Thomas County cat., 1890-04-24
LOOKING Up THE RECORDS.
Gaylord Herald. April 3. 1890.

! country have at last awakened 10 a luii
appreciation of the fact that they are
able to look after their own interests
and propose to do it, the records OF
men who have held, or are low holding
positions in the public service; are be-
ing closely scanned for the purpose OF
ascertaining whether these men have
shown disposition to treat the farmer
and his interests fairly and Justly, or
whether. as has too often been the case,
tbey have fallen into the hands OF the
corporations Immediately alter their
election, if they were not spoken for
before. This is right and just and IN
this way only can correct Judgment
of men be formed. Promises for the
future have little weight when those
promises are in oren conflict with the
actions OF the men who make them;
but when mans past record is right,
it is generally safe to assume that his
course in the future will be IN the
right direction. At least it is, general
ly speaking, great deal SAFER to trust
a man who has been right in the past,
than one who has been wrong IN the
past but is full of good promises for
the future For the benefit of the pa
irons of the Herald, who are mostly
farmers. we shall endeavor to assist
their efforts to ascertain who have been
their friends in the past and who have
not. The records are easy to come at.
For instance, we have before us copy
of the House Journal of 1885 session OF
the Kansas Legislature. By referring
to the roster of members of the House
we find that Smith county was repre-
sented in that Legislature by Webb
McNali and J. c. Davenport. The only
further record we find of Mr.. Daven-
port is that he was counted ''absent and
not voting" on most of the measures
before the House, and was member OF
the COnlrElllee Oh Ic'tcldi i'oio0ioiA''
On page $50 We find that Mr.. NcNall
was made chairman of the Committee
on Railroads, by far the most import
ant committee in the house that year.
Following his course through the ses-
sion. as his actions affected the inter-
eets of the producing classes. we find
him in every instance opposed to the
corporations and in favor of the people.
Tie record is as follows:
House journal, page 277: Mr.: McNall
chairman of the Committee on Railroads.
submitted the following report:
Mr. SPEAKER: Your Committee on Raul
roads, to whom was referred House bill No
ia An act relating to the liability OF rall
roads for damage 10y fire. have had the same
under consideration. and | am directed tt
report the bill back to the House with the
Recommendation that it be passed
This law requires railroad companies
to pay full value for property destroyed
bv fire started from locomotives, and
simplifes the procedure in favor of the
property owner.
House journal, page $50: Mr.. McNall
chairman of the Committee on Railroads
submitted the following report:
Nh. SPEAKER: Your Committee on Rail
roads to whom was referred House bills No
so 81, 10 and 200. being acts requiring rall
roads to fence their roads, and fixing thel
liability, have had the same under consider
alton, and am directed to report the bill
back to the House with the recommendation
that the accompanying substitute he passed
ho rafarc 10 tho law whlr
was passed at this session requiring
railroad companies to fence their roads
the first law of the kind upon our stat
ute books. Mr.. McNall originated an
championed this measure ali the wa
through, and was bitterly opposed b
the railroads Under its provision
railroad companies are required I
fence every mile of road in the statt
House journal. page 412: Mr.. McNall o
fered the following resolution, and moved i
adopton
WHEREAS. The Board of Railroad Con
miSSioners recently had conference wit
the various traffic managers operating an
doing business within the state, with vie
of considering the proprlety of reducto
IN rates OF transportation dllu oii't
WHEREAS, The conclusion reached by Il
Commissioners in this matter have not bee
made public: therefore. be it
Resolved. That the Board of Railroa
= Commissioners be and are hereby requeste
TO report to this House their reasons. if ar
exist. why a reduction upon the present gra
freight rates would not be advisable.
The resolution giving rise to debate, W;
laid over under the rules.
On motion of Mr.. McNall the rules we
suspended. and the resolution was consider,
and adopted.
House journal. page 5S7:
Mr.. McNall. Chairman of Commute
Railroads for the minority of said commi
tee, submitted the following minority repol
Nh. SPEAKER: Your committee on RAJ
roads to whom was referred House Bill \
3a2, An act entitled '.Ans act to amend sc
tions 2, 10 and Is, and repeating section
chapter 12I. of the session laws of 1888, b
ing an act concerning railroads. have HI
the same under consideration, and We dis
gree with the majority concerning said bi
The minority of the committee are of t
opinion that said bill should not pass for t
following reasons:
FIRsT-Because it does no. fix rule