The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-08
TO THE RESCUE.
Representative Brooke of Shaw
nee Comes Forward
With an Amendment to the
Railroad Bill.
CHAIRM'N BROWNSAYS
Promptly ssIt Will Kill the En-
tire BILL"
Mr.. BrOOke'S Amendment Is To
Be Considered.

Chairman w. I Brown of the house
committee on railroads arranged to- in
troduce the railroad bill in the house
this morning, securing unanimous con-
sent. the order of business having been
passed.
Representative Brooke of Shawnee no.
titled Mr.. Brown that he desired to Of
fer an amendment to the bill, which he
exhibited to- Mr.. Brown. After looking
over Mr.. Brooke's proposed amendment
Mr.. Brown said:
THAT amendment will kill the entire
BILL
I think it is merely a matter of
equity said Mr.. Brooke.
Il do not think So" said Mr.. Brown.
''If 1 do not get an opportunity to
present the amendment to the COM
mIttee, we Will have TO fight it out on
the floor of the house, said Mr.. Brooke.
Mr. Brown: IF you insist upon it,
the committee will be called together at
1:30.'
That is acceptable to me-" replied
Representative Henley (Rep), as 1 feel
we should take a final vote before the
bill is introduced
The amendment proposed by Mr..
Brooke will be supported by the five
Republican members of the committee
1t is as follows:
1T is the purpose and intent of the
fixed and established herein, or which
may be fixed by the board of railroad
commissioners, or by any railway COM
pany, shall be upon the basis of a fair
and reasonable compensation for the
services performed or to be performed
Provided, however that the schedule of
rates herein before adopted shall not be
operative, and no reduction in any rate
shall be made by the board of railroad
commissioners, if the said rates, SO re-
duced or the said schedule of rates
herein provided, with all other existing
rates of said company in force when
said reduction is to take effect, would
not have enable said railroad company
to have earned, during the next preced-
ing year, its business in this state,
6 per centum on sum equal to two
times the value of it's railway and prop
erty for the purposes of taxation in the
state of Kansas for that year, exclusive
of operat ting expenses, taxes, mainte-
nance and renewals, but not including
interest on bonds or dividends on stock
I'm ascertaining earnings for the pur-
poses of this section, divisions of earn
ings on freight and passengers carried
in whole or part in this state by two or
more roads, where no other reasonable
division is provided for by agreement
of the interested lines, or where earn
ingS on freight or passengers are made
by the same road partly within and
partly without this state, shall be made
on a mileage basis
Provided, further that if property in
the state of Kansas shall hereafter be
assessed at it's actual value in cash,
then the assessed valuation of any rail-
road shall be deemed the value thereof
for the purposes of this section"
The bill in the opinion of the members
of the committee, is not radical in any
part of it's many provisions 1t affords
protection to shippers ON one hand. and
protects also the railroad companies
as between themselves.
The principal reductions are made on
coal, wheat. corn and stock, and will
amount to 20 to % per cent as compared
with present rates.
The committee went into executive
session at 1:3O and at $3.50 was still de-
batting the proposed amendment and
the bill in general.
3:35 P. M-The committee voted to
kill the amendment