The Advocate and news., 1899-01-04
HOUSE BILL. NO. /.

declaring its Jurisdiction and powers, and
providing for proceedings and proceed
ure therein.
BE It enacted by the Legislature OK the
State OF Kansas:
Section 1. A court OF record to be known
as the Court OF Visitation, consisting OF a
chief Judge and two associate judges Ga
majority OF whom shall constitute quo
rum is hereby created. The senior Judge
Ia service shall be the chief Judge; but
In case two or more judges shall have
served equal time the Judges shall select
o chief Judge No person shall hold the
office OF Judge who is interested In any
railroad company or any Of the stock or
bonds thereof, or who is an officer or enl.
ployee OF any railroad company, nor shall
any such judge hold any other oftice un'
der the United States or this State, or en-
gage In the practice OF law, during his
term OF Office. Any elector Of the State not
disqualified by the provisions OF this act
shall be eligible to the of1ice OF judge
OF said court. The court shall adopt seal,
which shall be furnished by the Secretary
Of State.
Sec. 2. At the election held in the year
nineteen hundred, three judges shall be
elected, whose term OF office shall COM
mence on the second Monday Of January
in the following year, and who shall hold
for the term OF four years. The terms OF
the judges thereafter elected shall be four
years. Until the first election Of such
Judges, the Governor shall, on the first
Monday Of April next appoint the said
judges, who shall hold their offices until
their successors are elected and qualified.
ANY vacancy shall be filed by appoint
ment by the Governor; said appOintee TO
hold until his successor is elected and
qualified.
Sec. g. The first judges 30 appointed by
the Governor shall qualify in like manner
as justices OF the Supreme court and having
80 qualified shall within ten days after
their appointment at the capitol, choose
one Of their number chief judge.
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and q stenographer to hold during the
pleasure OF the Judges. The stenographer
shall possess the qualifications required
for a stenographer OF the District court,
Monday OF April next. appoint a State
solicitor who shall hold until his sue
cessor Is elected and qualified. His sue
cessor shall be elected by the voters Of
the State at the general election In nine
teen hundred, for regular term OF Of.
fce, which shall be four years from and
after the second Monday In January after
his election. 1t shall be his duty to ap~
pear and represent the State In all actions
and proceedings before the Court Of Wis
itation to which the State is a party:
Sec. O. Each Judge Of said court shall re-
ceive a salary OF twenty-five hundred dol
lars per year. The state solicitor shall re-
ceive O salary Of twenty-five hundred dOls
lars per year. The clerk Of said court
shall receive salary OF twelve hundred
dollars per year The stenOgrapher shall
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llfty dollars per year, and such fees as
are now prescribed by law for stenOg-
Taphers Of District courts
Sec Z, The court shall sit at its rooms
In the State house but may for good cause
sit In any other place in the State, and
shall be deemed In perpetual session Tor
the transaction Of business.
Sec. 8 The Court OF Visitation shall have
power aud Jurisdiction throughout the
i. TO try and determine all questions as
to what are reasonable freight rates,
switching and demurrage charges and other
charges connected with the transportation
OF property between points In this State;
:, TO apportion charges between con-
Meeting roads, and determine all questions
relating to charges for use OF cars and
part car load and mixed car load lots Of
Freight including live stock;
5. To classify freight;
T. To appOrtion transportation charges
among connecting carriersi
5. To require the construction and main-
tenanoe OF depOts, switches, side tracks,
stock yards, cars and other facilities for
the public convenience,
g. TO compel reasonable and impartial
train and car service for all patrons Of the
railroad;
4 10 regulate crossings and intersections
Of railroads and regulate the operation Of
trains over them;
q To prescribe rules concerning the
movements OF trains, TO secure the safety
Oh employees ana the puDuCs
.. To require the use OF improved APP
pliances and methods, to avoid accidents
and injuries to persons;
10 To restrict railroad corporations TO
operations within their charter powers,
prevent the oppressive exercise thereof and
compel the performance OF all duties re-
Quired OF railroads by law;
H. TO summon juries, as d court Of
equity, In any case or matter before it;
such iurles 60 be selected as may be d.
rected by rule, Jurors to possess the quail
flcations, except as to locality, required by
law for jurors In the District courts;
n. Such other and further powers as are
given by this act or may be conferred
by law.
Sec. Q. In all matters within it's iuris.
dtction, said court shall possess full conn
mon law and equity powers. It may issue
every appropriate writ and process to COM
pei the attendance Of parties and witnesses,
the production of records, books, papers
and documents, to execute It's decrees, and
orders, including writs Of Injunction and
mandamus, and may appoint receivers to
carry it's judgments into effect It shall
have the same power 10 punish for con-
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