The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-10-06
SHOWS Them UP.
>. s. BristoW Tells Of Freight
Rate Determinations.
Railroads Try to Promote Trusts
and Stifle Competition.
HEPBURN LAW FUTILE
Falls Short Of CURLING the Pow
er of Monopoly.
Anti-Railread Candidates Are
Driven Out of Politics.


Great Bend, Kan, Oct. 6.-J. L.
Bristow of Salina, one of the prominent
candidates for United States senator.
addressed the Commercial club here
Friday evening on the subject of
freight rates. Mr.. Bristow's address
was filled with facts about the present
discrimination in favor of favored To-
calities. and was a strong Indictment
Of railroad domination in politics.
The address was listened to by
large audience. Mr.. Bristow said in
part:
Man Is just as selfish today as he
has ever been. He is not so cruel His
ambition is not for military aggran-
dtzement. but for commercial and
financial power He viii not take hui
man life as free as in the past, but to
crafty his ambition for commercial
distinction and financial dominion he
viii as readily violate the laws of JUS
tlce and equity as at any time In the
worlds history The possession OF the
vast power that goes with the control
of these great commercial highways,
offers opportunities for the gratihca-
ton of the sOrdid and consuming desire
which some men have for the accumu-
lauOn Of great wealth, and has result
ed i'll gross and 1niqultOuS dlScflnlna-
ton against individuals. and commune
ties I'm the matter Of freight rates. one
community will be imposed upon arbi-
trarily and unjustly for the benefit OF
another.
Ito illustrate: Salina, Kansas. is on
the Union Pacific railroad. between
San Francisco and Kansas City sew
eral years ago the rate on sugar from
san Francisco to Kansas City was 30
cents per hundred pounds, while the
rate from San Francisco to Sahna. lS5
miles nearer San francisco imam IS
Kansas City. was 10 cents per hundred
pounds. % cents more than the Kansas
Civ RATE Two cars of sugar would
be shipped by the same train. one
would be switched at Salina and the
other carried 1876 miles further to KAN
eas Cftv The Salina dealer would be
charged 79 cents per hundred, while
the Kansas City dealer would De
charged only so cents per hundred
The rate on sugar from New Orleans to
Kansas City was 80 cents. While the
rate from New Orleans to Salina was
So cents 20 cents more than the Kan
sas City rate. although the distance
was practically no further. and the
sugar from New Orleans for Sailna
USUALLY came via Wichita. and never
touch ed Kansas City. If the sugar
was lipped from New DIRK the charge
would be the Kansas City rate plus ~
cents 1t made no difference whether
the sugar came from the south. eeast
or west Salina was compelled TO pay
the Kansas City rate plus In local rate
from Kansas City to Salna, or ~ cents
additional This iniQuitOus and IN
sustihabIe discrimination was not only
against Salina. but many other inter
sor towns. The iobbers in these town
formed a combination to fight for JUS
tice and by spending thousands OF dol
lars in conducting litigation before the
interstate commerce commission ana IN
the courts, and after years OF delay.
finally secured an equitable adjustment
of these rates. One jobber was power
less 1t required combination OF
men with great resources and financial
strength to force relief from this unjust
discrimination
IN considering this question am
inclined to agree with Congressman
Victor Murdoch, that in 80 years from
now the American people viii be arnaz-
ed to think that such q system OF
TRANSPORTATION as now exists was ever
permitted In a highly civilized coun-
7.when these iniquitous conditions
We're brought to the attention Of Pres
4denf Roosevelt he became deeply in
fsrasfed and in a speech a year ago
at Raleigh, N. c., declared that some
thing ought to be done at once to cor
rect them; that a government coHmls-
sion or tribunal OF some KIND snould
be given authority to hear complaints
of shippers and to render decisions that
should be as effective as the decree OF
@ court of equity in regard to the pos
session OF property. IL seems strange
that this recommendation Of the presi-
dent should have met with as violent
resistance as II did. lit precipitated one
of
American congress that has occurred
for a quarter of a century. Men in the
United States senate boldly declared
that the government had no more right
to interfere with the business Of q rail-
road company than with the private
business of an individual. and that for
IT to undertake to fix rates for trans
portation vas an unWarranted inter
ference with private business.
Why Rates Can Be Controlled by Law.
OF in the construction of a railroad
1T is necessary for it to pass through
your farm or across your town lot
the company does not pay you the price
YOU ask for your land. If you ask
more than it thinks you should. an In
dependent board or commission fixes
the valuation of your property. and
vow are compelled to accept what that
board gives you unless the courts
rnouid decide that you had suffered
Injustice at its hands. If the govern
1aant fixes a limit on the price that
you shall charge the railroad for your
property why should it not limit the
charge that railroad NAV impose
uDon you for the service it renders2
II have discussed some of the phases
Of the methods of railroads in hand
ling the commerce Of the people. These
CORPORATIONS, however, are not willing
10 confine themselves to transportation
only but they seek to gain control of
roanv of the great Industrial enter
Trises of the country and are especially
anxious to acquire control of the coal
supply In the great eastern cities.
1ituninous coal is not permitted to be
used either for manufa curing or do
nestle purposes Anthracite is re-
uuired
Corncring the Coal Supply.
ssSThe supply Of anthracite is limited.
and the six railroads that run through
me anthracite territory have acquired
control of IS per cent Of these coal
lands. Having the only facilities for
Transporting the coal to market, they
raised the rates on the Independent
operators until they forced them to
sell or lease their lands. They estab-
lfshed the system OF selling the coal
delivered. The charge for mining
was very small and that for trans
Dortation was high. and it soon be
came Impossible for the independent
nnnratar 10 compete with the railroads.