The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-03
THE BIG QUESTION.

Several months ago the State Jour
nal. while favoring the abolition of
railroad passes and d corresponding re-
duetion Of railroad rates, expressed the
hone that the main issue. the freight
rate question, would not be lost sight
of in the hullabaloo that was raised
over the two-cent fare proposition.
Along the same line the Osborne
Farmer has the following:
I'VE wish some wise reformer would
tell Us how tWo-cent railroad fares and
an aEti-pass law are going to benefit
the people of this county. What will
make these things, if they come to
pass, the panacea that shall put US on
UtOEian shOres2 Will an anti-pass law
enable the farmers to ship their hogs
and cattle to Kansas City any cheaper?
VIII an anti-pass law enable them to
go along and look after their stock any
cheaper2 VIII an anti-pass law enable
them to buy their farm machinery,
clothing and hoC~ ehOld necessities any
cheaper? How much year would
tWo-cent fare save the average farmer
of Osborne county? When he goes
any place now he waits for excursion
rates. which he likely wouldn't get If
the railroads were forced to carry peo-
pie for two cents a mile. We are not
pass law, but we simply want some of
the wise ones to tell US the benefits to
be derived from them. The railroads
are keeping up the anti-pass and two
cent fare din for a purpose. They want
to hide the freight rates. Freight
rates are what the people Of Osborne
county are interested in. Every man.
woman and child in Osborne county
who makes a purchase of any kind Is
aftected by the exOrbitant freight rates
Every farmer who ships a car of stock,
OF wheat or anything else is forced to
pay tribute to the system that is max
ing the railroads fabulous fortunes
Railroad companies don't make their
money on passenger fares. A majority
of the passenger trains are operated at
loss. Regulate the freight rates.
knock out discrimination and give the
country shipper and merchant a fair
show with the city fellows and the real
panacea will have been discovered.
Outrageous freight rates are what is
hurting, and hurting bad. The rail-
roads are going to fool the people by
shaking anti-pass and two-cent fares
N their faces Just as long as thew can.
The thing to do is to make the rail-
ROADS come out in the open and tell Us
why we shouldn't have just freight
rates and respectable service
However, while the freight rate cues
ton IS more important than anything
else, the State Journal believes the
Farmer overlooks one point: The cues
ton Of freight rates is not leeisIa five
A1N--~ Ills y ear Whatever. 1t IS an Issue
only in the election Of state Officers
governor, attorney. general and railroad
/ commissioners.
It is pretty generally conceded that
Kansas already has all the law neces-
sary to secure just freight rates-if
such law is possibIe-and all that now
remains is to get state officials who will
put the law into force. The state has a
railroad board attorney who has done
all that he could along that line. but, Of
course. little was expected of the pres
1 ent railroad board.
The important thing now is to elect
a railroad board that will give the state
1 just freight rates.
As a legislative issue the abolition of
the pass and corresponding reduction
Of passenger rates is all right. but it
should not be allowed to obscure the
/ demand for decent freight rates.