The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-02
Emphatically in Favor of Maxi
mum Freight Law.
ON THE OTHER SIDE.
No Longer q Member of Rail-
road Crowd.
Passenger Fares Must Be Re-
duced, He Says.

Fred Dulnont Smith, state senator
from Edwards county, gave out
statement today which will cause the
state politicians to sit up and take no.
tice. There may be no Wild sensation,
but it certainly will cause surprise
when it is learned that in his state
ment. Senator Smith announces that
he will, at the coming session OF the
legislature. introduce or advocate the
following measures: a-7fi 's
Maximum rates for wheat and corn.
Antf-coa1 confiscation.
Strengthen railroad commission law.
Anti-pass law.
Two cents mile passenger rate
Assessment of railroads.
Five thousand dollars rate expert
for railroad board.
Concurrent resolution instructing
senators and requesting congressman
to vote for a removal of the tariff on
lumber and a reduction of the tariff on
steel and iron.
Concurrent resolutions instructing
senators and requesting congressman
to vote for bill that will give the
president the right to make reciprocal
trade agreements without the consent
of congress.
This attitude of Senator Smith Will
come as a shock to the railroad
crowd" in the legislature. which has
been inclined to count on F. Dumont
Smith as it's friend. If Smith carries
out the program on which he has
started 1t means break with the rail-
roads.
One leading state politician who is
high up in the councils of the Square
Dealers said today in speaking OF
Senator Smiths announcement:
There is no man in the state who
is so close to the people and their
wishes as Fred Dumont Smith. Smith
knows that the people of this state
are going to secure some strong anti
corporation legislation, and he Is get
ting in line with the inevitable. II
Senator. Smith was ever under any
obligation to the railroads., he feels
that he has fully discharged that oblf-
cation, and now he is going to get into
this fight for the people. 1 believe
that Senator Smith is acting in good
faith, and that he will be great pow
er for reforms at the coming session.
One OF the features of Senator
Smiths statement is the bold attack
which he makes upon Speaker Cannon
of the national house. and his censure
Tor Kansas congressman for their at
titude upon the tariff. Such state
ments have deep significance in view
of the fact that Congressman Curtis. is
using Speaker CaHnoRss endorsement
to boom his senatorial fight,
The following is Senator Smiths
public declaration, of his programme"
for the coming session:
Would Reduce Freight Rates.
will be maximum rate bill on wheat
and corn. which will reduce the present
rate on these two cereals about two
cents a bushel all over the state. 1t is
we'll known to every shipper that the
present rate on wheat and corn Is ex-
brilliant The rate is the same today
in our country that it was twenty years
ago. although the actual cost of ship
ping to the railroad company is not
over 60 per cent of what it was former
". The size of ears has been increased
20 nearly double and the average train
haul is from two to two and one-half
times what it was twenty years ago.
In addition to that, the crop raised and
moved is from three to four times what
1t was from our country twenty years
ago. AS comparison of rates take the
wheat rate and the cattle rate from my |
town to Kinsley. The Santa Fe hauls |
a carload of cattle from Kinsley to |
Kansas City for $3.50. These cattle |
must be carried on certain schedule |
and If unduIy delayed the carrier is |
liable for damages occasioned by any |
decrease in the market. Not only that, |
but if they are delayed in transit by |
reason of wrecks, anything of that |
sort. they must be unloaded, fed and |
watered.
ON the other hand the railroad COM
par1y gets from 500 to $110 q car for |
every carload of wheat shipped from |
Kinsley to Kansas City, a class of /
freight with much less risk and on /
which delay counts for very much less.
II the cattle rate is high enough. then |
the wheat and corn rate Is much too |
high A saving of two cents a busheld
on the shipment OF these two cereals |
sas to at least three million dollars per |
annuIn.
Prevent Cocl Confiscation.
Another bill that have prepared is |
an amendment to the coal confiscation
bill of 1905. One of the most. serious
troubles that we have in the western
country is the shortage of coal and
the railroads have absolutely no ex- |
cuse for this. The coal traffic is one
of the most certain and profitable that I
TO the carload, almost, the amount of /
coal that will be consumed in kinsley,
for Instance, during the winter, and 1t
being necessary or lie It's supply |
should be as sure and certain as the |
movement of their mail trains. We !
could get along without our mail, we
can endure a car shortage on wheat
and cattle, but we must have coal, and I
ehere are days and sometimes weeks
in cold weather when It is impossible
to procure a pound of coal in my
town Not only that, but railroads do +
not even supply themselves with coal |
in advance, but confiscate it from the
shipper whenever they see fit, so that
the shipper Is never sure of having
the coal that he orders.
NV bill provides that whenever the /
railroad company confiscates coal in
transit. 1t shall pay to the consignee
double the value of the coal and a
Reasonable attorneys fee II suit is |
brought. In my Judgment the rail-
road company is absolutely derelict in |
its duty in this failure in the last year
or two to furnish coal for our country. |
can see no excuse for it and it |
amounts to a forfeiture of its cor
porate duty.
Fix the Railroad Law.
Another railroad matter that needs
attention is the rate making power Civ
en- to the railroad board under the pres
ent law. The law provides that when