The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-23
Is 1T A BURLESQUE?
Senator Lucien Bakers Anti-Rail-
road Pass Bill
IT IS 50 AWFULLY STRICT

That Although the PopuIIst Senators
Accepted Ii They Had to Modify 1t
J.G. sIOneeker says 1t is Clearly
Uneonstitu1iOnaI.
Senator Lucien Baker at the opening
OF the present session, introduced an
anti pass bill evidently for the benefit OF
his Populist friends, who have fallen
into the trap laid for them by the clever
gentleman who is now our United States
senator
Senator Bakers bill has been described
as thorough going measure" and II
has been so accepted by the PopulIst sen
ate committee on railroads, who have re-
ported the bill back to the senate with
favorable recommendation for its pas
sage.
The title of Senator Bakers bill shows
how thorough going it is, but the sen
ate committee on railroads seems to have
forgotten;that it is possible for a''thorough-
going" bill to be unconstitutional
The title Of this remarkable bill reads
as follows;
AN act to prohibit and punish the
giving, granting, sending or issuing, or
the acceptance and using within the
state of Kansas, of any pass, frank, con
cessio1, reduction accommodation, rebate
facility or favor not openly given the
general public within the state by any
person, company or corporation engaged
in the transportation of passengers,
freight or express matter, or engaged IN
the sending or delivery of messages by
telegraph. telephone or otherwise, eX-
cept to officers and employees, then upon
the business of the employer
furnishing the same; it being the objects
and purposes of this act to promote the
enactment of laws, just to the entire
state, the fair administration of the great
concerns of the state, and the protection
of all classes and conditions of people
and property within the state, and to give
the entire public equal opportunity, with
favOritism to none.
Under the provisions of Senator Ba-
ker's bill any person who violates any Of
its provisions would. on conviction, be
subject to tine and Imprisonment.
3lr. J. q. Slonecker one of the best
constitutional lawyers in the state says
Senator Bakers bill is genuine bur
lesque and it is the best effort as a take
off on POpulist literature he has seen.
Continuing Mr. Slonecker said: MY
judgment that any bill or measure which
prohibits any corporation or individual
from giving anything away whether it
be a pass or something else is unconsti
tutional and this bill certainly comes IN
der that list
according to this bill | would be sub
ject TO fine and imprisonment if l should
happen to be in John R. Mulvane's office
and he should offer me the use of his
telephone to talk to some person in Kan
sas City and should acce pt his offer.
r That bill is certainly unconstitutional,
according to my way of looking at it"
Senator Baker no doubt intended it as
q take of, and it is a dandy.
Senator Baker himself refuses to say
what he introduced his bill for, but when
the suggestion was made that he intend
ed it as burlesque he said, with a twin
kle in his eye: 81 thought there was a
demand for genuine pass bill which
would prohibit every one from
riding on pass, and if my bill should
become a law, and be enforced, l think
the pass business would be settled, but
you must not ask me about its constitu-
tiOnality."
The senate committee Oh railroads
have amended the bill so that employees
may ride on passes at any time. 1t was
too strict even for them.