Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1897-02-13
LEGISLATIVE GOSSIP

The members Of the Legislature seem
determined to pass a bill lowering the
price Of Mr.. Puilman's sleeping bertl,s.
From latest reports II seems TINT An.
drew Jackson Lester. at the Springfield
end Of the line. and Johnnie Runnells at
this end. are terribly worked up over
this matter. II IL also stated that Mr..
Pettett. the legal adjuster Of the Pull.
man Company. has been troubled with
insomnia. and has the nightmare con-
stantly. since Representative Mc(iinnis.
Of Cook County. took the warIath and
got onto the Pullman trail. One of the
members said to-day: I'VE propose to
make things decidedly interesting for
Mr.. Pullman nnd Johnnie Runnells. 1t
Isn't fair deal for u few Of the men,
bers to receive annual passes. and the
rest OF the rank ana file he compelled to
tramp away over to the Pullman Build.
ing every time we want u sleeping
BERTH"
Judging from tho following bills In.
trOduced ut Jefferson City. Mo-. some of
the members Of the Missouri Iegisln.
ture seem 20 be cracker Jacks:
"A bill has been introduced In the Leg.
islaturc by Representative Hood. by
request. having for lts object the prohi.
bitiOn Of flirting with female pnsscn.
gers by railway conductors and brake.
men. Violations Of this law will bc nun.
islied by fine Of s25. payable by the
corporation. company or person owning
the ir'ilroad. they being held RESPONSE.
bic for Its enforcement.
Abillhns been Introduced IN the house
making 1t Il felony punishable by a pen.
itentiary sentence Of five years for a
married man to bc found guilty Of mat.
rlmoninl infidelity under any cIrcun,.
stances whatever.
The Avery fellow servant bill, max.
Ing iailrOad companies responsible for
accidents resulting from carelessness
Of employees, passed the Senate with
only seven votes against II. IA the bill
has already passed the House. II now
goes to the Governor for his signature.
with every prospect Of becoming u law.
The Chicago business men ami the
public mt large are anxiOusly waiting
to see what disposition Mr.. Lawrence
KilcOurSe anu his License Committee
will make Of the Barnes bin to reduce
the price OF telephones. Unless this hill
Ii reported favOrably to the House at
an early date. with the rccOmmentla.
ton TINT II II passed. the business men
will send u committee to Springfield to
find out why this important measure II
being "hung up"
Officials Of the Western Union Tclc.
graph Company and the Bell Telephone
Company declined to discuss tho bill
introduced In the Illinois State Lcgls-
lature which Ii designed to make tele-
phones common carriers AMI to regulate
tolls. II the law II enacted II will work
a revolution In the telephone business
and result in great saving to the tele.
phone tising public.
The lyill provides that the telephone
cOmpanie shnil permit any person or
corporation operating u telephone line
to connect with It's wires. nnd shall r..
celve ana transmit messages submitted
by the connecting person. A sweeping
reduction In the present rentals and
tolls In contemplated by the bin. II
places the maximum rental for an In.
strument ut - month. the Charge for
u hve-minute conversation within u
radius Of nifty miles at - cents. aud
One-lralf cent per mile for longer dis.
lance. Penalties for violation Of the
provisions Of the law ARE provided.
State Senator Morrison II reported to
have said that Gus NOhc's 3.cent fare
I'LL, which In now before the Commit
tee on Municipal Corporations IN tho
House. will pass the House this week
and will liz reported to the Committee
on Railroads In the Senate the follow
Ing day.
1t will be out OF my committee with
In IN hour of its presentation" the Sen.
ntOr added. 'and on Its second reading
before the Senate adjOurns. That II
one blu that Il going to pass this LegIs-
latu~."
The public 1T large are perfectly salts.
fed to pay hve.cent fare as long M
they get the splendid service now In
force. Business men claim that u
cheapening Of fare means correspond
Ing reduction In accommodations for
the travelling public. AMI they will
fight this bill. The railroad men, con-
ductOrs, gripmen. mOtOrmen. and that
class Of employees are also working as
best they can among the members Of
the General Assembly against any such
measure. They make the claim that the
passage Of the bill would mean retluc-
ton In their number. u decrease In their
salaries. ana IN Increase In their labOrs.
A leading representative OF the street
car employees said yesterday "that II
NOhe and Morrison persisted In push.
Ing this measure they We're likely to
raise hornets nest around their ears
In no time, ana, moreover. when they
come up for office again, the street car
men will not only he sOlidly arrayed
against them but will urge all their
friends to oppose them, also"
The Revell gas bill has been sent to
the committee on municipal corpora
tons. 1t IL expected to cause the hard
est fight of the session. The gas com.
panies will fight 1t ut every step of the
road ana bring all kinds of influence to
bear against its passage. Verbal argu-
ments may have some effect Oh the