The Advocate and news., 1898-02-16
The biIl iself Is compIete below.

Iu0 vii lpClL 10 SOLuplObC bVlOWs
An act concerning railroads, comforting
additional powers on the Board of Rail-
road Commissioners, and providing penal
ties for It's violation.
BE u enacted bv The Legislature of the State of
Kansas
Section /. That the Board of Railroad
Commissioners Of Kansas shall have the
same power to bring before them any par
ties as witnesses to compel them to testify,
papers and the exhibition Of the same and
TO bring parties before them as sub
jects OF Investigation or as defendants
against complaints or for any purpose
cised by the District courts of Kansas
in bringing witnesses and other parties
into court and all Sheriffs and other off,
GERS are hereby required to serve and en-
force all subpoenas, summons, writs and
orders Of every kind directed from said
Board Of Railroad Commissioners In the
same manner and with the same effect
as II emanatlng from any District Court
OF the State Of Kansas and the same fees
shall be charged thereon as II the same
process had come from the District court
and return OF said writs and said fees
shall be made to the Secretary Of the said
Board and said costs arising In matters
before the Board Of Railroad Commits
sloners shall be collected and paid out
by the Secretary OF said Board as SINH
lar costs in q court Of record now are.
to punish by fine or imprisonment all con-
tempts Of its authority that is possessed
by the District courts in similar cases,
to the same extent and In the same man
ner as such District courts, and may II
occasion arise use for such purpose any
persons and any means provided by law for
similar purposes for the last term Of the
District court OF the county In which said
matter may be heard held prior to the
said hearing.
Sec. 2. That all Judgments decisions, or
ders and other rulings OF the said Board OF
Railroad Commissioners shall have the
same force and effect In the State of
Kansas as II made by any District court
and shall not be renewable in any court
Of the State OF Kansas except in the Su-
pTeme court thereof.
Sec. Q. That upon the filing of any COM
plant In writing by any shipper or. con-
signee In the State OF Kansas against any
railroad company the said defendant shall
pe served with notice OF the time OF hear
ang twenty days prior thereto and with a
copy Of the said complaint Thereupon
the Board shall proceed to investigate and
decide what redress IL any the complain
ant shall receive and may exercise therein
all powers heretofore possessed or con-
Gerred by this act. The Board may make
the rules governing the course of pro-
cedure In such actions and in other pro-
ceedings before It, giving the defendant
opportunity to produce evidence and pre-
sent argument.
Sec. l. That the said Board of Railroad
Commissioners shall have power upon their
own volltlon or that of their attorney
at any time to investigate the classiflca-
ton of any property carried by any rail-
road company in Kansas and the rates
charged for freight from any point in
Kansas to any other point In Kansas and
to decide what changes IL any shall be
made therein, but all parties subject 10
said Investigations shall be heard in ac-
c0rdance with the rules laid down herein
and made by the said Board. 1t shall be the
duty OF the members of said Board when
not otherwise engaged in its business to
inform themselves upon the condition of
all railroads in the State, the manner in
which their business is done, the rates
charged by them, the service given the
public and the classification made of prop
erty shipped and all OF said railroad COM
panies and the officers and employees
thereof shall assist them in securing this
information and shall exhibit to the said
Board or any member of said Board or
the Solicitor or Secretary thereof on de-
Rnand all books and papers in their pos
session or control.
Secs That on the first day OF April of each
year, or on the Monday following IL said
day fall on Sunday, the said Board shall
meet In the State house at Topeka, and
devote the said month of April and such
other time as shall in their Judgment be
necessary, to hearing all persons, compa-