The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-28
RAPS The ROADS.
Senator BristOW in Speaking on
the Railroad Bill
Charges Them With DiScrimina-
tiOn and Corruption.
CAMDA DTCON on ID TEC
COMPARISON OF RATES
Says They Bride Conventions
and Control Elections.
Have Sought to Obtain Undue
Influence in Courts.

Washington, April 2S.-Charging the
railroads not only with innumerabIe
acts of discrimination-'thig handed
acts of tyranny''-but with corrupting
legislation and with influencing the APP
pointment of federal judges. Senator
Bristow in connection with the railroad
bill discussion in the senate entered
upon an extensive condemnation of
the present system of rate making. He
cited many Instances to show the i'll
effects of the plan employed.
Declaring that by these methods
one man was enriched at the expense
of another and that there was great
discrimination as between cities, he
asserted that they should not be per-
mitted to continue longer.
Coming to illustrations, Mr.. Bristow
cited the case of Tucson, Arizona.
''The rate from New York to Tucson
on wooden fabrics is $3.50 per 100 or
$1.4 more than to E. Paso." he said.
THAT is tn people of Tucson are
charged SLAB more for the additional
haul OF S12 miles. The rate from New
York to San Francisco, 1871 miles, or
$50 miles farther than from New York
to Tucson, is SO per 100-90 cents less
than that to tucson.
THAT is. the people of Tucson are
charged ninety cents per 100 pounds
more for freight from New York on
the clothing that they wear, or the
fabrics that they use in domestic and
INDUSTRIAL aTalrS imam are the people
of San Francisco, though the railroad
hauls the traffic shorter distance by
$50 miles,
Admitting the water competition
had something to do with the favorit-
ism to San Francisco, he declared that
the circumstance should not be permit
ted to continue permanently.
In the same connection he said the
rate to Ell Pasc was rs cents less than
to Denver, though the latter city was
$50 miles nearer to New York.
Charges Greed and Avarice.
Apparently the only reason for
charging Denver a larger amount for
a less service is that the roads have
arbitrarily agreed to do it. utterly re-
CARELESS of whether or not it is Just
or right" said Mr.. Bristow, that is
the city of Denver is excessively taxed
simply to crafty the greed and avarice
of the railroads that enter it"
Mr.. Bristow gave figures on freight |
meats and canned goods respectively
between Kansas City and New Orleans |
In one instance and Kansas City and |
Wichita in the other. He showed the
rates on canned goods to New Orleans
to be 81 cents per 100, whereas to |
Wichita 1t was 35 cents, notwith-
standing the distance which was only
about one-fourth as great
After presenting many other in
stances Mr. .BriStOw said: f'The pres
ent system is intolerable BY it the
railroads impose an unjust tax on the |
gle the natural growth of cities They
tax arbitrarily one region of the coun- |
try for the benefit of another. They |
levy tribute on the rich resources of |
one community that they may favor |
another. They have driven the indie |
pendent American steamship from the |
inland seas and contributed greatly |
in driving the American flag from the |
ocean. They have annihilated the |
great steamboat industry which fifty |
years ago was the pride of the nation. |
Bribery and Corruption.
But that is not all. In order to re-
tain the power that has enabled them |
to exercise these high handed acts of |
nous wealth to corrupt legislatures
bride conventions and control cleo |
tions. They have sought to and in |
some instances, l believe, have con-
trolled the appointment of federal |
judges, that they might have undue |
influence with the courts.
And, now, with amazing effrontery |
and apparent confidence in their pow
er, they are attempting by the enact |
ment of this bill not only to get out |
from under the future operations of
the Sherma nanti-trust law, but to Sc
cure legislative immunity from the |
crimes which they have committed |
against the statute.
Mr.. Bristow had not concluded |
when at BIAS p. m. the senate adj |
journed to permit its members to at
tend the wedding OF Senator Suther-
lands daughter