Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-10
ARour A sPEclAL SESSION..

Adult n OFECIAL- SESSIONs
Governor LeedV has taken proper
course, at least inSthe main, in his cir
cular to members of the legislature.
concerning u railroad bill. 1t would
BIZ folly to call special session entail
ing large expense, without a rtason-
able assurance of rendering an equiv
alent to the people in legislation to
their benefit.
The bill proposed, so far as we can
learn, is a good and proper one. 1t is
true it is not what may be called a
maximum rate bill, but after the expe,
Renee of last winter, in which the
pickering and dissensiOn arose chiefly
over that name, il would be folly now
to attempt such measure Further
m ire, It is probable that with the com
missiCners given such powers over
rates, with the power to fix ard adjust
rates without waiting for complaints
to come properly up from the proper
source, we would soon have a maximum
rate law in effect. There are many
good provisions in the bill, too numer-
Gus to relate now. One is that from
decision of the commissioners an APP
peal can only be taken to the supreme
court. Another is, that for violation
of the orders of the commissioners
contempt proceedings can be begun in
any district court, using the regular
panel Of jurYmen, and it is provided
that If the prosecution is successful
reasonable attornev fee can be recov-
cred from the railroads. This would
set every local attorney on the lookout
and give him 60 den lnducement to
see that the orders of the commits
sion are executed.
The bill has been submitted to Da-
vid Overmire, ex-Chief Justice David
Martin, G. G. Clemens, Joe Waters,
and all the best attorneys in Topeka
not in the employ of the railroads, and
they have passed the opinion that it
withstand test OF the courts. FIom
an attorneys STANDPOINT it is as radi-
cal as it can be made and stand the
of those select funCtionaries
who under our constitution are called |
upon to determine whether the people |
can have what they voted for.
However, there is one matter upon |
which the governor should proceed |
cautiously, and we trust he has done |
so. 1t will not do for the executive to
assume the roll of dictator and say,
swallow this identical bill or won't
call you together" Enough latitude
should be allowed that the bill may be
altered in case there are some .pcints
which some members think may be i'm
proved. We understand that the
governor sent each legislator a copy of
The bill and asked whether he would
vote for the bill and if not, what his
ODJCOblOuo WOlOs Al Jul OplulOu OnClO
are two other matters which should
be attended to when they are in spec
ial session, namely, the repeal of the
police law, and the en-
of decent law governing the
office of oil inspector, These are i'm.
rOrtant and would take but little time.
Of course republicans are against the
special session. The railroads are
against; it is natural they should be.
If it accomplishes its purpose they
might as we'll "fold up their tents and
silently steal away" off the political
field. We might add, that talk with
a number of the State officers and some
Of the railroad commissioners reveals
that they are very confident that the
replies will warrant the calling of the
session.