Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-03-16
THE RAILROAD BILL.

agreed upon by the second Conferences Com
mittee and passed by both Houses OF the
Legislatures:
Be itsnacted BY the Legislature of the State
OF Kansas:
Section !. No railroad company shall
charge or receive q rate in excess of
three cents per mile for the Transports
ten OF any passenger who is over twelve
years of age, upon any railroad in this State.
nor In excess OF half that sum per mile for the
transportation OF any passenger of the age of
twelve years or under. Each passenger over
twelve years of age paying fare shall be en-
titled to have transported without any addi-
tional charge, baggage not exceeding 100
pounds in weight, and each passenger of
twelve years of age and under, paying fare
shall be entitled to have transported without
additional charge, baggage not exceeding
fifty pounds in weight
Section 2. The Executive Council shall
before the first day or April next, elect three
competent persons, who shall constitute a
Board of Railroad Commissioners, and who
shall hold their offices from the dates of their
respective election for the terms OF one
two and three years from the first day of
April next. The Executive Council shall in
like manner, before the first day of April in
each year thereafter elect a Commissioner, to
continue in office for the term of three wears
from said date; and in case any vacancy occurs
In said Board, by resignation or otherwise
shall IN the same manner elect q Commissioner
TO serve Tor the residue OF the term. The Ex-
ecutive Council may, at any time, remove
such Commissioners, or any of them
and elect others to fill the vacancy: and ali
| votes cast by each member OF the Executive
! council Tor the election of any person to the
Office OF Railroad Commissioner, or removal
rom the same, shall be recorded in journal
kept by them Tor that purpose, which
/ journal shall be kept open at all times to pub
! lie inspection. The said Board of Commits
sloners shall have authority to APPOINT a
Secretary and remove him at pleasure
| No person owning any bonds, stock
or property in any railroad company
/ or who is in the employment of, or who
/ Is In any way or manner pecunarily in
terested in any railroad, shall be eligible
| to the Office O; Railroad Commissioner or
| Secretary of said Board. Said Railroad Com
missioners and Secretary shall be qualified
! electors of the State; provided, that not more
| than two OF the Commissioners shall belong to
! the same political party. Said Commissioners
| and Secretary shall be sworn to the due and
| faithful performance of the duties of their re-
/ spcctive offices before entering upon the dis
charge OF the same. Each of said Commiss on
ers shall enter into bonds, with security to
| be approved by the State Treasurer, in the
sum of $4,000, conditioned Tor the faithful
! performance of his duties.
Section 3. Said Commissioners shall keen
their office in the capitol, or at some other
suitable place in the City of Topeka Sad
| Board or any member thereof may act
officially in any part of the State
| They shall each receive a salary of $1,000 per
! annum, and the Secretary shall receive sal
| airy OF 81 800 per annum, to be paid as the
| salaries OF other State officers are paid: and
/ said Board shall be provided, at the ex-
| pense of the State, with necessary Office furni-
] ture and stationery.
Section 4. To provide fund for the paw
! ment of the salaries and current expenses of
| the Board OF Commissioners and the Secretary
! the Board shall certify to the Auditor OF State
| on or before the Doth day OF May in each YEAR
the amount necessary to defray the same which
amount shall be divided prorata among the
several railroad companies, according to the
/ assessed valuation of their property in the
/ State, and the Auditor shall thereupOn certify
/ 20 the County Clerk of each county the amount
! due from the several railroad corporations
] located and operated in said county, aud the
| County Clerk shall place the same on the tax
| rolls of his county to be collected the same as
| other taxes upon railroad property, and the
| County Treasurer shall account to the State
/ Tor the same, the same as provided by law for
/ other State funds; provided that in morgan
| lied counties the amount found due from
railroad companies therein shall be included
| in and levied and collected with such taxes as
are levied and collected by the State IRON
railroad companies located in said morgan
/ lied counties.
Section s. SAID Commissioners shall have
the general supervision of all railroads in the
| State operated by steam, and all express COM
panles, sleeping car companies, and all other
!
business as common carriers in this State and
shall inquire into any neglect or violation of
| the laws OF this State by any person
company or corporation engaged in the
business OF transportation of persons or
! property therein, or by the officers, agents
| or employees thereof, and shall also from
time to time care uly examine and inspect
| the condition OF each railroad in the State and
OF its equipment and the manner of its con-
duct and management with reference to the
| public safety and convenience. Whenever in
the judgment OF the Railroad Commiss toner's
it shall appear that any railroad corporation or
other transportation company fails, in any re-
spect or particular, to comply with the terms
OF its charter or the laws OF the State or when
ever in their Judgment any repairs are neces-
sary upon its road, or any addition 20 its roll
| ing stock, or any addition to or chance Of its
stations station houses, or any change
/ in its rates for transporting freight or
! or any change in the mode of operating
/ its road and conducting its business
/ Is reasonable and expedient in order to pro-
mote the security, convenience, and accom-
mediation of the public, said Commits
s.oners shall inform such corporation OF
/ the improvement and changes which they adj
/ lud e to be proper, by a notice thereof in
writing TO be served BY leaving copy thereof,
/ certified by the Commits sioners' Secretary with
any station agent, clerk, treasurer, or any
director OF said corporal on; aud report of
the proceedings shall be included in the an
nual report of the Commissioners to the Legis-
! NOIHuS III ILLS SecIlO0 SDail be con-
I strued as relieving any railroad company or
other transportation corporation, from
their responsibility or liability for damage to
person or property.
Section q. said Commissioners shall, on or
before the first Monday II December I'm each
year, make a report to the Governor of their
/ doings for the preceding year, containing such
/ facts, statements and explanations as will dis
close the working of the system of rail-
road transpoi tation in this State, and
/ its relation to the general business and
/ prosperity of the citizens OF the State
and such suggestions and recommendations
In respect thereto as NAV to them seem appro-
propriate. Said report shall also contain as to
every railroad corporation doing business in
this State: First, the amount of its capital
stock; second, the amount of its preferred
stock, IL any, and the condition of its prefer
ment; third, the amount of its funded debt
I and the rate of interest: fourth the amount
/ OF its floating debt; fifth, the cost and actual
present cash value of its road and equipment,
| including permanent way buildings and rolling
stock, all real estate used exclusively in op-
Grating the road, and all fixtures and con-
veniences for transacting its business; sixth,
the estimated value of all other property
owned by such corporation, with a sch. dule OF
the same, not including lands granted in all
OF its construction; seventh. the number of
acres originally granted in aid of construction
Of its road by the United States, or by this
State; eighth number of acres of such land
/ remaining unsold; ninth, list of all its Off
GERS and directors, with their respective places
of residence; tenth. such statistics of the road
| and OF Its transportation business for the year
as may, in the judgment of the Commission
ers, be necessary and proper for the informa-
ton OF the Legislature, or as NAV be required
BY the Governor. Such report shall exhibit and
refer to the condition of such corporation on
the first day OF July of each year, and the de-
tails OF its transportation business transacted