The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-03-28

ment for a maximum freight rate law.
They will probably favor a law maxi
ing a horizontal cut Of about Is per
cent in all freight rates. This is IN
line with the action Of the Illinois
board of railroad commissioners.
In order to get a square deal" how
ever, the implement men will undOubt-I
eddy take prominent part in the
coming election of railroad commits
sioners. There is to be a special meet
ing of the executive committee Of the
organization, and a. special convention
of the implement men of the state may
be called to organize for a fight IN
every county against the railroad In
duences which are seeking to accom-
plish the election Of railroad commits
siOneFs who are favorable to the cause
of the railroads.
H. c. Taylor, secretary of the imple-
ment dealers, gave out the following
statement Tuesday, after the board had
taken its action:
"A comparison shows that the rate
on implements in this state IS or was
short time ago 100 per cent. higher
than the rate IN Illinois and that re-
Gently the board Of railroad commits
siOners of Illinois have horizontally re-
duced all the rates in that state by
20 per cent, making the difference
that much greater 1t VIII also show
that the rate in Kansas is 81 per cent.
higher than it is In Iowa; that it is
so per cent higher than it is IN Mis-
souri,, yet the last legislature of Mis-
souri, passed a maximum implement,
wagon and furniture freight bill re-
ducing the rate in that state so that
/ the average implement rate IN Kansas
( viii be 100 per cent. higher than in
I Missouri when the legislative maxi
mum rate goes into effect in that
state.
I'VE ask how long viii the shippers
! and farmers Of Kansas be called upon
/ to make good the dividends of Rookie
+ feller and PierpOnt Morgan that have
/ been shortened by the action of the
board Of railroad commissioners and
the legislatures Of our surrounding sis
( ter states7 The power Of the people to
control railroad corporations is the same
in Kansas as it is in our sister states
The legislature of Kansas in cur pres
ent railroad law delegated to our board
+ Of railroad commissioners the power to
[ do just what is being done in adjoining
states and their hesitancy in exercising
+ that power indicates a lack Of desire to
give the relief the law empowers them
TO give. We believe the law if conscien-
railroad commissioners is as effective
as the law of any of the adjoining
states with which comparisons are
made. 1t Is GEAR however, that to be
effective we must have board of rail-
road commissioners in harmony with
! the law and DESTROYS Of securing such
just and reasonable rates. for the peo-
pie as are warranted by the evidence.
That these Determinations have been so
long and SO patiently borne by the peo-
pie Of Kansas is no excuse for the board
delaying action for a single day longer
than is necessary to correct the abuses.
1T is alleged that the implement
dealers do not pay these rates and
hence. why this great effort by them
to secure this reduction We admit
I that the implement dealer does not lay
the freight but his customers. the farm
ers do pay it and we believe 1t The
I province of the dealer to protect his
4 customers in all matters of added cost
for the implements they purchase of
him.
The political conventions are APP
preaching. a new board of railroad
commissioners Is to be nominated and
1t Is uD to the farmers and shippers
Of the state to demand Of their re-
+ spective political parties the 1omina-
ton of men for railroad commissioners
who will fairly and conscientious
ly administer the law.
"If it is decided by the executive
committee Of the Southwestern Imple-
+ ment Dealers association to Withdrew
I this case from consideration by the
present board it VIII be reinstated at
the earliest moment possible after the
/ election Of q new board