The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-02
WON'T Be SHORT.
Senate Proposes to Find Out
About Rates.
Would Give the Railroad Board
$4,000.
MOVE OF WAGGENER.
His Proposition Doubled on
Motion Of NoftZger.
Makes Speech Urging I'M
p0rtance OF Measure.
HOVE OF WAGGENER.

Under the terms of the resolution
adopted Friday afternoon by the Kan
sas senate, the state board of railroad
commissioners will have $4,000 to
spend during the coming two years in
finding out how much they don't know
about freight and passenger rates.
It is a big job which the senate has
laid out for the railroad commission
ers, and one which may well terrify
any board of lawabidiug and peaceful
citizens. The board will have to hire
a lot of high price experts, and collect
a lot Of information. 1t is then auth
orized to go ahead and fix up maxi
mum freight tariffs and also maxi
mum passenger tariffs.
The resolution providing for this
elaborate investigation was INTRODUCE
ed by Senator Waggener of Atchison-
1t carried an appropriation of $25,-
600. Senator Noftzger thought this
would not be enough, so he introduced
a resolution similar to that of Senator
Waggener, but increasing the fund
to $4,000. The Noftzger resolution
was the one passed. 1t is as follows:
Whereas, the question of making a
fair and just schedule of freight rates
now under consideration by the senate
is of transcendent Importance to the
shippers and to all the people OF Kan
sas and. ~ ..
terested in having a schedule of rates
established that will be fair to them
and just to the railroad companies
and that will stand the test of judicial
scrutiny and,
'FWhereas. in the discussion of the
question in the senate, many, If not all
of the senator's, who participated In
such discussion frankly admitted lack
of knowledge, as to what was reas-
enable rate,
whereas. It is apparent that any
schedule OF rates formulated and
adopted by the legislature, will In
many respects result in discrimina-
tions, inequalities and perhaps inJus-
tice to the shippers of the state and,
whereas, 1t is DESTROYS that this
great question shall be withdrawn
from the domain of politics and be-
yond the influence of disreputable
newspapers. whose chief mission is to
misrepresent and deceive the people
and
whereas, The people of the state.
at the recent election by an ever
whelming majority elected a board OF
railroad commissioners consisting CT g
A Ryker, Frank Ryan, and C. w.
Kanavel and has thereby expressed
confidence in their intelligence ard In
"Whereas, At this session of the leg
islature an act has been passed vest
ing in the board of railroad commits
sioners full power and authority TO :e-
full and. complete schedule of rates;
and
whereas, We have full confidence In
the integrity and intelligence of tho
board of railroad commissioners, as so
selected. by the people as their agents,
Representatives and servants:
''Resorved, BY the senate, the house
Of representatives concurTing therein
that all attempts to enact maximum
passenger or freight rate laws be con-
lined to such rates and schedules as
will bring to the people of the state
immediate and substantial relief and
that the board of railroad commission
ers be and they are hereby instructed
to proceed forthwith to make thor
ough and complete Investigation Of
the railroad rate situation and to that
end employ the most competent and
capable experts whose services can be
obtained and employ skilled Legal!
counsel to assist the attorney for tbs
board and to confer with and secure |
the advice and suggestions Of the in
terstate commerce commission and |
thereafter to fix, establish and promul- |
gate a full and complete schedule of
rates concerning charges for carrying |
passengers and all class of freight |
which shall be Just and reasonable and |