The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-11
USES The HARPOON
Senator BristOw After ElkinS
and Aldrich.
Kansan Enlivens the Tedium of
Senate.
TOLD TO MOVE OUT.
West Virginian's Advice to
Those Not Satisfied.
Mr.. BristOw Makes Some Point
ed Comparisons.

Washington May 11.-Provoked by a
remark by Senator Aldrich, that the
senator from Kansas wanted his home
town of "Salina, with probably $500
population, to rival New York as a
commercial metropolis" and accounting
in that way for Bristow's activity for
the long and short haul clause in the
railroad bill, Senator -BriStoW occupied
an hour in the senate Tuesday after
noon and made it one of the livelest
hours the senate has seen in months.
Bristow had prepared to answer some
remarks by EIkins about Kansas being
500 miles from anywhere and advising
the senators from the wes5 who were
not satisfied with the freight rates their
towns were getting to move out of the
country, but he had not intended to
use it for several days. However, when
Aldrich made an additional sighting
remark BristoW waited his turn and
got the floor as soon as he could to
answer
THE senator from West Virginia and
the senator from Rhode Island" he
said, refer to the state that 1 in part
represent here with more or less Sar-
casm. I wish to tell them that in 40
years the state of Kansas has been
built from an uncultivated prairie into
one of the rich states of the Union.
And yet when the people OF this great
commonwealth ask this congress for
laws that will save them from being
the prey cf the greedy men who control
the transportation lines of the country,
we are told to move out of that coun-
try if we do not like the treatment we
are receiving from the railroads"
Ellxins in Zone of Fire.
Aldrich left the room, so that Bris-
tow was practically compelled to devote
all mis- attention to Elkins, which he
proceeded to do. Bristow produced fig
ures to show:
That while West Virginia has two
thirds the population of Kansas, the
manufactured products of Kansas
amount III value to twice as much as
the manufactured products of West Vir-
ginia.
Kansas spent 21a million dollars more
money for the maintenance of public
schools than West Virginia last year.
Kansas had 1886 students in colleges
and universities, while West Virginia
TX Kansas spent $.11os5s on higher
education and West Virginia $329,07O.
Kansas produced ten times the value
III farm products and six times the
value in live stock that West Virginia
offers. zl-2 500
Kansas pay taxes ron $2.511, 260, 2S5,
while West Virginia pays taxes on ST.
O6S, OOO. 900. .Tc(
These. he said, furnished ample rea--
sons for not taking the advice offered
by Elkins to move out. Turning atten-
ton to the pending amendment for the
kng and short haul clause, BriStow as
serted that because Kansas is prolific
and can stand h. gh rates, the railroads
Charge unreasonable and unfair rates
for hauling grain.
Elkins-Doesn't the Missouri river fix
your rates?
Bristow-You know it does not. At
this time not hushel of grain is ship
ped on the Missouri river.
Elkins-Why don't you get the rates
set aside that you complain of? 1t can
be done easily through the interstate
commerce commission.
Given The Lie.
Bristow-The senator states what he
knows is not a fact. We can't get
them set aside under the present law.
Elkins-I don't know it is not fact.
1t does not cost the shipper anything
to make complaint to the board
Bristow-I want that statement to
go to the country, to the people who
know that to get relief through the
interstate commerce commission and
the courts costs much tire and great
expense. The senator knows that to be
true.
Elkins-It won't cost you 1 5 cents to
file a complaint with the commission.
BOrdn-lI uOeSE COSl IluCn " NE
in the first instance. but to conduct
the case may cost the shipper 100000
before he gets through.
Elkins| would like to know what
rule YOU propose as a remedy.
Bristow-I will tell you. as 1 have
told you before. We want the law to
say that the railroads shall not charge
more for short haul than for 4 long
haul when the shorter haul is included
i'll the longer one.
Elkins-That's no rule at all.
Bristow-If that rule is not plain 1
don't know how 1 am going to make
you understand.
Elkins-You can't make me under
stand anything.
Bristow-I am afraid not.
EIlxins Leaves Room.
Elkins left the room and Bristow
remarked: Il am sorry the senator
from Rhode Island and the senator
from West Virginia have gone before
1 have had chance to answer them. 3"
He confined himself to a discussion
of the bill until Bailey began a cross
fire that led to a scathing talk about
politics. showing that Bailey was dis
posed to help Aldrich. Pailey made
objection to statement made by
Bacon earlier in the day that the reg
ulars were boasting that they had Is
Democratic votes in their pockets.
Dixon promptly repeated it. Bailey
asked Dixon whether. he would say
there were no railroad controlled sem