Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-09
WILL NOT PERMIT. THE RAILROAD
BILL TO BECOME LAW.
VETO MESSAGE TO BE RED HOT.
WILL SEVERELY iUnITICIsE THE
pOps FOR THEIR TREACHERY.
More Stringent Law to BE Demanded,
but the Demand Is Likely to Go
Iaheeded-Grant HarrinB-
ION Comes 10 Harris
Defense.

Topeka, Kas.. March S.-tSpecial) The
railroad bill passed by the legislature will
be vetoed by Governor Leedy tomorrow.
The veto message will be transmitted TO
the house during the forenoon. II will be
4 redhot document, criticising the Popu-
lists for violating their party ante-election
pledges by passing this bill. The message
will also demand a more stringent law.
The governor refused 10 talk about the
matter 10 The Journal correspondent to-
night, and would not even say what he
proposed 10 do tomorrow, but the informa-
tion given above is absolutely correct.
The governor has been closeted with his
private secretary, Ed Little, and some
close political friends. all day, preparing
his message. Among these were Chief
Justice Doster and Associate Justice Allen.
1t is stated tonight that Brown, OF
Pratt, chairman of the railroad committee.
will reintroduce his maximum bill as soon
as the veto message is read, and that an
effort Will be made TO push 1t through. 1t
is not likely, however. that this can be
accomplished, and IL there is any railroad
legislation enacted during Governor Leedy $
a special session.
The efforts of large number of Popu-
lists of the legislature TO injure Senator
Harris politically by openly accusing him
OF being the author of the railroad bill
which passed both houses and which Gov
crnor Leedy will veto tomorrow, has caused
Senator Harris clerk, Grant Harrington.
who is also clerk of the senate railroad
committee, TO issue public statement re-
futing the charge
THE protests which have been filed by
various senators and representatives
against what they are pleased to term the
Harris senate railroad BILL" says Mr..
Harrington, ARE calculated to place Sena-
tor Harris in false light before the peo-
pie of Kansas. and 1t is time the history
of the bill is made public. The bill as it
went 10 the senate was not the Harris bill
at all, but compromise measure which
the majority Of the committee on rail-
roads ordered prepared in lieu of the
Harris bill, the Ryan bill, the Farrelly bill
and the numerous other bills before the
committee. On the second day of the
session. Senator Harris introduced his bill.
1t being senate bill No. 131. This BILL in
many of its sections, was literal transcript
of the Iowa bill. Section - of the bill was
one OF these. 1t provided:
=" Section 10. The board of railroad COM
missioners of this state are hereby en-
powered and directed to make for each
of the railroad corporations doing business
in this state. as soon practicable, SUBJ
ject TO the limitations and restrictions
herein contained. a schedule of reasonable
maximum rates and charges for the trans
portation of freight and cars. on each oil
ssid railroads. and said power to make
schedules shall include the power 10 make
classification of all such freights, and ii
shall be the duty of said commissioners 10
make such classification
In section Is il was provided:
Z" Said commissioners, whenever they
have sufficient reason TO believe that any
common carrier is violating any of the
provisions of this act shall at once insti-
tute an inquiry in the same manner and
had been made
Section Is provided that In establishing
rates no reduction should be made which
would have prevented the roads from earn
ing per cent on the assessed valuation OF
its property for taxation for the preced-
ing year, not including interest on bonds
or dividends on stock.
''AIi of these sections of the bill were
vigorously opposed by the railroads. Their
representatives appeared before the COM
mittee and argued against the section
which ordered the commissioners tc
it gave the commissioners too much
power. They were equally opposed TO the
clause which allowed the commissioners
10 make rates without complaint being
iileG, as they said 1t would enable a cor
rupt board to bleed the roads. Section Is
they said, meant practical confiscation.
I'm the committee the bill was attacked
almost as vigorously as ii had been by tn,
railroads. The majority of the member:
were demanding maximum rate to b'
made by the legislature. Senator Harri:
took the ground that no Legislative maxi
mum rate had yet stood the test OF th'
courts, but that II the board of railroad
aNNeE frHh and -
quired TO make rates, as provided in hi.
bill, they could at all times keep slsid'
the requirements of the courts and in {
very short time a schedule of maximum
rates would grow up which would res
upon a solid basis.
This discussion was carried on in tn
committee until February ), when the min
utes of the committee showed the follow
ing proceedings
Senator Forney moved that the com
mittee prepare and report for passage
maximum freight rate bill in lieu of th'
Harris and other bills now before the com
mittee. On ron can the motion prevailed
Forney Lewelling. Helmick and Hanna
total, 5. Eays-Harris, johnson. Morrow
consisting of Chairman Harris and Sen
ators Householder and johnson, was ap
pointed TO draw a maximum rate bill AM
report to the full committee
Again on February u. the minutes show
The chairman stated TO the committe
the progress of the subcommittee ha,
man he instructed TO prepare bill takin;
the Iowa law basis and inserting
maximum rate which would give a 20 pe
cent reduction on coal. u per cent re
duction on live stock and a 10 per cent re
duction on all other classes OF freieh
from the present distance tariff. Thos
voting for the proposition were: Harris
Iewelling. Householder. Forney HeImicl
and Hanna. Those voting against wer
johnson. Morrow and Fulton.
The bin thus ordered was reported 4
the senate. and printed as senate bill NJ
52. That II was not the Harris bill bur
compromise measure. cannot be doubted Ia
any candid man who Is familiar with IN
facts attending Its preparation. 1t was M
the bill Senator Harris Nanted but u.
licVing IL 10 be long step in the rfsh
direction. he gave IL his cordial suppor1
Tho senate struck out the maximum raft
and the bill went to the house. Here Fer
Icscniatfye Hackney offered section 10
the Harris hill AS an amendment, hut tn
hcuse refused 10 adopt II.
In view OF these facts. the effort Is no-
boing made 10 make "A little cheap polite:
cauital against Senator Harris because IN
iDiil as Il goes 10 the governor is not MOI
radical IN its provisions is unjust to hin
and ought TO be resented by his friends -