Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1906-10-18

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der be rescinded.
Dec. 8, 1905-In the matter of train
service for Ely, Woodland and With
ers Mill. Hearing held at Palmyra.
Application for passenger train No.
5 to stop. Relief asked for denied
by Wightman and Rice, Knott protest
ing, and the Burlington was permitted
substitute a freight train for the ac-
conmodation of women and children
desiring to return to their homes
from Hannibal and the county seat,
Palmyra.
Feb 21, 19O5-In the matter of
train service for Golden City. Hear
ing held at Golden City. Commission
er Knott moved that trains 104, los
and LOG be required to stop at Col
den City in response to the prayer of
large number of the citizens of that
city. The vote Wightman
and Rice, no; Knott, yes.
The evidence in this case showed
that the citizens of this enterprising
little city were compelled to drive ten
TO fifteen miles to catch a desirable
train to Kansas City. The editor of
the Republican paper at that place.
following the hearing, was unkind
enough, to say that one would have
concluded from the questions asked
by the Republican Commissioner dur.
ing the investigation of the case, that
ne was the attorney of the Frisco rail-
road rather than an official of the
state
May 4, 19OG-In the matter of train
service at Centerview, Mo. Hearing
held at Centerview. Commissioner
Knott moved that Missouri Pacific
traln No. 8, be required to stop AT
Centervlew to enable the people to get
TO and from their county seat on fbe
same day. or in lieu thereof, that the
company be required to attach a pas
senger coach to its west-bound freight
train due to arrive at Centerview In
the evening, and that said freight train
make regular stops at Centerview for
the accommodation of citizens desir.
ing to return home in the evening
from thier county seat, Warrensburg.
me vote resulted-Wightman and
Rice, no; Knott, yes.
Great consideration was shown nv
the Republican member for the rail
roads in passing on passenger train
service He was concerned about the
delivery of the United States mail at
junction points, and the welfare of
through passengers going from New
York to San Francisco and else
where.
What has this commission to do
with the delivery of the United States
mails? I was fooled by that twaddle
for a time myself The courts have
passed on that question. The rail.
roads must look after their own con-
Jracts-State Commissioners have no.
thing to with them.
What has this commission to do
with pushing along through mas.
senger from New York to San Fran
cisco?
The members of the Railroad and
warehouse Commission of Missouri
are paid by you to look after the in
terests OF the people of Missouri. 1t
is the business of the board to see that
Mlssourians have train serYice-not
somebody in New York or San Fran
cisco
II the railroads must have fast
trains, let them put on local trains
enough to serve the people of the
State and there will be no complaint.
You now have Mr.. Wightman's rec
ord on express rates, freight rates and
train service.
How do you like it? Is there a Re-
publican in this audience who en-
'dorses that, record. If so please stand
up?
Switching Charges.
But that is not all. Another i'm
portant question in this state is
switching charges. How about the
pnnt1h1foan hot
matter?
Let's investigate. Let's look at the
record:
July 20, 19OG-In the matter Of the
alleged excessive switching charges
at Joplin. After a formal hearing
held at Joplin. Commissioner Knott
moved that the switching charges at
that point be reduced from SO to SO
per car" The vote resulted-Wight-
man and Rice, no; Knott, yes.
The representatives of the railroads
testifying at the hearing admitted
that the same roads were charging in
Pittsburg, Kansas; Oklahoma City,
Fort Smith, Ark; Lincoln, Neb.; and
other points, 50 per car for practically
the same service they are collecting
SO for in Joplin.
And yet the Republican member re-
fused to vote with me to give the peo-
pie relief
You have Mr.. Flentge's record from
the records of his home county court.
You have Mr.. Wightmans record on
express rates, freight rates, passenger
service and switching charges.
Do you want these two gentlemen
to control your railroad commission
during the ensuing four years
Will you, my Republican friends,
permit politics to deprive you Of the
relief you are justly entitled to
through this board?
And now just one word more.
have not exhausted the reeond by
any means. There are many more
caaaa | could cite with the same re-