Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1899-01-07
1T WAS PASSED WITH 4 RUSH
Caucus Railroad Bill Put Through
the Kansas House.
TIE P0PULISTS STOOD FIRM.

TOPEKA, Kas., Dec. 3O.-By a
strictly party vote of 20 to 80 the
house yesterday passed the bill regu-
1ating the freight and passenger rates
of Kansas railroads and providing for
the settlement of strikes The bill
was put through under party whip
and spur by the votes pied ged to the
governor before the call for the extra
session was made.
When the house met every door was
guarded. The galleries were crowded
to suffocation and no vacant space
could be found in representative hall.
When the bill was called for consider
alton in committee of the whole, Fair
child of Kingman took the chair.
The house was under the greatest ten
sion.
Barley of Elk was the leader on the
Populist side, and surrounding hin.
sat dozen of the faithful, who were
ready with a second. Barley stood
at his desk and the moment section
had been read he, without waiting to
be recognized by Glenn Fairchild, who
was in the chair, would shout: ''Move
the adoption, Mr.. Chairman Then
Fairchild would put the question and
a thunder of ayes on the Populist sid e
and scattering noes on the Republican
side settled the business.
Section L creates a railroad court to
be known as the court of visitation,
consisting of three judges.
Section 2 fixes the term of Office at
four years, the judges to be elected at
the general election in 1900.
Section provides for clerk and
S-k< - h. - IL L.
ing the pleasure of the judges.
Section provides for the appoint
ment of judges by the governor, with
the consent of the senate, to serve IN
til the next general election.
Section fixes the salary of the
judges at So, 500 per year each, So, 500
for the solicitor, 200 for the clerk
and $3.50 for the stenographer.
Section provides that the court of
visitation may sit at the capitol in To-
peka or anywhere else in the state it
may desire.
Section 7 prescribes the power and
jurisdiction of the court, classifying
them under twelve subdivisions. The
power is to decree freight and passen-
ger rates, revise demurrage charges,
hear complaints, order improvements,
adjust disputes and in general the
scope is ample to control every feature
o f railroad operation.
Section provides full common law
and equity powers for the issuance of
processes, production of records, at
tendance of witnesses, appointment of
receivers and attendance OF a jury.
| Section 9 provides for the courts
government and the regulation of the
practices before it.
Section 10 prescribes the duties of
sheriffs throughout the various coun-
! ties in the serving of processes.
Section Is provides where connect
ing lines exist within the state that
the judgment shall cover all the con-
Meeting lines.
Section 20 prescribes that no rates,
special contracts or agreements now in
existence shall be received as proof of
the reasonableness of freight charges.
Appeal is allowed to the supre me
court of the state.
Provision is made in succeeding Sec
tions for the costs and their payment
by the losing side. The state will paw
costs in case it loses, unless it is shown
that the complaint was simply malic-
ious, when the person complaining
must pay.
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 provis-
ions of this act. It makes it a INSIDE
neanor punishable by fine of 81 900
and one year in Jail, for any railroad
to discriminate in charges or classified
tiOns, with an additional fine of 1000
for every day the company shall vio-
Late the provisions of this act.
Section 33 provides for the conduct
of railroads in cases of strikes. It
gives the railroad court power to in
quire into the disagreement. If the
employees are found to be in the wrong
they can be enjoined from further dis
turbance. If the company is found to
be in the wrong the court can order
the company to adjust the strike, or,
the company falling to comply, to
place the road in the hands of a re-
ceiver, who shall operate it as long as
may be necessary to insure tranquility
of commerce.
Section 43 provides that the act shall
take effect and be in force from and
after it's publication in the official
state paper, not later than March Is,
1899.
Sexton is Hanged.
PRINCETON, Mo-, Dec. 29.-Ira Sex
ton, who murdered Nathan Starks in