The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-09-02

son, the rules were suspended for the
immediate consideration of the resola-
ton, and on his further motion It was
concurred in. This was hardly the act
of railroad agent
1t was during this same session Of
! 1885 that the house attempted to amend
/ the present railroad law so as to give
the commissioners greater power, as
! well as to fix the responsibility of their
appointment. On page 1119 of the house
journal the bill may be found in full
In brief 1t is IS follows:
Section 1 provides for the appoint
ment of the railroad commissioners by
the governor, with the advice and con-
sent of the senate. 1t provides that no
person owning any stock bonds or
property in any railroad company,
or who is in any way or manner
pecuniarily interested in any railroad
company shall be eligible. Each of the
commissioners shall give bond in the
sum of $4,000 conditioned for the faith
full performance of his duties.
Section amends section of the
present law so as to authorize and re-
quire the board of commissions to make
and prepare for each railroad company
doing business in this state a schedule
of Just and reasonable rates Of charges
for the transportation of freight and
cars on each OF said railroads. Power
is given to make necessary revisions as
the times may demand. These rates
are to be taken in all courts as primo
facie evidence as being just and reason
able; it is also made the duty of the
attorney general, or any county attor-
ney, upon the demand of the railroad
commissioners, to prosecute any and all
violations of this act.
Section amends section Il of the
present law so that in all cases where
complaint shall be made of unreason-
able charges the board shall, when they
are found true, require a modified
charge, which new rate shall be ac-
cepted by the railroad company, all
rates in excess of which shall De
deemed extortionate.
Section amends section IS of the
existing law, providing for more effect
nal prosecution, all in favor of the COM
! plainaut.
The other sections are merely repeal
ing clauses and the publication pro-
vision.
When this bill was taken up for con-
sideration the record shows that mo-
ton was made to lay on the table,
which was opposed by Mr.. Smith
When the motion was made to strike
out all after the enacting clause Of the
senate bill and insert the above, Mr..
| Smith supported it and voted for the
bill as amended This bill was the
| subject of two conference committees
and was lost in the last hours through
| disagreement of the two honses.
| Again, in the special session of 1888
! Mr.. Smith was an ardent supporter of
/ house bill G14. an act in relation to rail-
roads, similar to the one of the year
I previous. This bill was passed FebTu-
airy II, Mr. Smith voting for it after
having made Il vigorous fight for it in
committee of the whole.
Sent 70 the legislature again in 1887
by the people of his county Mr.. Smith
continued his record as Il friend of the
! people. The house journal OF that
year shows his support, and his vote
| for, the following measures:
| House bill No. los, to compel railway
companies to construct crossings and
approaches thereto at public highways,
! and to maintain the same.
House bill No. 137, an act concerning
railroads. This was another attempt
to regulate railroad charges and seek
justice for the patrons of the roads
House bill No. 500, an act in relation
to railroads. 1t VIII be remembered
that an attempt was made to so amend
this bill, by one of the railroad attOr-
neys, as to make it valueless. After
fight lasting ham a day, in which Mr..
Smith took a prominent part. the
amendment was defeated and the bill
| passed February %.