The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-26
A BUSY PUG. YEAR
Biennial Report Issued by
Chairman Clyde Reed.
Much Attention Paid TO Freight
Rates on Grain.
STATE WIDE SURVEY OF GAS
Volume of Business This Year
Largest in History.
Effort Made to Place Phone
Rates @On Sound Basis"

Never before in its history since its
creation in 1911, in the annals of
its predece~-or. the railroad commits
sion. has the Kansas public utilities
commission been engaged in so many
important matters as at present.
Chairman Clyde N. Reed declared in
his letter transmitting the commits
sion's biennial report to Governor
Henry J. Allen today. These matters,
lie pointed out, include prosecution of
complaint before the Interstate
Commerce commission against pre-
val ing freight rates on grain, grain
products and hay in the western terri
tory. a statewide survey of the nat
rIral gas situation in Kansas. efforts
10 place long distance telephone rates
III Kansas upon a sound basis, CO.
operation with other western states IN
endeavorinE to have amended certain
provision Of the Esch-Cummins or
TransportatiO act and cooperation
with other state commissions in de-
termining the valuation of railroad
properties '-as a basis for rate-mak-
ing"
Big Volume of Business.
THE volume of business transacted
by the commission has exceeded that
handled by any previous commission
in a similar period of time Mr.. Reed
declared The philosophy of the
commission is that il is body eXer-
cising legislative powers created Tor
and technical subjects, and whose first
responsibility IS the protectlon OF pup
lie interests. a sound public policy
includes fair treatment of all interests
Of the state, embracing the railroads
and public utility companies, but gem
orally speaking they are organized
with their. own staffs of experts ana
engineers and it therefore devolveS
upon the technical, legal, engineering
and accounting staff of the commits
sion TO look after the interests of the
unorganized pubic rms the com
missions staff undertakes to do"
The commission has earnestly en-
'deavored to live up to its full responsl-
bflity in both state and national al
fairs" the chairman said, in submit
ting a perusal of the entire report in
dieating only partly the wide raml1I- !
cations of the activities OF the depart 4
rneut during the two years just end
ing"
Some Important Matters
Chairman Reed summarizes what he (.
terms the most important matters
Ia Edled during the biennlum as IoI-
lows:
..Filing complaint against interstate
freight rates on grain, grain products
and hay on behalf of Kansas shippers
in July. 1921. Twenty-one western
states Joined Kansas in the complaint ]
The hearing which consumed three .
weeks before the interstate commerce
in Washington, was the
greatest freight rate case IN many 4
years. II resulted in a reduction OF [
rates amounting to s3S.0OO,0O0 for the
whole territory affected, of which |
about 100000 annually accrues 10
Kansas shippers.
because of continued depreciation 4
in the agricultural industry and the
4 hanged economic situation, the COM
mission has filed a similar complaint
against current freight rates on the
same products and. is now prosecuting
tins action in conjunction with other
western states. The Kansas commits
sion hopes for the successful outcome
that will materially assist the agri- l
cultural industry in Kansas in move
Inent of the 1928 crop.
'.rhe commission is cooperating
\