Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-03-09
kAILRoAD LRurSLATron.

rDnu irelghts ana tAreo. IL n not what
n maEbrIty of ~ people wanted but It
will he better than no legislation on
this Important subject: provided, al
ways, ~ provisions Gamble enforced.
hut there IL the rub. The appointment
vt the three commissioners 10 taken
from the governor and lodged In the
Executive Council. while IL IL certain
Governor Click would have appointed
rOmPeient and suitable men 10 tie posi-
tioM u is doubtful II the council will.
\ ~a;oIity Of the council are Republi-
Csus, nom mated by the same crowd
that forced 80. John on the people. Il
- understood that he was owned and
controlled 10y the railroad Influence, and
. IL IL tn be presumed the board have more
than Kind feeling Tor that influence.
We are delighted TO see that the mem.
her from Barbour votcd for the bill "a
reported 10y the conference committee
and adopted by the two houses. His
people here were holding their breath
awaiting his action. As he did two
yeATs ago. after working to defeat legIs-
latIon on this subject as long as there
WAS the least hope Of no bill being pass.
ell, St TIE last mO'nPnt he pranced TO the
IOnt and voted for IL. lie said IL was
better than any bill that attempted TO
fix maximum rates.
The bill 80 passed fixes q maximum
rate Of three cents per mile for passen-
yer ratcs; the board OF commissioners
IL to he appointed by the Executive
Council. and the latter has arbitrary
power 70 remove, the commissioners
holding their Offices for three years the
commissioners receive 5000 per year
and the secretary 1900, and all ex-
penses. The commissioners are TO have
general snp, rvIsion' OF all railroads On
the ate operated by steam and sleeping
car cOmpAnies and sbah inquire iut0
any neglect or violation Of the laws and
shall carefully exnmise and inspocs the
railroads of the state as TO the manner
Of their condust AMI equipment. A re-
port ls to be mssle By the comul lssloners
Co the governor In December for the
preceding year. anil 60 easble the com
Inlssloners ~ make this report the pres
ident or w~uAglng officer OF each rAH-
road In che state shall wake q report to
tie commI-sloDcrs on September 18th,
"a De nned 600 per day for each day
the report Il delayed after the 18th.
The commissioners have power to ex-
anime tire toOks any railroad corpo-
ration or On examine under oath any OF
their employees; any person refusing 90
give information TO the comm IssIoners
Ihnll be liable tn q fine of&1 900. Rail-
road companies must. when possible,
furnish ears to any person and the same
rates shall be charged to all persons.
Upon complaint Of an over-charge the
boar'l ~ o0ramis-ioDers are TO snyeN1-
gate and their finding shall be PRrHA
YAcIE evidence Of i reasonable charge.
R'oliug V punished by fine OF So OOO
per month. No railway company f.
permitted TO change or limit It's com
mon law lb'bllity ~ q common carrier.
When the 6oa j OF con mIssIoners iinds.
upon investigation. that an unreasona-
Tile charge las been made the rues
liked upon by the board ne reasonable
must be accepted by the railroad ,om-
pany And posted mp at places desIgnat 4.
ed. Any person or company may own
or lease railroad cars md these mus be
i'Fwatded by rallrowa companies and
connecting lines with reasonable dis
patch. Any raise Of rates by a rail Dad
company eshHot Be made until sixty
days notice Il civ -.
Any person upoa permit sion granted
by the bnard OF commissioners, can con-
demn and Appropriae had and lay o.
spurs, switches. etc exercI.Ing the RICH
at eminent domain tire same az a rail-
Rad. A raIlr"ad company violating the
provisions OF IN law -. made liable to
the party HggrIeeed fot three tl,aes the
actual damage ssstaiaed and q reasoua-
ble aitorney's fee. and any railroad
c"mpany willfully vlolatiag any OF the
provisions Of the bill, NOT otherwise pro-
vlded for. shall be LATHE 70 q penalty q
mot less than 500 nor more than IS 900,
Az penalties 10 be recove red bg a civil
'Aotion. Perjury h punished by impris-
Oument In the penItentiary at hard Ia
o"r Tor term not exceeding ten years.
ANY member Of the board OF commits
s'oners has ths rlKht to pass nee over
any Of tl'eTaIlrOads Otsthe state. as has
aso any clerk :or Aecat OF the board
y u further prOvIdedl DAT nOthIae In
the act shall be construed ss preventing
sny person from bringing suIt sgaIast
railroad company for q violation OF the
laws eftbe state reIstlng % The govern
snentnf railroads,