The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-01
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
Hackney Amendment to Harris
Railroad Bill Comes Up.
Supporters of the Measure
Worked Hard for 1t.
This Measure if Passed Will Compel
the Railroad Commissioners
to Compile Rates.

The consideration of the Hackney
amendment to the maximum freight
rate bill, which is now pending in the
house. will be resumed today. Debate
was suspended Friday evening after
the amendment had been read before
the house. and the general order will
be taken I'D at that point at o'clock
this afternoon. The pending amend
ment, which the Populists assert will
reach the desired end, is as follows:
The board of railroad commission
ers Of this state are hereby empowered
and directed to make for each of the
railroad corporations doing business in
this state, as soon as practicable,
schedule of reasonable maximum rates
of charges for the transported ton of
freight and cars on each of said rail-
roads and said power to make sched-
uleS shall include the power of CLASH
hcation of all such freights and it shall
be the duty of said commissioners to
make such classification; provided, that
said commissioners shall not in any
case exceed the rates which are or may
hereafter be established by law. And
said schedules SO made by said COM
nissiOners shall in all suits brought
against any such railroad corporation
wherein are in any involved the charges
of any such railroad corporations for
the transportation of any freight, or
cars or unjust discrimina ton in relation
thereto, be deemed and taken in all
courts of this state prirna faCie evil
dence that the rates therein fixed are
reasonable and just maximum rates of
charges for the transportation of
freight and cars upon the railroad for
which said schedules may have been re-
spectively prepared. Said commission
ers shall from time TO time and as often
as circumstances may require. change
and revise said schedule, subject to the
same provisions that the rates fixed are
not TO be higher than now or hereafter
established by law. When any schedule
shall have been made or revised as
aforesaid it shall be the duty of the said
commissioners to cause notice thereof
to be published for two successive weeks
in some public newspaper published in
the city of Topeka, in this state, which
notice shall state the date of the taking
of effect OF said schedule and said
schedule shall take effect at the time so
stated in such notice and printed copies
of said revised schedule shall be con-
spicuously posted by such common car
rier, in each freight Office and passenger
depot upon its line or lines. All such
schedules so made shall be received and
held in such suits as prina facie the
schedule of the said commissioners
without further proof than the produc-
ton of the schedule desired to be as
evidence with a certificate OF said rail-
road commissioners that the same is a
true copy of the schedule by them for
the railroad company or corporation
therein named and that notice OF the
making of the same has been published
as required by law; provided, that be-
fore finally fixing and deciding what
the original maximum rates and class
ifcations shall be, it shall be the duty
of the railroad commissioners to publish
ten days notice in two daily papers
published in Topeka setting forth in
such notice that at a certain time and
place they will proceed to fix ard de-
termine such maximum rates and class
ifcation and they shall at such time
and place and as soon as practica bic
of rn ny or.
ton or common carrier, who may de-
sire it. an opportunity to make an ex-
PLANTATION or showing or TO furnish in
formation to said commissioners on the
subject of determining and fixing such
maximum rates and classiffcatiOnS of
freights on all lines of railroads in
Kansas shall be fixed and go into effect
within so days from the taking effect
of this act
The action of the house Saturday in
postponing further consideration of
the railroad bill until this afternoon at
O'Clock gave the supporters of the
measure. particularly the Hackney
amendment an opportunity to telegraph
over the state calling upon the rank and
file of the party to warn the refractory
mem bers on the PopuIist side TO submit
to the will of their colleag CUES and join
them in giving the people needed rail-
road legislation.
The effort was not without result, but
in some instances it was frutless. Con-
spicuous among the opponents of the
amendment, is Palenske OF Wabaunsee
county.
He will fight the amendment and viii
be Joined by others who believe that it
is injudicious, if not indeed, unwise, for
the legislature to place the control of
the railroad business solely under the
direction and power of three commits
si0ners- Mr.. PaIenske said;
We have been charged with selling
out. Members have as much right to
their own opinions upon the floor just
the same as in our business affairs I
am in favor of necessary legislation,
reduction or transported ton rates and
other reforms of the character, but
am opposed to making railroads sub
servient to the will of three men who
owe their positions to the results of any
election or campaign.
TT would be just as well for the leg
isIature to place the railroads in the
hands of receivers and be done with it
The principle is just the same, and I
reserve the right to think and vote as
I please. I voted against the Brown
bill because of objections which have
to it, and I Will vote against the Hack
ney amendment for the. same reason. I
am always opposed to any policy OF