The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-02
HANNA's REASON
For Voting for the Railroad Bill Is
Given.

In explaining his vote on the r allroa4
bill Senator Geo. w. Hanna, HopunSt
of Clay filed the following to go IN the
senate journal: .,+
I then considered and still believe to De
a good railroad bill. 1t bore the name
of one of our members, the one eleclea
by this legislature to represent Kansas
in the United States senate. FOR VOL
ing for that measure have peen VII
fed and maligned. 1t was refused the
approval of the executive, ana now dC
the close of his administration L nave
been summoned here to vote tor Dill
so mysteriously born into this Assembly
that it's parentage is unknown us
putative birthplace is speculative, ana
may indeed, be altogether a specuIa-
ton I have heard from those that
give this bill their unqualified approval.
and who, two years ago, protested IndS
this bill was the handiwork of ex-Ch1eI
Justice Martin. This L am told ne de-
MES. Others who have favored 1t nave
pushed it in front of the legal reputa-
ton of David Overmyer, but ne MAKES
answer that he was never consulted IN
it's preparation and has never examined
or passed upon it his opinion: Reporter
Clemens refused to father 1t. II was
stated in caucus that Boyle refused 10
give it his approval, and Justice Allen.
another whose name has been associated
with the authorship of this bill, Gen1es
it his approval, and is in doubt as TO
how the courts will treat IT,
I'VE are by caucus rule prevented
from indeDendent action and discussion.
An atmosphere has been created, by
those whose evil thoughts of others are
ripeuing into deeds in themselves, tnat
makes any attempt to amend this Dill
of unknown authorship appear IN the
light of treason to party pledges mace
mo one will accept responsibility Ior
the law. Every lawyer whose name mas
been associated with it refuses respon,
sibility for it's legal construction, ana
all efforts to find from whence 1t came
have proved futile. Hence, may pc
hardened Mr.. President, for at this
lime disciaiming any responsibility for
the latent, and glarfng legal defects that
NAV kill this bill when 1T shall come
before the courts.
None of its putative fathers VIII as
sumo the responsibility, and as lawyers
they will not declare that it is legally
sound Those who urged the bill viii
fed all those who two years ago Voted
for the Harris BILL 1 regret, Mr.. Presl-
dent, that L am denied the privilege OF
voting for the same bill now. For that
vote 1 was and am responsible, but at
the present time assume no response
bility Let it rest upon those VINO pre-
pared the bill, and if any one OF legal
attachments can be found to vouch for
it, let the responsibility and the honor,
if any, rest on him.
Mr. President, it may be found at
last to rest upon ex-Chief Justice Mar
tin, General Boyle, Justice Allen, David
Overmyer or Reporter Clemens, but
I understand that now they all discla1m
it Hence it may happen that when
the legal ability that fathered and di-
rected the construction of this bill is
finally discovered, it may prove to be
the ability and talent of that distinguish
ed lawyer and jurist, B. p. Waggener
and T N. Sedgwick. 1 have tried to
ascertain the parentage OF this Dill, but
having failed in the attempt L leave all
responsibility to it's sponsors, and vote
aye"