The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-26
Seven Sections of the Railroad
Bill Are Done
And Ready to BE Submitted to
the Caucus
WHICH WILL MEET
Tonight, Provided a Quorum
Arrives in Town.
Details of the Provisions Of the
Bill.

The committee of three members OF
the house and three members of the
senate to which the Populist caucus as
signed the duty of preparing the much
talked of railroad bill has completed
the bill so far as it can and is ready TO
lay it before the caucus.
The joint caucus adjourned on Satur-
day subject to the call of the chairman
and many of the members went home
to spend Christmas. The senate and
house will meet again today at 4 o'clock
and if there is a quorum of house mem
bers present, a general caucus viii pro-
ba.bly be called for tonight when the bilA
will be taken up. If the caucus is able
to agree on the sections prepared by
the committee the bill will 80 TO the
house tomorrow.
If the caucus should fail to agree or II
a quorum should fail to return in time
to participate in tOnight's caucus it viii
cause delay in presenting the bill
Governor Leedy is expected to come
to Topeka at noon and to be in his Of
fee this afternoon and it is thought that
perhaps the committee will either con-
suit with him individually and exchange
views on the proposed bill prior to re-
porting to the caucus or they may sub
init the bill as far as it IS prepared to
him.
In case their work should meet with
his approval it would be a great recon-
mendatiOn for it. The committee could
Ilen assure the caucus LndL LnelE report
would receive the executive signature
when it was presented in the shape OF an
enrolled bill.
The committee in charge worked all
day yesterday and late last night
Enough is known from outside sources
to say that seven sections have been
framed and will be reported to the eau
Gus for action at its next meeting The
general scheme of the bill will be a
court for the trial of questions concern
ing the reasOnableness of railroad rates
4, H. HrrAr HNnlaa
ner that any other court proceeds
. A serious difference of opinion, which
has not been fully settled yet, has
arisen over whether there should be a
separate attorney or solicitor for the
board or court or whether the court
should be the place for the complaining
party to go in the first instance 1t is
probable that the caucus viii decide in
favor of the separate solicitor II II
does, as the proposed bill now stands.
the aggrieVed shipper, passenger or
railroad will go to the state railroad So
licitOr and state his trouble much IN
the same manner that a man goes to
the county attorney or justice OF the
peace when his neighbOrS chickens
scratch up his garden or some one
threatens to assault him.
The solicitor will then consider his
case and if it is of sufficient importance
will draw up a complaint against the
offending common carrier and viii file
it before the board or court The clerk
of the board will then issue summons
neAses like the clerk of a court and upon
the day appointed a trial will be held
before the board which in due course
will render a decision and in case IL
finds a rate is too high ii will have
power to say what the rate shall be-
One of the proposed sections will give
the board power to enforce its decisions
and orders and to punish recalcIITanL
witnesses and others for contempt
An appeal from the decisions and rul-
ings Of the board viii be given to dis
satisfied parties. Appeals will be heard
by the state supreme court
The proposed measures will embrace
the plan already outlined in the Journal
for the election of the members of the
board by the people of the state at
large at presidential elections. The first
election to take place at the next prasi-
Dental election in 1900
The manner in which the first board
of commissioners is to be chosen is
covered by a provision that they shall
be elected by the executive council
which is composed of the state officers
some time prior to the first day Of April
1899.
1t is also provided that the present
board of railroad commissioners shall be
abolished and the law governing them
repealed on April I, 1899 which is the
date fixed for the proposed bill to go
into effect
The bill will provide the creation of
the following offices; A board OF three
commissioners, a clerk, a stenOgrapher.
and it may or may not add an attorney
Some rumOrs are being circulated as
to fears that are entertained by Popu-
lists that some of their member may
not come back. Not many members Of
either side are in town this morning
and it is impossible to tell how many
are in town or who the absent members
are.