The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-26
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
Railroads Rates Takes Up the
Time of the House.
Three Measures Now Being Con-
sidered by That Body.
The Majority Divided in Their Sup
port and the Mine GRITTY Opposed
to all of Them.

The house yesterday afternoon failed
to reach a vote on the railroad bill, but
adjourned at o'clock with the status
of the bill as follows:
The Brown maximum bill is pending
with an amendment,w which really means
the substitution of the Harris bill, which
passed the senate. Upon the latter
proposition is pending amendment
substituting for both, the Brown bill
with the classifications and schedules
omitted. Should the Harris bill prevail
the power to fix rates and claSSificat1onS
is wholly within the board of railroad
commissioners. Should both amend
ments be defeated, the house measure
will be the maximum rate BILL first pro-
posed by the committee.
The house spent four hours in con-
sidering the Brown maximum rate bill.
The bill was taken up at o'clock as
a special order and the first section was
adopted.
Jones of Neosho (Pop) moved that the
Harris Cor senate) bill be substituted for
the Brown bill.
After a little discussion about parlia-
mentary rules and a motion to table
the Harris bill had been defeated, Mr..
Brown opened the discussion. He said:
I'VE are now at the point where the
people are demanding and are entitled
to receive relief
Mr.. Brown then in detail discussed
the provisions of the proposed bill and
denied the charge that the enactment
business of the railroad corporations.
Mr.. Brown supported the house COM
nittee bill and suggested that no rail-
road law would be effective, did it fail
to give the railroad commissioners
power to fix rates.
''I defy anyone said he, "to show me
where any such section may be found in
the Harris bill. This senate bill, if en-
acted into law, will be a nullity. The
laws now existing are violated every
day on rebates as well as in other
ways. Should we fail to clothe the COM
miSSiOnerS with proper authority, no
good can come from any railroad law.
The railroads will go on with their rob-
berries and extOrtions.
1T is a humiliation for me to stand
here and plead with the Populist party
members for a measure which means
the life of that party. Who drew the
Harris bill? Who drew the Walters
tute the lobby. The Republicans in the
senate voted for the bill.
How did the PopuEsts voter" in
quired Jones of Neosho Pop).
They voted for it, will admit" re-
piled Brown, but under protest. 1T
was crammed down their necks -"
by the Republicans" suggested
Burkholder of Marion (Rep)
Yes, by the minority said Mr..
Brown.
Mr. Brown denied the allegation that
the wages of railroad employees would
be reduced al the result of the passage
of the maximum law. In answer to- the
argument that freight rates had been
materially increased during the past
few years, Mr.. Brown showed that
while that proposition is true, the earn
ings of the companies show increase
each year.
In closing Mr. Brown said:
1.-The POpulists on this floor cannot
afford to vote for this senate bill which
has the stamp of approval from the rail-
roads and is supported by the Republic
cans"
Mr. TUa;1ar, IN S,pDOr+;po +bo 1,o,,ca
bill, said:
solid for the senate bill. 1 want to say
to the Populists on this side of the
house that there is a responsibility rest
ing upon them now that cannot be
evaded. If you do not give us railroad
legislation, your people will call you
traitors when you go home. 1t seems to
me that the majority of this house
should see by this time that whatever
the solid vote of the Republicans want,
we ought to be against it,
Jones of NeOSho supported the senate
bill, explaining that it was growing so
late in the session that he regarded the
passage of the house bill an impossible
ity and believed that something should
be done, and the easiest way to get at
it, was to pass the senate bill.
Turner of Phillips said:
q think a man who advocates a bill
simply because it is party measure, is
a dangerous man to have anywhere. I
went home last week and was told by
my people that unless a better bill than
either of those pending in the house
could be secured. the legislature had
better go home. I would hate to go
home and return to my shipping bust
ness knowing that I had voted for a bill
which advanced the rate from $1.00 to
81 .25 per 100. You may call me traitor
or what-not, but there is where I
stand
At this point Mr.. Fairchi1d offered as
an amendment to the amendment the
Brown bill with the rate schedules and
classifications be omitted.
This precipitated a debate on parlia-
mentary practice.
Finally Barley of Elk, occupying
the chair, ruled the objections out of or
der, and the reading of the bill began,
occupying nearly two hours, when the
house adjourned for supper, reassemb-
ling at o'clock to consider the stock
yards bill
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