The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-12-30
THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
FoDaIIss Senators Amend Rules and Limit
the Power Of RspubIIcans-OutlIns
Of the New Railroad Bill

Topeka, Kan, Dec 26-In the sen
ate yesterday Senator Morrow in
troduced a railroad commissioner bill
which died in the senate two years
ago. Morrow is a republican. Sena-
tor Stone introduced bills to tax for
eign insurance companies seven per
cent on net premiums and American
companies five per cent; also a bill
providing that when an insurance
company appeals to the federal
courts against a state law the com
pany be debarred from doing business
in the state Senator Young offered
bill providing for the initiative and
referendum in cities and towns Sen
atOr Titus offered a bill providing that
school districts may own school text
books If they choose The report
of the senate committee on rules pro-
vided for a change IN the rule per
hitting three senators to call for the
ayes and nays and making Is neces-
sary. 1t was intended to keep the re-
publicans from demanding ayes and
nays and so delay the majority in its
efforts to rush business After warm
debate the report was adopted, q
to 10.
Railroad Bin In Outline.
Following are the principal pro7i-
siOns Of the railroad bill:
Section I creates railroad court to be known
as the court Of visitation, consisting OF three
judges
Section fixes the terms Of once at four
years, the judges 70 be elected at the general
election in 1900
Section provides for a clerk and stenogra-
pher 20 the court to hold during the pleasure
Of the judges
Section provides FOR the appointment Of
judges by the governor with the consent OF the
senate, TO serve until the next general election
Section fixes the salary OF the judges at 2.
so per year each, g 500 for the solicitor 12OO
for the clerk and f75O for the stenographer-
Section provides that the court Of visitation
may sit at the capitol in Topeka OF anywhere
else in the state il may desire
Section prescrfbes the power and jurisdic-
ton Of the court, Classifying them under y
subdivisions The power is to decree freight
and passenger rates, revise demurrage charges,
hear complaints. order Improvements. adjust
disputes and in general the scope is ample to
control every feature Of railroad operation
Section provides full common law and eQui-
ty powers for the issuing OF processes prOduc-
ton Of records. attendance Of witnesses, ap-
pOintment Of receivers punishment for con-
tempt and attendance Of q jury
Section provides for the courts govern
ment and the regulation OF the practices before
it
Section 10 prescribes the duties Of sheriHs
throughout the various counties in the serving
Of processes
Section II gives the court power to appoint
marshal also q bailih
Section y defines the pleadings which shall
be q complaint in the name Of the state and
the answer thereto
Section 10 provides for the manner OF pre-
pairing an information or complaint
Section Il provides for citation upon the in
formation and the manner Of service
Section Is a.loFs the complainant % employ
counsel 70 assist the state
Section 10 allows any party interested in the
complaint 20 employ counsel TO assist the
state
Section Il allows any party who may be ag-
grieved, although not party TO the suit, TO
show that decree or judgment is being vio-
lated
Section Is provides where connecting lines
exist within the state that the IN dgment shall
cover all the connecting lines
Section 10 stricken out
Section 20 presCribes that no rates special
contracts OF agreement now in existence shall
be received as proof Of the reasOnableness OF
freight charges.
Section q provides for the rendition OF iudg-
ments and the form OF such judgments
Section = provides for the mannsr Of rem
dering judgments or default
Section . provides for the posting OF iudg-
meuts in the Offices Of the railroad companies
involved
Section q provides for the trial Of joint rates
and the mode Of procedure
Section > provides for the manner Of the en-
fOrcement Of the DEGREES
Section % provides for an appeal only TO the
supreme court Of Kansas
Section . provides for the review Of a decree
OF judgment IN certain cases
Section . provides for the manner OF taxing
costs and their payment
Section = provides for the appearance docket
journal and other records Of the court
Section 80 prohibits the judges Of the court OF
visitation from accepting free transportation
Section 81 provides penalties in the event the
railroads violate the provisions OF this act 1t
makes &c misdemeanOr, punish able By q fne
Of e. 900 and one year in Jail for any railroad to
discriminate in charges OF. classidcatfOns. with
an additional me Of q. 900 for every day the
company shall violate the provisions OF this
act
Section 81 allows damages, both actual and
exemplary, Notwithstanding the provisions Of
this act
Section 80 provides for the conduct Of rail-
roads in the case OF strikes Il gives the rail-
road court power TO inquire into the disagree
ment II the employees are found 70 be in the
wrong they can be enioined from further dis
turbance- II the company IS found 70 be IN the
wrong the court can order the company to ad-
Just the strike. OF, the company failing 70 com
ply, 70 place the road in the hands Of a receiv-
er. who shall operate IL as long as may be
necessary 10 insure tranquility OF commerce
Section 8 provides for the hearing Of no
tions and adidsvits
Section s. provides for taking dispositions
Section 50 IS stricken out
Section 81 bestoWs upon the court chanCery
powers 70 rehear orders and DEGREES
Section S. prsscribes that the provisions OF
the code Of civil procedure shall apply TO the
railroad court as in other courts
Section - provides for correcting mistakes
Or clerical errors in DEGREES
Section 50 provides for reFiver OF actions
Ia accordance With the code
Section al provides that in proceedings OF er-
rOrs the biuof exceptions may be Withdrawn
and the error Withdrawn
Section - repeats all acts and parts Of acts in
conflict with this act
Section g provides that the act shall take
eject ana be IN force from and after its pub
LEGATION in the Official state paper. not later
than March Is. Is22
Past sail win BE Continued
Kansas City, No, Dec sS-Ohcials
Il = -