The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-26

ers The passage OF this bill by the sen
ate is the first jingle of the death knel
of Kansas Populism. The rank and
file OF reform have asked for what they
thought was bread and thei. Officers
elected have started out TO give then
what they will regard as a stone, which
at the next election, will be about tht
necks Of these statesmen, while they ar.
cast into the mire Of a buffalo walIow
For years reform has cried: Put ths
screws on the railroads." and just wher
reformers are IN position to gather the
fruit Of their labor the senate passes uI
a plate OF Dead sea apples.
GIST OF THE BILL.
Senator Harris railroad bill that pass
ed the senate by a unanimous vote is
copied after the Missouri law but in
fact it is the old law cf this state with
a new section investing the railroad COM
missioners with judicial authority. II
contains something like 1900 words,
which say practically nothing more
than Is accorded in present railroad leg
islation. After long waterly prelimi-
nary, section Is says that when COM
plant is made of unreasonable freight
rates being charged or are unjust or ex-
tortionate the commissioners shall in
vestigate such complaint. The board Is
to fix a day for hearing and notify the
railroad company, against which the
complaint is lodged. If the railroad Of
ficials refuse to appear before the board
the attorney general Is to bring man.
damus proceedings in the supreme court
to compel the company to appear.
That the burden OF proof shall not be
held to be upon the person or persons
making the complaint, but the commits
sloners shall add to the showing made at
such hearing whatever information they
may then have, or can secure from any
| source whatever and the person or per-
sons complaining shall be entitled TO in
| troduce any published schedules OF rates
of any railroad company, or evidence of
rates actually charged by any railroad
company for substantially the same
| kind Of service.
The gist of the measure is in section
"A which says 1T shall be unlawful for
any such common carrier to charge
collect, demand or receive more for
transporting a car of freight than 1t at
the same time charges, collects, demands
| or receives per car for several cars Of a
like class of freight over the same rail-
road. for the same distance, in the same
direction, between the same points, or to
charge. demand, collect or receive more
for transporting ton of freight than it
charges, collects, demands or receives
per ton for several tons of freight under
car load. of like class of freight over
the same railroad for the same distance,
in the same direction, between the same
points, or to charge, collect, demand or
receive more for transporting hundred
pounds of freight than IL charges, col
lects, demands or receives per hundred
for several hundred pounds of freight
under a ton, of like class of freight
over the same railroad, for the same dis
tance, in the same direction, between the
same points, all such discriminating
rates, charges, collections or receipts.
any rebate. drawback or other shift or
evasion, shall be deemed and taken
against such railway company as prima
face evidence of the unjust discrimina-
ton prohibited by this act; provided,
however, that for the protection and de-
velopment of any new industry within
this state, such railway company may
grant concession or special rates for
any agreed number Of car loads. but
special rates aforesaid shall first be ap-
proved by the board of railroad COM
missioners, and a copy filed in the Office
thereof
Sections Is and 2s provide that any
company found guilty OF discriminating
or extortion in passenger or freight rates
shall upon conviction be subject 10 a
fine of not less than 800 nor more than
$500 for the first offense and for each
subsequent offense not less than $500 nor
more than 81 1000 for each subsequent
offerse.
Section q provides that when the COM
missioners have good reason TO believe
that any road is guilty Of extortion the
board is TO bring suit in any district
court in the state. The commissioners
shall be empowered to employ counsel TO
assist the attorney general.
Section IS provides that the bill shall
not apply to roads when rates are low
erer for handling property Of the United
States. municipal governments or for
charitable persons.
HOUSEHOLDER'S PET.
Senator Householder's bill to place the |
state charitable institutions under civil |
service regulations was taken up in the |
house yesterday afternoon and slipped |
along till two sections were adopted |
when Or. Smith OF Sherman. who had |
organized a systematic kick. broke the |
measure all - pieces with a motion 70 |
strike out the enacting clause, which |
molten carried by an overwhelming |
vote.
Trueblood this morning offered a mo- |
ton to reconsider and the matter will |
come up tomorrow again, but the bill /
viii never get through.
ANTI-OLEO BILL KILLED.
To widen the gap between the house |
and senate still further, Senator Hanna's 1
anti-oleo bill was also killed last night |
by the house in committee Of the whole l
after debate lasting till midnight The /
fight against the bill was led by Cub /
bison on the Republican side and Fair /
child Of the Popuiists. The measure was /
supported by Brooke (Rep) and Lewis /
tPop) of Rowiins county. The commit |
tee reported the measure 20 the house /
with the enscting clause stricken out. l
by a vote OF IS 10 20. Barley OF Elk
moved 10 non-eoncur in the report bu, i
was ruled cut Of order and the vote wss 4
taken on the motion by Stout OF Doni- /
phan TO adopt TIE call OF the house /
was demanded and the final vote stood /
81 20 55 10 sustain the action OF the COM 1
mittee. oleo men Viii continue 70 sell 1
Continued on SIKH Pagel