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Show Stubbs Demands Honest Valuation of Railroad Systems Topeka, Kas Sept 22. Governor W. R. Stubbs. ol Kansas outlined the purposes ot" the Interstate rate conference con-ference in a rather sensational speech at the opening session here today. The gocrnor declared that the rail roada cf the country have combined to advance freight rates on a scale never before known. He said that the railroads, of their own initiative, had opened up the whole question of ascertaining as-certaining the valuation of railroads by the testimony of railroad officials before the interstate commerce commission. com-mission. He asserted that the public demanded nothing short of bona fide valuation of all railroad property and ald congress should immediately paxs a law giving the interstate commerce commission authority to ascertain this valuation. Gov. StubbB also deplored ton tendency ten-dency of railroads to favor large clt les in the adjustment of ratv. In outlining the purposes of the conference. con-ference. Gov. Stubbs said: "Thl.-j conference was called to discuss dis-cuss ways and means to protect the Interests of the producer, consumer, shiprter and the jnjb.legnerally..ln.. the mlddh west from advance In freight rates involved In the most Important Im-portant case that has ever been lizard by the Interstate commerce rommi-.-ion. The principal railroad systoi.is of the I'nlted States have combined for the puriose ot advancing freight rates on a scale never before known in this case. "In the case now pending, the interstate in-terstate commerce commission Is not considering tbe" question of inherent reasonableness of any specific rates, but are passing on the general proposition prop-osition as to whether the railroads of the country are entitled, under present conditions, to a general ad vance in rates. "If they should o decide and approve ap-prove the rates now held in suspension, suspen-sion, then their decision will serve as a precedent not only t-j prevent any reduction lu rates in the future, but to be usedas a basis for fiitnn' advances of thousands of other rates. "The railroads ou their own initiative initi-ative have opened up the whole question ques-tion of ascertaining the value of all the railroads In the United Stales. Railroad presidents, traffic managers and other high officials are giving voluminous testimony tending to prove what they claim to b; the value val-ue cf their property in order to establish es-tablish a bask- for greater earnings to which they contend they are entitled en-titled under the lew. Investigation Should Be Exhaustive. "The public dem.uids nothing short of a bona fide valuation of all railroad rail-road property and public official?, who represent the consumer, producer, pro-ducer, shipper and rji?ral public, will bo criminally negligent If tiiey do not avail thennlves oi this opportunity op-portunity to go to bedrock and assist the interstate commerce commlsalm to make a searching and exhaustive investigation, so as to determine the actual value of all the railroad In tho United States. "If. upon investigation, It Is found that the railroads are Justly entitled to nn advance in freight rites, no good citizen will oppose paying such increased charges as may he necessary, neces-sary, but. on the other hand. If the railroads are now earning from 10 to 30 pi'i- cent on their capital !ock. then It Is elenrly the duty of public officials to demand such reduction in freight rates as may be Just an. I reasonable under the law. "Congress should at on:e en.-.t t a law providing for the physical valuation valu-ation of railroads by the lnerstit- commerce commMslcn and this should be done before any advance In rates is permitted. There U uo more rca- Ison why badly managed, badly constructed, con-structed, jwjorly-rnted and over-capitalized ralloraJs should prosper, thai why a badly managed business of any kind should be successful, and neither the people nor the government .have any, more responsibility to th's class of railroads than they have to Ill-advised business operations of any kind Building Up Large Ci iters. "The geueral policy of railroads throughout the Uultcd States to favor large centerB and build up great cities cit-ies at the expense of the rural communities com-munities Is little lesa than a crime against civilization. Such a policy robs hundreds' of thousands of children child-ren of tbeir natural right to whole, some surroundings, sunshine, pure air, and healthy social conditions. The truo policy should be to ao regulate reg-ulate the transportation rates that tho rural districts will be benefited and tho population normally distributed. distrib-uted. "The government and not the rail- roads should determine absolutely I policies of this character." J |