a protection to the indie
pendents the rate has been a success.
A number of Independent refineries
nave been established in the state and
nave marketed their products with
proht result that could not possibly
nave been attained under the old sys-
tenn OF Standard domination. Up to
the time the maximum rate law was
passed it had been concluded by the
PUBIC that the railroads were more
sinned against than sinning-that the
dlctation of the Standard was respon-
slDle IN large measure for the unfair
attitude of the rate makers toward the
standards small competitors The
railroads win be doing much to destroy
TINS Impression if the news now going
the rounds is founded upon fact and
there Is q concerted move upon the
part OF the railroads, by their own
lIlillllXe, to defy and bust the law
Mhlch Kansas has made to secure fair
treatment TO legitimate interest.
Eallroads and other great cornora-
uons often act foonshly. conspic-
1ous example of this tendency will be
Lufnlshed when the railroads mani
rest an arrogant defiance to the indie
pendent oil interests Of the state I'm
less the maximum rate law PASSED
last winter is grossly unfair to the
rallroads-and this has not apnesred
:. II VIII De poor policy to antagonize
IT from any other motive than to test
IT'S legal points in the courts. There
VIII De another session of the Iee-isla-
ture, and other rate laws The right
p L5nueapendent shippers to ship their
product at fair rates will be main
tanned. and the action in that direction
VIII be as radical as the railroad CON
duct demands. The power of senfi-
nene IN this direction is plainly in
dexed by the news from VVashinpfo7,
that the most determined opponenfs ~
the federal rate bill have conceded 4be
nnal enactment of that measure
Kansas is not as moderate in its leg
1slative actions as the United cfafss
present maximum rate bill last
winter will be hard to deal with an
other time, If open defiance 11nou tba
state law Is announced from the rail-
roaoS. SO from purely business policy
II removes the railroads to move con-
vatively.-Ottawa Herald.
S. H. DODGE'S VIEW.
J. L. Bristow, of Salina. who is
candidate for United States senator. IS
IN favor of submitting the senatorial
proposition to a primary vote by coun-
ties and districts. It won't be done.
joe. The bosses are setting IN the
pins to run the business to suit them
selves Unless the Republican voters
keep their eyes peeled from this time
to election day. We viii have a straight
railroad legislature. Men are already
being groomed for the house who are
openly and violently opposed to rate
legislation, and pretend to think that
Roosevelt IS entirely too radical in his
ideas. Men who think Burton 2. per
secuted brother, and Tom Kelly a 5,1re
and shining light in the Republican
party should be watched.-Beloit Ca
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