The Globe-republican., 1899-01-05
It ms PASSED NTH / RUSH
Caucus Railroad Bill Put Through
the Kansas House.
THE P0PULISTS STOOD FIRM.

THE P0PULISTS STOOD FIRM.
TOPEKA, Ka&, Dec. s0.-By .
strictly party vote Of 20 to 30 the
house yesterday passed the bill regu-
lating the freight and passenger rates
Of Kansas railroads and providing for
the settlement of strikeA The bill
was put through under party whip
and spur by the votes pledged to the
governor before the cali 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 him
sat dozen of the faithful, who were
ready with second. Barkley 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: 'sMove.
the adoption, Mr.. Chairman" Then
Fairchild would put the question and
q thunder Of ayes on the Populist side
and scattering noes on the Republican
side settled the business, and Sol Long
would proceed to rattle off the next
section.
The bill was hurried to the Senate,
which convened as soon as the bill had
passed, and the House adjourned. IT
reached the Senate at o'clock
and was at once put on first
reading. The bill will follow the
usual order in the senate, will be given
second reading to-day.
TOPEKA. Dec. 2s.-The following are
the principal provisions of the railroad
bill as prepared by the Populist law
yers:
Section l creates a railroad court to
be known as the court of visitation,
consisting of three judges.
Section fixes the term of Office at
four years, the judges to be elected at
the general election in 1900
Section provides for q clerk and
stenographer to the court, to hold dur
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 I'M
til the next general election.
Section fixes the salary of the
judges at s., 500 per year each, 81, 500
for the solicitor, $1,000 for the clerk
and $3.50 for the stenographer.
Section 6 provides that the court of
visitation may sit at the capitol in To-
peka or anywhere else in the state it
may desire.
Section prescribes the power and
jurisdiction of the court, classifying
them under twelve subdivisions. The
power is to decree freight and passen-
ger rates, revise demurraCe charges,
hear complaints, order improvements,
adjust disputes and in general the
scope is ample to control every feature
of 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 q jury.
Section 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 supreme
court of the state.
Provision is made in succeeding Sec
tions for the costs and their payment
by the losing side. The state will pay
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 naisde-
meanor punishable by fine of 81 900
and one year in Jail. for any railroad.
to discriminate in charges or classical.
lions, with an additional fine of 1000
for every day the company shall vio-.
late the provisions of this act.
Section 80 provides for the conduct
of railroads in cases of strikes It
gives the railroad court power to I'm
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