The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-04
soArE coon RESOLUTIONS.

The "pIatforrns'' that are adopted at
the various RepI blican county conven-
tons in Kansas this year are not OF
the cut-and-dried variety that are US
ually passed, but they really mean
something. Several instances have
heretofore been cited in these columns
which show this.
other resolutions of the same char
acter were adopted by the Republicans
OF Graham county out at Hin City last
week. Those suggesting new legisla-
ton are as follows:
I'VE favor a revision Of the system
Of taxation Of railroads in Kansas 10
the end that they shall pay just pro-
portion OF taxes and the only logical
basis of such taxation is the capital
stocks OF the railroads.
I'VE favor all ef5cient methods
and means for increasing the powers
of the board of railroad commissioners
sufficient to compel the railroads to &C
cept just and fair rates. nd such legis-
lation as shall make rebating and all
other special favoritisn criminal OF
lenses carrying severe punishment
1--WE favor such legislation as viii
make il a crime to issue or accept
railroad passes. and if necessary the
salaries of public officers shall be in
creased to that end that our public Of
hcers need be under no obligation TO
the railroads.
1--WE favor a state primary law and
the election of United States senators
by direct vote of the people
I'VE favor such amendments to the
Maximum Rate Law of oil shipments
OF 1905 as will give the railroads a
square deal"
While there may be room for discus
sion concerning the wisdom Of the first
of these resolutions. the spirit of them
indicates that the Republicans of era
ham county wish to be fair and this
is also true of the Republicans gen
orally of the entire state. The era
ham county resolutions demand that
the railroads shall be justly taxed, that
freight rates shall be just to the ship
pers, and that the pass evil shall be
abolished. But on the other hand they
also declare in favor of giving the rail-
roads a square deal on oil rates.
It will be remembered that a few
weeks ago Judge W. R. Smith, general
attorney for the Santa Fe. made the
statement that the present oil rate law
the railroads to do business
at a loss, but instead of trying to over
ride it in the courts the railroads pro-
pose to show its injustice to the next
and ask that body to raise
the rates.
This proposition appears to have
struck the Graham county Republicans
as just, and It also appeals to Kansas
people generally. No one with the in
terests of the state at heart wishes to
be unjust to the railroads any more
than they wish the railroads to be I'M
just to the shippers. If the railroads
can show that the present oil rates are
too low. the rates ought to be raised to
a point where they will be reasonable.
And the railroads can accomplish
more by having the law corrected than
they can by trying to override it.
What Is desired IS Justice and
square deal to all. This paper believes
the public has not been getting a
square deal from the railroads in many
freight rates. but it does not favor do
ing the railroads an injustice to get
even. Taken as whole those Ora
ham county resolutions sound pretty
we'll