The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-12
STUBS MESSAGE.

Continued from Preceding Page.)
Hughes in New York. and Governor
LaF'ollette in WISCONSIN. public
| utilities laws have been enacted which
| nave resulted in great practical bene-
nus TO the citizens of the above named
states. most earnestly recomm end
the enactment sof a. public utilities
law IN Kansas. using whatever may be
| USED TO advantage of the present rail-
| road law as basis and adding the
| pest FEATURES of the New York and
| wisconsin public utilities laws, which
| have had a severe practical test
rms law should empower a COM
mission to supervise not only the rail-
roads, put all public utilities. includ-
power express" car, pipe line, tele-
| graph and telephone companies and
All other public service utilities; also,
the jurisdiction over the issue of
stocks. bonds and securities of rail-
| way and all other public utilities cor
| poratlons; also, the power Of deter
| mining whether public necessity and
convenience demand the building of
| additional lines of railway, or addi-
tlonal water, gas, and electric light
plants in communities where there is
| IN operation plant of similar char
| acter, under an indeterminate fran
cnlse; also, the power to ascertain the
| physical value OF all public utilities
property within the borders of the
| state.
1t should be charged with the duty
OF prescribing proper and uniform
accounting methods and of recurring
from all companies under it's jurisdic-
| ton reports containing operating and
financial and other data, including
schedules of rates charged for the SER
vice rendered.
1t should be charged with the en-
forcement of the law relating to hours
OF employment for railway employees;
with power over railway terminals;
power to require railroads to install
telephone lines; to compel railroads
to furnish connections with SPURS
running to industries: power to deter
mine the value of public utilities, in
Guiding street railways; and in con-
tiles under the public utilities law; to
enforce statutory regulation of wires
and other overhead distractions cross
ing railroad tracks.
1t should also have the power to
secure all information pertaining to
the cost of construction, maintenance,
operation and transportation of sup
plies or service of any kind that is
furnished to the public.
All this information is necessary
for the purpose of establishing equit-
able rates and adequate service on
all commodities; and any corporation
which withholds information from
this commission should not be per-
nation in court.
This commission should consist of
five members to be appointed by the
governor and be subject to removal
by him for cause. This law should
also provide for the three railroad
commissioners to be a part of this
commission during the ensuing two
years.
Good Roads.
The agricultural department at
Washington has compiled data from
every civilized country showing that
the bad condition of our public high
ways increases the cost of hauling
american products to market more
than 237 million dollars each year, as
compared with the cost on highways
like those maintained in France, Ger
many, England and other countries.
This means more than million dol
lars loss in time and expense every
year in Kansas; but, the financial loss
sustained because of bad roads is
not the most important consideration.
Good roads add to the comfort, con-
Venlence and pleasure of living, es-
pectally in the country. The value
of land in a community is Increased
more by permanent improvement of
roads than the cost of such roads
They facilitate the consolidation of
country schools. Farm products may
be hauled to market in good and bad
weather.
Good roads cost money, so do barns,
houses, carriages, farm machinery and
everything that goes to make up the
comforts of life. Tt is not so inpor-
tant how much permanent road i'm
provements will cost. If the added
value of the Improvement is largely in
excess of its cost, then the expendi-
ture is justified and desirable. 1t is
really a permanent investment bring
ing in good dividends
We are spending more than a mill
lion dollars year on the public high
ways of Kansas without making per
manent improvements worthy of men
ton. If this amount of money was
used in a scientific, business-1ike way,
and the work done regularly and sys-
tematical1y by men who are skilled in
road building, it would only require a
few years to give. Kansas a perfect
system of public highways.
Kansas cannot construct public
highways without an amendment to
our constitution. But the state can
provide laws authorizing each county
to build and maintain permanent
roads.
A state law should provide:
Ffrst-A state engineer of public
highways who must be an experienced
road builder and a graduate of some
reputable school of engineering
Second-A supervisor of public
highways in each county to be ap-
by and with the advice and consent
of the state engineer. The county sur
veyor in many cases will have suf-
ficient training and fitness for this
place. The supervisor shall carry for
ward all work in the county under the
direction of the state engineer.
Third-Reliable data indicates that 80
per cent of the traffic is carried over
10 per cent of the roads. A mandatory
provision for drainage and grading of
all these main Travelled roads with reg
ular, systematic work by King drags
or otherwise. to keep the surface smooth
and drainage open, should be provided.