The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-07
NO RELIEF NOW.
Kansas Must Worry Along With
Out Railroad Board.
Gov. Stanley Does Not Know
What He Will Propose.
NO SPECIAL SESSION.
Executive Says Nothing Would
Be Gained by One.
Believes a "Reasonable" Law
Should Be Passed.

Governor Stanley viii not call a spe-
cial session of the legislature for rail-
road legislation, but advises the people
to now begin the work of selecting for
the next legislature men who will make
a new law, containing justice for both
railroads and shippers.
The governor said to a State Journal
reporter today:
I have not considered the subject
carefully up to this time, but I am
sure that this decision OF the court
opens the way for legislation which will
be equitable and just to the shippers
and railroads.
I'VE do not want oppressive legisla-
ton against the railroad interests of
the state, but we do want legislation
which will guarantee to the shippers
rates which are not excessive or un-
reasonable.
MY Judgment is that the old railroad
commission was getting into shape
which would have made it an effective
tribunal for these matters. There were
some necessary amendments which
should have been made to the old law,
but the principle involved in the op
Grafton of that commission was, in my
! opinion, the best method of dealing
with these subjects.
THE old law provided that the de-
cisions of the railroad commissioners
| should be prima facie evidence of the
! reasonableness of rates in any court of
competent jurisdiction to try the case.
| and the old law should have been so
amended as to permit action to be
| brought, based upon the findings of the
| commissioners in courts in counties
where the alleged discrimination oc-
CURED.
Under this new-fangled plan which
was proposed a man was compelled to
| come to Topeka to get into a court
created for the purpose of hearing these
| cases. This was not only an incon-
! venience to the shippers, but imposed
| an additional burden of expense. .
"Wil you recommend the re-enact-
| Tnent of the law creating the railroad
commissioners, with the amended
powers which you suggest?7 asked the
| reporter.
L can not now say what recommen-
dations I will make to the legislature. >
Have you not said that you would
make such recommendation"
Il do not believe have. / have said
that in my Judgment the railroad COM
mission was the best method of dealing
with this problem, provided some nee
essary amendments to the old law were
made.
7 do not mean to be understood as
having said that 1 would recommend
the establishment of the railroad
commission, because I will not recon-
mend anything until have talked with
of the legislature for the purpose of as.
certaining the sentiment of the people
on this subject.
7 will recommend some kind of rail-
road legislation. The state is now with
out a governing body for the contro-
versies between the shipper and the
railroads, something which all agree i:
not in line with the best policy. Some
thing must be done, and the next legis
lature will be called upon to act.
1.-THE decision of the supreme cOur
presents to the people of the state al
opportunity to secure something reas
enable in the way of railroad legisla.
ton If the people interested will nov
exercise some common, hard sense, ant
see to it that the right kind of mel
are elected to the legislature, there vii
be no difficulty in settling these ques
. tons The time is now at hand t.
dismiss from consideration partisan
ship and fussing in connection wit
5 this subject and enact a law which vii
be reasonable and just alike to the rail
roads and shippers. This is a subjec
which has been too long neglected i
Kansas, and it must now be given care
: full and sensible consideration"
Asked if he would call a special ses
sion of the legislature, the goyerno
said:
Special sessions have never been pro
ductive of good. The decision of tn
| court shows the inadvisability of hast
action in rushing such important legis
t lation through. There is now no evi
2 dence that the house and senate a
it is now constituted would be i