The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-02

amendment was defeated by a vote OF
Mr.. WeiIep then moved that the com
rufttee rise, for the purpose of having
roll call on the proposition This was
adopted and thereafter the house on
motion OF Brown OF Pratt, returned TO
the committee of the whole, to proceed
with the cOnSiderdrI or the bill
Mr. Ward Of Mitchell offered the fol-
lowing amendment to take the place
of the defeated Hackney amendment:
The schedule of freight rates and
classified tons in force on each rail-
road in Kansas on December 81. 1885,
less reduction Of 10 per cent, snail be
the schedule of freight rates to be
charged and classified ton under which
all goods shall be transported in Kan
sas after this bill becomes law Pro-
Vfded the board of railroad commits
siOners determine after due and thor
ough investigation and giving fair
hearing to any and all persons, or com
panfes interested that such rate is
found to be fair and reasonable. sub
Ject to such changes as shall be made
BY the board Of railroad commissioners
in such rates and cl2sSihcatiOnS upon
complaint. IN writing, made either by
the railroad or its customer. that said
rates are too high or too low, unrea-
soma Bile, unjust. or that they discrinli-
nate against any person, and that the
said board of railroad commissioners is
hereby empowered and directed to
raise or lower said rates, and to change
said classiGcatiOnS- It shall be the du-
" OF the railroad commissioners to
carefully observe the operation of this
schedule, and, on the first day of May
and the first day Of NOvem Der of each
wear. or if either of the same fall on
Sunday, on the Monday following. to
assemble in their office in Topeka, to
revise said schedule of freight rates
and classifications. and, on the first
day of June and the first day Of De-
cember of each year, the board of rail-
road commissioners shall forward to
the general freight agent of each rail-
road doing business in Kansas. q copy
of said revised rates and classifcations,
and il shall be their duty to give a
hearing to the representative OF the
said railroads and the shippers over the
same who are not satisfied with the
revised schedule, and said hearing shall
day of said months Having heard the
same, and having made changes as
shall seem just and re9s0na bic after
said hearing. the said schedule of rates
and classified tons shall go into effect
ard become the rates TO be charged.
and the classified tons to be made on
and after the first days of July and
January. respectively, and until reNiS-
ed. Provided however, that if after
due hearing, the said board of railroad
commissioners shall decide that no
general revision of the said schedule
OF rates and classified lions IS needed it
shall not be necessary that they pre-
pare a revision OF the schedule. In all
suits in court, the rates fixed by this
by and those made hereafter by the
said board of railroad commissioners
shall be prima facie evidence, only OF
the own reasona bIeness."
The amendment was defeated.
The committee then considered the
remainder of the bill, adopting it sec
ton by section No chages were
made in the Harris bill, other than
have been fully detailed in the Journal,
except that the penalties for extortion-
ate rates or determinations in passen-
ger or freight rates, were placed at not
less than $500 or more than 1000 for
the first Offense and for each subse-
duelt Offense not less than 81 900 or
more than s., 600.