The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-02-28
Capital City News
(By Chas- H. Trapp.)

marks the seventh year OF the Public
Utilities Commission and Fred S.
Jackson, attorney for the board, has
given me some figures to justify its
existence. Last week it refused an
application of the railroads for 20
per cent. advance in freight rates. As
the present income from freight of
the roads of the state is roughly
eleven million dollars, you will see
that such an advance would have
cost Kansas two and a fifth million
ming the commission is sos, 900 for
two years, so the shippers of Kansas
will be ahead nearly two million dol
lars as long as the order is kept in
force.
That brings up some unpublished
facts about the famous Kansas Nat
ural Gas cases. The position of the
commission was that the K. N had
abandoned all its franchie duties
except the provision of a small
amount of gas for domestic consump-
! ton, and that it must provide more
gas before being allowed an in
crease. The U. S. court fixed it so it
| got the raise first. A subsidiary of
the K. N. has gone into the Black
well field, where it had a 4-inch line,
and laid 16-inch line. That fixes it
/ so that the balance of the state gets
what is left after Wichita gets what
it wants, and it is a real problem as
to just how much this will be.
The democratic big day has devel-
oped that there is great uncertainty
as to who will run for governor. L.
NJ. Penwell has definitely withdrawn.
Officers of the state association favor
Ben Gaitskill, while the crowd at the
banquet undoubtedly favored Hender-
son Martin. 1t apears certain that
! Senator Thompson will have no oppo-
s1tlon for his second term within his
party.
The republican politics of the on
coming campaign has been doped out
IN this wise: The managers of Sena-
tor Curtis have very adroitly placed
him IN a position where two years
hence he will have no formidable Cd
position. If Bristow and Stubs be
defeated it will be their second time
to go down and they will be done for
Capper elected, he will be out of the
way; Scott defeated, it will be his sec.
Ond Waterloo-and he will be in the
discard. Should Capper be defeated
however, he has a record of having
come back more strongly than eve1
after defeat, and that would upset
the well-laid plans to perpetuate the
senator from Shawnee. Henry AIler
IN the governors chair, he will also
be out of the way and the junior
senator will have a clear field, barring
newcomers.
Chairman Chas. H Sessions, of the
republican state central committee
is getting busy for the oncoming cam
palgn, and the various candidate.
are beStirring themselves. Within the
month Stubs HEADQUARTERS will be-
established, Capper will stick close tt
the executive chair and will depend
on his friends and his record; Scott
will work for while from lola; Bris
tow is expected to throw his hat in
the rlng-while Morgan and Aller
forces are having the preliminary bout
preparatory to active campaigning.
The "BIue Sky" department OF
the state bank commissioners Office
has taken on new duty to the state
1t has refused permission to the sec
ond company to ask for the right to
sell stock to build a skyscraper hote
IN Topeka. Permission was granted
one company about a year ago anC
about $4,000 of the $250,OOO Of
proposed stock has been sold. It ha.
Deen the habit OF the department tt
refuse permission to banks where
towns seemed to be overloaded.
A Weapon of Defense Is the Tariff
Blacklisting OF certain American
firms is but an incident Of organized
attempts that viii be made after the
war by the Allies not only to Protec-
their commerce, but to hit at Ger
many.
The United States is stacked will
gold and all Europe will want it. To
get 1t, goods In vast quantities mus
be sold this country. That they vii
| be dumped upon US cannot be doubt
ed-if the invasion of our markets
which the Wilson-Underwood Tariff
law provides for is permitted.
The one great weapon Of defens'
. is the Protective duty. It has beer
, laid aside by this administration /
must be taken up again If we are Il
maintain prosperity
It viii not be taken up as long a.
, the Democratic party is IN power
: Safety First" therefore, lies N Re
publican success at the Novembei
/ IL T.