The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-29
IT PASSES.
The Railroad Bill Substantially
as Published,
Passes the House Without De-
lay this Afternoon
BY VOTE OF 20 TO 80
Its Passage in Regular Order
by the Senate Assured.
Governor Leedy Will Not APP
point the Court.
THAT DUTY TO FALL
To Governor Stanley on the
18th of March.
Gov. Leedy Gives His Word to
Sign the Bill.
Its Passage in Regular Order
by the Senate Assured.
Governor Leedy Will Not APP
point the Court.
THAT DUTY TO FALL
To Governor Stanley on the
18th of March.
Gov. Leedy Gives His Word to
Sign the Bill.

The house today in committee Of the
whole passed favorably upon the rail-
road bill as it came from the Populist
caucus last night, by a uniform vote of
90 to 3S. Representative Fairchild, as
chairman of the committee of the whole
made it possible for the POpulists to
rush it through with little or no discus
sion, and although several attempts
were made by the Republican members
to amend the bill and to delay action,
the Populists voted in a body against
them and it was rushed through at the
rate of about one section every minute
and a half.
The Populists went into joint caucus
Yesterday afternoon with fear and trem-
bling They were short of quorum
and rumOrs We're in circulation OF Narl-
GUS members weakening When Ell
Williams walked out because II was an
nOunced that only those were expected
to remain who would stand by the decl-
sion of the caucus, he was followed py
Jones of NeOshO. Keefer of Leaven-
worth had already kicked over the
traces and refused to go into the caucus
any more. Graves, also OF LeaVen-
worth. was openly opposing the Dill.
Palensle of Wabaunsee, and Iapscott
were said to be a little off, and the
leaders began to sweat
After a delay OF an hour or two Bark
lev Of Elk had rounded up enough OF
the absentees to bring the total number
of house members in the caucus up to
64, one more than a constitutional ma
iOrity. 1t was a narrow margin, Dut
there was nothing left but to work on
what was at hand.
The railroad bill, as finally drafted by
the committee, was submitted for hnaI
action by the caucus and was thor-
oughly discussed The discussion was
so thorough, in fact, that when supper
time came only nine sections had been
adopted It was decided to adjourn Tor
supper and then reassemble and remain
in session until the bill was gone
through with, in order that it might be
ready to be substituted for the dummy
bill in the house this morning
After supper the discussion began
again. 1t was Warmest when the prOpo-
sition to allow Governor Leedy to name
the first judges was introduced Senator
LeWelling, who was chairman OIL the
caucus came down from the chair, and
taking his stand in the center of the
aisle he proceeded to rake fore and aft
those POpulists who advocated hanging
on to the offices. He denounced 1t as an
outrage against the people OF the state,
and said if that course of action We're
pursued it would be the death of the
Populist party. AS he proceeded he
warmed up to his subject.
DO YOU want the POpuliSt party TO
go down in history he demanded, as
a party of pelf-seekers who were after
office and Office only? This movement
4
right to attempt to hang on to the jobs
and legisIate a few men into office
When the question came to a vote the
force of Senator LeweHlngs speech was
seen in the result, which was % against
the proposition and only p for it.
The bill as it emerged from the eau
Gus was cOnsidera bly, altered from what
it was originally The governor was
given the power to appoint the court,
Instead of the executive council, and
the bill did not necessitate the con-
firmation of the judges by the senate
The provision with regard to the set
tlement of strikes had been remOdeled.
and a provision was inserted that When
a complainant suspects that the state
solicitor is working in the interest OF a
railroad company he may ask the court
TO reappOint a special solicitor for ms
case, whose compensation shaI pe
taken from the salary of the regular
solicitor. This provision is made in
order to keep the railroad companies
from trying to bribe the solicitor. The
bill as it was finally agreed upon was
subdivided into 43 sections instead of
p. and it Will go into effect on March
The senate portion of the caucus was
unable to do anything with the house
The house members, with Clem Fair
child in the lead. proceeded to run the
band wagon over the senate at every
turn of the road. The only proposition
made by a senator that carried was
when Senator Householder made mo-
tion that the bill as adopted by the eau
Gus be introduced as the railroad bill.
which went as a matter OF course.
Senator Hanna said today:
They ran the wagon over me fifteen
different and distinct times by actual
count"
one of the actions of certain mem
bers of the caucus yesterday was to eX-
tract a promise in writing from Cover
nor Leedy that he would sign the rail
road bill as it passes the legislature
When senator Ryan was asked to
pledge himself to vote for a caucus
measure he replied that he would do so
providing Governor Leedy would prom
lse to sign it. This matter was agitated
yesterday. and it was argued that as
long as the POpulists of the legislature
had been made to give written pledges
TO support the bin it was no more than
fair that Governor Leedy should also
give written pledge to sign it. Accord
ingly committee was sent to wait on
him, and when the members came back
they brought the following:
I solemnly promise to sign any rail-
road bin passed by the legislature in
special session. J w LEEDY"
After the caucus adjourned late last
night the leaders seemed to be con-