The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-02-11
STATE POLITICS.
Gov. Leedy Watching the Effect
of the PRONUNCIATION
Of His Railroad Bill on People
and Legislators.
NOT SURE OF CALLING
The Legislature Together-The
Bill Is " Feeler."
Text of the Circular Letter
Sent to Members.
NOT SURE OF CALLING

Governor Leedy is closely watching
the drift of public opinion upon the
subject of the railroad legislation which
he has proposed.
Upon being asked if he really antici-
pated that a special session of the leg
islature would be called, the governor
said:
1T is impossible to tell. When the
members of the legislature respond to
the questions I have asked concerning
the proposed law, will be able to form
a definite conclusion. At the present
time it is absolutely impossible to say
what will be done. Upon the nature OF
the replies received from the members
depends, in large measure, the actlQh
of the future. If a majority of the
members are in favor of the bill 1t may
become a law"
The governor. as has been his custom
all along, refuses absolutely to commit
himself upon this subject. Despite the
fact that q large number of POpullstS
are asserting that he has promulgated
this bill as a political scheme for the
purpose attaching to the legislature the
responsibility for the failure of railroad
legislation last winter, the governor re-
fuses to discuss that phase OF the ques-
ton. He suggests that the bill speaks
for itself.
The letter which the governor is send
ing out is by no means an indication OF
his intentions. He does not intimate
that there will be a special session but
asks only one question and requests
that the members respond to that after
giving the bill due consideration.
AS to the question of cOnstitutiOnality
raised by number of lawyers the gov
ernOr says:a
I have some views concerning the
cons itutiOnality of the bill and it may
become necessary for me to give them
to the public. At the present time I
have nothing to say and will bide my
time. If the circumstances Justify it 1
may have something to say later on
Attorney General Boyle is in favor of
the bill because he recognizes therein
an opportunity of adding to laurels al
ready gained by digging into the rec
OrdS of the railroad companies That
this feature is one of the most import
ant of the bill is indicated by the fact
that it is the first section of the pro-
posed law which says among other
things:
THE commissioners shall have power
to compel the productions of books and
papers and the exhibition of the same
in the manner exercised by the district
courts
The governors letter to members of
the legislature, is as follows.
E Il enclose you draft of a railroad bill
which desire to submit for your con-
sideratiOn. The last session of the leg
iSlature developed the fact that the
views of the members upon this ques-
ton were widely diverse. Some were
in favor of very stringent legislation,
some of very moderate legislation, and
some of no legislation upon this ques-
ton.
Believing that a great majority of
the people of the state desire that
something be done along this line, this
bill has been prepared, with the view
of making a moderate and fair bill,
without going to either extreme, with
the hope that it will meet with favor
with a majority of the members.
The bill has been prepared in ac-
cOrdance with the results of the eXper-
fence Of the present railroad commits
sion as expressed in their recent report
It has been examined by some of the
best lawyers of the state.
I would esteem it a great favor if
you would study the provisions of this
bill and let me know whether or not
you would vote for it in case the leg
islature was called in session.