The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-17
TWO ARE HAPPY.
Christmas Joy Prevails With
MurdOck and Miller.
Each Has Scored a Hit at
Present Session.
CAUGHT WITH GOODS.
Believed That Murdoch sInvesti-
CATION Will Bring Results.
Miller Still Insists That He is a
"Stand Patter.''


washington. Dec. 17-There are two
happy Kansans in Washington-one OF
them a senatorial candidate who be-
lieves he may have accomplished a
master-strofxe, and one member OF
congress who hopes by his good work
that he may perpetuate himself IN the
good estimation Of his constituents;
The two happy Kansas men are VICTOR
Murdoch and James M. Miller.
There is considerab Bile ground Tor sen
coagratul2tiOn on the part OF each Of
these representatives. The speech OF
Victor Murdoch in the house last week,
in which he declared that the govern
ment had been held up" for 40 MIL
lions of dollars in the past ten years
and that the loss amounted, now, TO
Az millions annually-win likely bear
good fruit; at least SO Mr.. Murdock pc
lieves, and it is so generally admitted
1t is probable that the postofi1ce de-
partment will hereafter refuse to allow
to the railroads the excess amount
which they have been receiving 1or
transportation of mails. If so, Mr.. Muir
dock will have accomplished good re-
suits from his little speech in the house
more, perhaps, than the average con-
gressional speech accomplishes-
1t seems absurd that the postOfnce
department should have proceeded for
so many years as Mr. Murdoch says II
has; but he insists that his figures VIII
bear him out. and Lndt ne mas SeCuASA
the admissions of some of the depart
mental officials. Mr.. Murdoch says the
whole thing is so simple, however, that
no one has ever caught on. Mr.. Muir
ana making ii five;" which he says is
so absurd that no one ever would be
suspected of discovering it.
The whole thing amounts to this. ac-
cording to the Eighth district represen-
tative: The government weighs mail at
certain places at certain intervals, the
result to serve as a basis Tor compen-
sation to the railroads. The announce
ment of the department calls for weigh
ing these mails so many days, or from
such and such a date to such and such
a date Within the specified time are
SO many Sundays and holidays. Mail
is weighed for all the time, and then
Sundays and holidays are counted OUT
for the purpose of obtaining divlsor,
while the total weight for all the days
serves as the dividend. Then the quoti-
ent is unfair, for the reason that the
division should be the result of the
number OF all the days into the total
number of days Sundays excluded into
the weight for all the days Sundays ex-
cluded.
peculiar manner. In about the year 1874
there were practically no Sunday trains
nor Sunday trains carrying mail so
when the Weighing process as a means
of determining railroad compensation Tor
TRANSPORTATION was begun, it was mani
Of days in which there was no Sunday
mail and divide It to ind the daily aver
age by all the days of the weighing
period. This would not have been a
Square DEAL for the railroad SO au-
thority was given, it is said. by
sistant attorney general to the postmas-
ter general. to deduct from the divisor
years after. when the era of Sunday
trains began, it was easy for the depart-
Sundays from the divisor, and this. of
course. laid burden on the government
and was a benefit TO tho railroads
Mr.. Murdoch is emphatic in his state
ment that he does not believe there has
that the railroads have not been criminal
in keeping up the practice; nor that off
Gals Or clerks in the department. have
been benefited financially by continuing
this Rather. he. would have it that de
Partme t of6ieiia o T. The bsEBiinlningg
passed It on to their successors to con-
finue or to stop; and that when. under q
new administration, the injustice was
finally seen, it was easy to continue it
and hand it down rather than TO admit
having done injustice for years. with
had not been heretofore detected.
The other happy number is Mr. Miller
1t was his resolution which sought to
ascertain whether there was any relation
lumber and a possible com alton, or
trust. There was nothing of tariff in the
was sought. Mr. Miller By his action
did not abate one bit Of his ''standoat-
that there was much burden by reason Of
the constantly increasing price of lumber
and wanted to know why. The tariff he
insists. cannot be held responsible; for logs
are free, under the Dingley act and the
lumber tariff is only 81 per thousand
This does not account for the sky-high
prices
Mr.. Miller's resolution for an INQUIRY
was referred to .he committee On the
Judiciary when it was introduced in he
house. From there. a day later Mr.
Miller had it recalled-that is he had the
committee discharged from the sus3 her
consideration of the resolutiar- alG had 1t
Immediately considered. adopted and sent
to the secretary of commerce and labor
This quick work was pleasing To NTr
Miller. who believes the Inquiry under
his resolution. viii do much good.
It now remains for Mr.. Campbell to
make a trio of happy Kansans by the
adoption ut an early date OF his resolu-
ton for tariff commission: but the
chances. are perhaps not so good for his
success for that Of Mr.. AIurdockss and
Mr.. AIiller's.
WANTS NEfaFREr FRQAnc