The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-27
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
Attempted Amendments of the
Harris Bill Considered.
Some POpulists Declare the
Measure Will Ruin the Party.
The Senate Regrets the Deed of Trust
Law After a Full Consideration
and Debate.

After substituting the Harris railroad
bill for the house committee or Brown
railroad bill, the house went into com
mittee of the whole to consider it.
Barley of Elk in the chair.
Foley of Norton moved to strike out
all after the enacting clause in the SEN
ate bill and insert the Brown bill, with
the classification, schedules and maxi
mum rates omitted. This was defeated,
81 to As
Mr.. Cassin asked that the bill be read
in its entirety, but this went down, 60
to Il.
The last hope of the supporters of
the Brown bill vanished when this vote
was recorded and Mr.. Brown himself
gave up, to fight for amendments TO the
Harris bill which he claims would
as possible towards fulfilling the de-
mands of the people
The bill was amended to provide for
2 clerk in addition to the one secre-
tary authorized by the senate measure;
also, so as to make it applicable to the
operation of railroads in addition to
freight and passenger transportation.
This amendment was suggested by Mr.
Taylor of Wyandotte and is directed at
the Kansas City, Wyandotte & North
western railroad in Wyandotte and
Leavenworth counties, which it is al
legged fails to give good service.
The most important amendment was
offered by Mr.. Hackney, making it the
duty of the commissioners to establish
rates and make classificatiOns. The
commissioners will meet. if the bill be
passed, under the Hackney amendment
within sixty days thereafter and pre-
pare such schedules. The amendment
IS similar to the Iowa law The amend
ment is still pending.
Mr.. Brown of Pratt in supporting
the amendment. referred to the fact
that the POpulist party, since its organ
iZatiOn, has demanded railroad legisla-
ton He said: We promised to throt-
tie the corporations. We are now in
power, and the first thing we have done
Is to walk over to the corporations and
ask them how much thrOtt1ing they
can stand Two years ago the POpu-
list candidate for governor demanded a
maximum rate bill. Now he is on the
floor of the senate doing what he con-
demned the Republican party for do
ing. He stumped the state three times
in favor of a maximum bill Now he
votes for a bill which comes to US with
the approval of the corporations them
selves. It is now about to pass. 1t
is within our power to stop it, or patch
it up so it will be of some value The
bill as it passed the senate will kill
the Populist party
Mr.. Seaton spoke at length in oppo-
sition to the amendment. suggesting
that giving such power to the commits
siOners was unfair to the railroads.
LObdeu opposed the amendment.
Weilep of Cherokee favored it. He said:
4 don't blame you Republicans for
supporting this bill. 1t is good polit-
ical capital for you. This amendment"
said Mr.. Weilep, turning to the Popu-
lists, will save your party from de-
structiOn and you cannot afford to de-
feat it,
Turner of Phillips also opposed the
amendment.
LobdelFs motion to table it was de-
feated, 50 to A
The amendment was pending when
the committee arose and asked leave
to sit again in consideration of the
bill