The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-27

| W. WHICH WOuIQ pFOVlOG I6Q6ral at
thority to construct and operate
railroad, the purpose of which is to en-
gage In interstate traffic either over il
own rails or through connecting line
Such legislation should be made wit
the fact clearly in mind that in som
sections of this country there are larg
/ areas that need railroads, and tina
| they can not get the railroads unles
| the builders are allowed to make
| profit, or to see the chance of profits
| on the building.
THE law. should, however, make i
| impossible to gain these profits NOR
| than once; and the requirements o
| railroads for new capital for improve
| ment, equipment and development o
| the property, and the country served
/ should be placed under the super
vision of the interstate commerce com
mission, with authority only to author
| ize such increase of capital as the
! property needs to fully take care of it,
requirements.
II believe that there should be uni
| formity in accounts. and I am glad tt
see the efforts now being made in that
direction by the government.
There should be no mystery in the
railroad business. I think that our
accounts should be subject to inspec-
as freely as the accounts of a national
bank are now subject to inspection OF
the examiners; but all information
pertaining to the railroads business
should be protected against improper
use.
IT DO not believe that railroad pools
should be legalized, but I do believe
that traffic associa tons between rail-
roads should be allowed.
"A pool is a closed association. A
traffic association, on the other hand,
is open, and all the connecting lines
are allowed to participate. The federal
government, by indorsing pool, would
give an advantage to a few of the
live - he Io%v oF or h.
ers not parties to the pool. By legal
izing the traffic association, however,
the government would be legislating for
the whole rather than for the part.
This is the true function Of govern
ment
when the government shall have es-
tablished it's interstate traffic agents at
the different commercial centers or the
country, the federal traffic representa-
tive should attend the meeting of the
railroad traffic associations, where all
matters pertaining to the movement of
traffic, rules, rates and regulations gov
erning same, could be discussed be-
tween the officers of the roads and the
of the government.
1.-THE railroads should fix reason
able time in which the freight is to be
delivered to the consignee. The limit
should be abundantly reasonable, be-
cause the nature of the freight BUSH
ness, over which the railroads cannot
always control, demands a great deal
of liberality in its movement, but be-
lieve some of the time now consumed
in such delivery should be and could be
saved to the profit of both the con-
signee and the railroads.
Where the state regulation of rates,
or state legislation on other railroad
transportation, the federal authority
should rule. For instance. let us as
sumo that the rate from Denver to st.
Louis is $780, made up of 81 from
- 4Ia Ifri T.fU
cents local from the Missouri river to
st. Louis. If Missouri should reduce
the local rate in Missouri to 80 cents, 1t
would make the interstate rate $l.3O, |
between states has been hxed
by the state commissioners instead OF |
he federal commissioners.
"Such cases, which can be multiplied I
Indefinitely, point to a conclusion that
he federal regulation over rates should
De widely extended. / am far from be-
ng an enemy of the rights of any state
n the Union, but I do not understand |
hat these rights give state the rlght
% regulate rates nor to make regula-
ions to govern the movement of traf-
ic. between states.
IF the interstate commerce commits
;ioners should establish a standard of !
'ates over the entire country, after US
ng all the information at their COM |
nand and the machinery of the gov
,rnment to adjust and establish
Gale Of rates that are fair and equita-
de, it is not right that the power OF
he various states, by their separate
tets can break down the entire fabric
# rates so fixed by power granted by |
There is, however, no doubt
hat the state can regulate the trafnc |
# railroad. telephone telegraph, wa
err gas or other like companies which
re exclusively state institutions.
1.-The scope of the interstate COM
nerce commission should be sufficiently
road, and, at time not 1ar o1Stant,
I'LL enforcement of the law should be
lad 1t will in time become neces-
ity that the proper fulhllment OF the
unctions of the government in dealing
With this most important question al
ecting as it does, every industry, men,
7oman and child in the land, will re-
uire the creation of a new cabinet Of
Ger, whose department will be charg-
d with responsibility in matters per-
aiming to railroads and navigation;
Tho, through his position in the cabi-
ct. will enable the cabinet members
3 keep in touch with all matters in
diving the movement of the commerce
f the nation, both domestic and for
ign.
IT do not believe that railroads should
nter into politics, and look confident
' for the time when railroads Will not
e forced to go to a state or federal
apital to save themselves from dan
erous legislation. That time will come
hen the people and the railroads bring
, the settlement of their differences the
anne common sense that they bring to
he settlement Of their private disagree
lents.
THE one and one-half million en-
loyes of the railroads and the stock
olders are closely associated and their
lterests are Identical. You cannot in
IRE one without affecting the other.
There is a total stock issue on rail-
pads of about $3.50, 900, 900, of which
mount about 81, 150 000. 900 is dividend
aging stock and s.. SOC, 0Oo, 600 as non-d-
scefve annually about $240. 900, 900 as di-
idends, which is 5.78 per cent on the to-
al dividend-paying stock and but 3.6
er cent on the total stock issued by