The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-07-26
J.F. FARRELL ANSWERS LADY
RAILWAY Side of Rate Question Taken
Up by Santa Fe Man.


Editor State Journal:
In Mondays State Journal Mr.. John
F. Lady asked a few questions which
should be answered so that they will
not leave an erroneous impression on
the public mind.
Calling attention to the decision of
the interstate commerce commission in
the Kansas case, Lady asked:
"If the railroads are now entitled
to an increase in passenger fares and
freight rates, why didn't they get it
since a year ago when it was granted
to roads all over the country outside
the state of Kansas? Or, if they were
not entitled to it then, why should
they have it now?"
The railroads have been entitled to
the increase ever since the interstate
commerce commission made the orig
inal order, a year ago. They didn't
get it because the Kansas public utili-
ties commission declined to advance
state rates to the level of interstate
rates. All this time the state commits
sion has been contending with the in
terstate commerce commission about
the case, and only last week the inter-
state commerce commission directed
that Kansas rates be raised SO that
they will be in harmony with inter-
state rates.
Commenting on the financial plight
of the railroads, Lady asks about the
government bonus" given the rail-
roads. The bonus to the railroads
is like the bonus" to the soldiers:
There amt no such animal"
The case of the railroads is similar
to that of the soldier who returned
from France, his job gone, and his
girl married to a fellow who had
claimed exemption. When the hor-
rors of war came upon US. military
necessity demanded the immediate
~ fNv, ~ ~
young men of the country for the
army, navy and air service. and the
railroads of the country for the trans
portation of troops munitions and
supplies OF various kinds. The gov
eminent reached out it's strong hand
and took the boys. Then it reached
out again and took the railroads. No
questions were asked. I'VE need you,"
said Uncle Sam, and the response was
prompt and unanimous. After two
years the boys who were fortunate
enough to escape whole were released,
and the railroads also were released.
The government allowed the soldiers
for their service the smallest rate of
pay for which any class of workers
labored during the war. The boot
black in the hotel made two or three
times as much money as did the SOL
dier who faced death on the battle
fields of Europe. The government also
allowed the railroads as rental for
their property the smallest return re-
corded for any business conducted
during the war. Thousands of holders
of railroad shares received nothing on
their investments. some received as
high as per cent. The average was
per cent. No other business was
conducted during the war on a return
so low as that of the railroads.
In his last question Lady wants to
know why rates cannot be reduced.
Let Senator Albert B. Cummins, chair
man. of the senate committee on in
terstate commerce. answer this cues
ton. During the progress of the rail-
way hearing in Washington Senator
Cummins said:
Whenever the Congress is willing
to make an appropriation to help sus-
tain the railroads, I think then we
can consider general reduction in
rates. But with situation in which
there is no net income shown for the
operation during the last year, IT is
quite obvious that rates cannot be re-
duced." IF JARRETI
Topeka. july 26