The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-09


dends on their stock and watered stock
they have spent 30 million dollars In the
last five years out Of the surplus to
build new roads, in addition to tia rs
millions they have left and the big d1vi-
oends they have paid.
I have shown you how these eight
men control the financial affairs. Now
I want to show you how they control
your government
Senator La Toilette declared that the
rate bill passed by congress will only
partly help correct the evils. It pre-
value of the bill, he said, was the fact
that it was possible to get q railroad
bill through congress.
IT tell YOU" he said. that there have
been just two congresses since the Civil
war that were not controlled bE the
railroads"
Between 1874 and 1887 more than
100 bills TO regulate freight rates were
killed by congress. The railroads alo
not want regulation and they killed II.
For that length Of time they strangled
representative government. In 1887
bill weakened by amendments was
finally passed. For ten years the rail-
roads fought the interstate commerce
preme court of the United States hand
ed down a decision that broke the
backbone of the law
And StiIl Rates Went Up.
III commission prepared to fight
for a new law and wrote book on II
offering a carefully drawn amendment
to cure the defect with some additional
provisions. This was in 1897. Copies
Of the report were sent to congress
and furnished to congress for dfstrlDu-
ton. The railroads began increasing
rates. The commission appealed Tor
the legislation in 1897, but congress
paid no attention.
In 1899 the commission warned con-
gress that the railroads were uniting
each year There vas q renewed ap-
peal. Each year a failure to act on the
part Of congress. StiH transp portat1on
charges were going higher. The rail-
roads added 10 milton dollars 10 the
cost of coal and 20 millions on lumber
All these facts were laid before con-
gress, still no action by congress Presi-
dent Roosevelt, In all his ssages'
pleaded with congress for remedial ieg-
islation. but with no result, until 1905.
And now one Of the ablest men who
ever sat on the commission says the
most significant fact about the bill IS
the fact that it could be passed at all
Under this law II one shipper IS paying
more than another the board can stop
the discrimination. But that is all that
can be done under this law.
La Toilette Tried Hard
seThe railroads had influence enough
to prevent the bill giving power to re-
duce the rate. me power 10 aSceL lam
the value of railroad property and so
establish a fair rate has been left out
Of the bill. I tried hard to put it In. l
called attention of the senate to the
fact that it was asked by the inter-
state commerce commission. The COM
mission had said q fair rate could only
be fixed by finding out the fair value
of the property and ascertain what viii
be a fair return on the investment
Il offered nine amendments to the
rate. Eight of them had been recent
mended in seven consecutive annual re-
ports by the Interstate commerce com
mission. Every one of them were sup
ported by arguments and facts that
were unanswered and unansw era bic. Nc
man IN the senate answered them and
vet as fast as it could be done the sen
ators voted them down. believe that
the only remedy for such conditions Is
to lay the records of these men before
their constituents.