The Monte Vista journal., 1899-01-14

Ths new railroad law Just enacted by
Q special session of the Kansas Legis-
Afure and signed by Governor Leedy
marks . radical departure from past
attempts to control the railroads.
The passage Of the new law means
that the Populist party within six days
OF the end Of Its lease Of power has
performed the action to which 1t
pledged itself when 1t was elected In
1885. 1t has been one Of the chief CON-
plants Of the opposition that the party
did not regulate the railroads and that
1t was In that respect negligent Of Its
duty. The special session was to rem
edy this and to make the party's
pledges good.
The workings Of the new law will be
watched with interest. 1t was carried
through both houses by the vote Of the
caucus, and the opposition was not al
lowed even discussion. 1t In purely
fopuiist measure, and that party wish.
- to take all the credit for II. The new
law was written by q. c. Clemens, one
OF the leading Populist lawyers Of the
state and Supreme Court reporter.
1t has for Its chief feature court
of visitation" that Is to be composed
OF three judges, with salaries Of s., 800
each. They are to be the rulers Of the
railroad interests of the state. and
there will be nothing done In the way
OF regulating the roads save through
them and their court. 1t Is n far less
radical measure than WAS expected.
The Judges are to be elected for four
years at the election In 1900: before
that time they are to be appointed by
the governor. The court Is vested with
full cOmmOn-lnw power and jurisdic-
tion for the compelling of witnesses
and the production Of records, and Is
authorized to decree freight and pas
senger rates. revise demurrage charges.
order improvements and adjust dis.
putes. 1t may sit at the capital or at
any place In the state that 1t desires,
having clerk and stenographer to at
tend Its sessions. The complaints are
TO be made In the name Of the state,
and whether or not they are to come
before the board will depend on the
solicitor. who is part Of the court,
ana who acts as the attorney Of that
body. IL he thinks an action too trivial
for the consideration OF the court he
cnn refuse to bring 1t. having the pow
ers common to county attorneys in
"'nAc SouIS. AueTe ARE pToVlSlOD8 IOr
the taxing Of costs and for the regu-
lntion Of strikes. connecting lines, in
terstate commerce and other matters
that are likely to puzzle the board.
The matter Of regulating strikes Is
the most interesting perhaps Of the
laws measures. In case Of strike the
court may Investigate. and II It finds
the strikers are wrong II may enjoin
them from further acts OF injury to the
road. II II finds that the road IL wrong,
II may order II to adjust the disagree
inent to the terms OF the employees, or
may order II In the hands Of receiver
II 1t refuses these terms. This places
strong lever In the hands Of the court
In labor troubles, and II It were dis.
posed to use 1t rccklessly might make
n great deal Of trouble for the roads.
The appeals from the rulings OF the
court are to go to the State Supreme
Court. as do those OF the District
Courts.
The objections that are found In the
prOvisiOns are that 1t gives one court
both executive and judicial powers.
and that II is by no means certain that
the law will stand the test OF consti-
tutiOnality. II II should not do 80 and
the session shall repeal the present
law. the state will be without any rail
road regulation whatever.