The Topeka state journal., 1897-12-02

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Representative w. F. Brown Of Pratt
county has Joined the anti-siupzon forces
in the Seventh district and in 50 doing
declares that Jerry Simpson and Colonel
w A Harris stood in with the railroads
last winter during the legislature and
we're responsible for the defeat Of the
maximum rate bin This Is the storm
which zas long been threatening 10
break
2fr- Brown is said 20 have an ambition
for congress
Here are the principal charges made By
1Ir- Brown in his u1anIfesro-
-First-T VIII assert that ". A Harris
aided By his nrst Lieutenant, Jerry Siup-
son. defeated the maximum railroad bill
) +Seceud-I assert that Mr. Harris was
in coIIuslon with The railroads from the
day Of his election and that they IN re-
turn for the support they gave him for
-ha position Of United States senator die
tated his every acr and his policy from
the day the legislative session opened
-Ellrd-I assert thar the BIZ introduced
By Senator Harris was drafted by q berg
Of railroad attorneys. as was rhs Wal
-Hrs BIZ and the EarrelLy- bII- or f theP
d5d not wholly draft them they had the
privilege OF reviewing them and striking
ouE such portions as were obmoxtous and
inserting such portions as were part1cu-
larry favorable 10 them"
Following these three propositions Mr.
Brown. in detail gives what purporrs 10
De rhe inside history Of the matter He
reeztes the story Of B p Waggeuer's
visit 70 him urging conservatism IN rail-
road legislation 8Ir- Brown says 2Ir-
VVaEEeuer asked him 70 support the fol-
lowing propositions
--Provid=1- that any rate fixed by said
board Of railroad commissioners shan pay
maintenance. operating expenses taxes
ana per cent upon double the assessed
value Of the road for the next preceding
year.
Thlz was submitted and suggested as
feature OF the ruaxtmum bllL AIr- Browr
says he afterwards told NJ TVaggeuer
h= could NOT support IT, and was Tery
soon approached rbur ~ whom he does
not say] ana offered $500 70 stand by the
rrovlso suggested by Waggzner- AIr
Brown says Of the pr0vlso-
If any man can conceive Of angling
mere favorable % the corporation L have
never been able Co hear OF the suggestion.
There wouId have been no possible way,
Under this provision. 20 prevent any rail-
way from making IT'S expense account
JUST as large as IL pleased nothing % pre-
vent il from sr-fEug the pay roll 10 any
extent nothing 20 keep IL from spending
any amount for equipment nothing To fu~
d1ce or compel economy and everything
to encourage pr1figaCT- and this : the
central thought Of senate bill No 13l.
which was introduced by Senator Harris.
and which is dubbed by his friends The
real Harris biIl-'
3I- Brown then declares that 3Lr- Wag~
-zner- A. A. Hurd. T. y Sedgw1ck and
A. L Williams. The railroad lawyers. drew
up the bius introduced by RaPres=nrativ
walters and supervised the Harris BIN
He then asserts the two bI-ls are pracri-
caLlE the same In concluding his Ave
column manifesto Mr. Brown says
The people know how W A Harris.
backed UP by Jerry Simpson and the Re
pubIfeans- pushed their bill through the
senate This accomplished he went right
an with his work and every influence he
possessed was brought to bear to knock
5-t che maximum bin and % f1Ist mon
e1r people a bill that a gang Of boodHas
-alroad attorneys had drafted and which
he had farh=red. and BY and with the ala
" railroad Doodle and Republican votes
~ passed the measure- bur thanks to
me rrue man OF the people who occu-
rlzs the governors chair. his scheme Ut
-srIr failed
Z have no excuse TO offer for the men
7rh1 were led astray by Harris and Snip
son and vo-ed against the wishes Of the
u=o1Iz- but if Senator Harris could IN
-su=1ca a man to vote against the biIL IL
follows that he could have Influenced him
70 vote for it. and I have always claimed
aEd yet claim that w A. Harris stood in
with the railroads from the day he was
=l=et=1 and that his influence more than
z1v1niuE else defeated a decent railroad
blL~