The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-21
WORK new PLANS
Kansas Citian Says Railroads
Use Us as "Stalking Horse"
Attorneys Tell Legislators Gov
eminent Does Not Want Laws.

Kansas City, Feb. 21.-"The rail-
roads are using the government as
stalking horse to prevent anti-rail-
road legislation, before the state leg
Islature, to evade contract obligations
in franchises to cities and public
pledges" H. H. Daniels, banker. presi-
dent of the Kansas side Chamber of
Commerce and civic leader, said.
Mr. Daniels made the assertion on
conditions he found at Topeka, where,
he declared, lawyers for the railroads
were using the government" as
blind for defeating legislation, how
ever necessary to the. public it might
be. Reference to breaking contracts
with the public. he says, are supported
by the conditions in his own city,
where the company obtained a zoo
year grant just before the war, easily
financed more than three million doT-
lars worth of improvements needed by
the railroads, but was unable because
of government policy to spend less
than half million dollars to build sta
tions and viaducts, which was prom
ised by the railroads in return for the
franchise grant.
1.-THE manner in which unfavorable
railroad legislation is defeated by rail-
road lawyers at Topeka, now in the
regional director service, is more dis
graceful than in the days of railroad
passes, when the railroad political
lawyers financed campaigns" Mr..
Daniels said.
Then Lawyer Comes.
But today the instant railroad leg
islation begins to meet the approval
of the lawmakers, railroad lawyer
appears and informs the members OF
the committee that the governme mt
does not desire that legislation The
| railroads. instead of political combina-
tons and slush funds, are controlling
present railroad legislation by the open
assumption of use of the governmental
machinery itself"
| Mr.. Daniels who is president of the
| Armourdale State bank in the KaW
| Valley Drainage district, has been G
leader in the fight for flood protec-
ton for the big industrial center. The
! final fight for clear channel is tC
| remove the Northwestern or Missouri
| Pacific bridge at the mouth of the
Kaw river. All other bridges have
been rebuilt properly and favorable
consideration was being given a bill
to remove that bridge menace. Mr.
Daniels and other leaders went to To
peka to appear against the bridge
| This is what he says of his experience
About the first man I met wa:
Buster Brown from the office of thu
regional director and associated in thu
| practice of law with w. P. Waggener
general counsel in Kansas for the Mis-
souri, Pacific and Northwestern rail
| roads. To my surprise this likablt
young lawyer from the opposition of
fices informed me the government wal
against the bridge legislation ant
| would request it be not passed.
Wanted Bill Killed.
"Then w. R. Smith. general counse
for the Santa F'e railroad. and re
gional director for the government a
| Topeka, appeared before the drainage
committee of the house and asked the
| Bridge Removal bill be killed. HI
made that request in the name of the
United States government, when III
| must have known that not only engi
neers for the district, but the Kansa
I Waterways commission. has found thu
| bridge a menace to life and property
| Il have made an investigation ant
I find this bridge farce is being re
| enacted all over the United States.
| believe it is without approval of tn
| government, but if lasting damage
not to be done it is up to the directo
general of railroads to make it plail
to the legislatures the United State
government is not appearing to lobb
for the railroads against Legislation
|