The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-25
Sends Message to Legislature on
Utilities Question.
Reviews Pledges Made to People
in Platform.
BEFOG THE PUBLIC.
Says Lobbyists Have EmphaSiz-
ed UnimpOrtant Features.
Explains Why the Proposed
Measure Is Necessary.

Governor Stubs sent message tc
the house of representatives Wednes-
day evening in which he paid his re-
spects to that body for its action Tues
day in trying to shirk responsibility by
sending the utilities bill back to COM
mittee instead of facing its duty fairly
and squarely as the people of the state
had right to expect. The governor
called a spade a spade. His message is
not thump from the big stick but it
is a plain, short rebuke. The governor
said:
To the House of Representatives of the
State of Kansas:
There is one vast overshadOWing
problem that must be solved in the
states by the legislatures and in the ma
ton by congressional problem is the
regulation and control of public service
corporations. This proposition has been
the subject of discussion and legiSla-
ton for years but so far no scientific,
legal. business-like basis has been
established for their control. Presi-
dent Roosevelt, Judge Taft Governor
Hughes, Senator LaFolIette Govern or
Folk and all our great leaders. with
out regard to party, have publicly de-
clared the need of sound and effective
party pledges of 1908 in Kansas
specifically declared in favor of limita-
ton of the issue of stocks and bonds
by public service corporations and for
physical valuation of their properties.
Ny recommendations to the legis-
1ature proposed the only feasible and
practical plan that 1 know of which
will fulfill our obligations in this re-
gard. Under present conditions, the
state through its legislature or board of
railroad commissioners makes orders,
and the railroad companies go into the
federal court under pretence of con-
Of md
emption from obedience to those orders.
The state has no evidence to disprove
their charges of conf1scation and the
states officers have continually been
Inundated and made to appear ridicu-
lous for lack of information and evil
dence that is absolutely necessary to
justify the state laws and regulations.
In the first place. the state must have
accurate knowledge of what rates and
regulations they should make in order
to enforce these regulations and orders
after they have been made. No board
of railroad commissioners or legislature
desires to confiscate the property of
any corporation in Kansas. On the
contrary, it is the states duty, and
necessary to the welfare of kansas,
that the rights and interests of the cor
porations as we'll as of their patrons,
customers and the general pubic be
protected. I have hoped to see TINS
legislature enact laws that would make
1t possible for the state of Kansas IN
telIigentlv and effectively to control all
public service corporations in this state
on the basis of absolute justice ana pc
fore this legislature finally concludes to
destroy the public utilities bill / would
urge upon it's opponents the impor-
lance and necessity of suggesting some
better method of establishing the
physical valuation of these corporate
properties and of limiting the issue OF
stocks and bonds.
Platforms Are Useless.
IF we do not keep our pledges to
the people made during political cam
paigns then it is useless to write plat
take to fulfill these pledges we must
do so in good faith. The issue that
has been raised under the pretence OF
home rule for cities of Kansas is
an effort to befog and deceive the peo-
ple and their representatives. This
kind of jugglery is the most skillfu1
method used by professional politi
clans to defeat sound measures that
are in the interest of the public well
fare 1t is creditable to the minority
members of the legislature who frank
ly state their purpose to Kill the pub
lie utilities bill. That position is man
" and fair. That position can be met
in fair fight and the public can judge
who is right.
But we have had on our statute
books for two years a law providing
for the physical valuation of rail-
roads; the railroad commissioners
y.
to their order. $4,000 for the pur-
rose of making this valuation. but
they have been so engrossed with
other duties that they have not even
started this work. 1t is preposterous
to think that this commission of three
members can make a physical valua-
ton of all the public service corpora
tions in Kansas and also supervise the
issue of stocks and bonds of all these
corporations and still have time to
carry forward and prosecute indus
triously and vigorously the enormous
work of looking after the establish
ment of just and equitable rates,
proper train service and the condition
of the tracks and roadbeds of all the
roads in Kansas.
Our board of railroad commission
erS consists of three members who are
paid a salary of $2.500 a year and
they have to contend with scores of
railroad attorneys whose salaries are
from 5000 a year to $4,000 a year
railroad managers. freight experts and
railroad presidents. whose salaries are
from $4,000 to $4,000 or $4,000 a
year. No greater lack of wisdom has
ever been manifested by the public
than in the withholding of adequate
salaries and contingent funds to their
public officers who have to represent
the public interests as against these