The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-02-05
& Q. TONISEND. G. P.&T.A.. st. louis. Mo.
RAILROADS WILL BE PAID.
Senate Passes Bill to Fay For Trans
porting Soldiers

When the bill came up to allow the
Santa Fe $41, 1882 for transportation
of the Twentieth Kansas from San
Francisco. Senator Mcmillan offered an
amendment that the amount of the bill
be cut down to $50 456.30. In support o.
his amendment he said that the amount
he had suggested was figured at the
rate of $25 while the railroad figured II
at $3.50 per man. He argued that the
rate was excessive and that it could he
done by the company with fair profit.
Senator CLANCY, who introduced the
bill. read the agreement entered into be-
tween the state officers and the Santa
Fe by which the railroad was to haul
tha regiment and feed them. He con-
tended that the charge was not exces
Sive and cited that in addition to trans
portation the company hauled excessive
baggage without charge He held that
the agreement of the state officers was
a moral obligation and that the legisla--
ture should allow the entire amount.
Senator Carpenter defended the bill by
saying that at the time the agreement
was made the people Of the state unani-
that now the excitement was over they
should be willing to pay for what they
demand the state officers would do
Senator Householder objected to the
rate of $3.50 and endorsed the amend
ment reducing the rate to SIS. He
showed and read a receipt given by the
Southern Pacific to a soldier who cana
home wounded and paid $25 fare from
San Francisco to Fredonia- He said
that while he was proud Of the Twer-
tieth Kansas and was glad of the honor
conferred upon them by the state he
could see no reason why the Santa Fe
should charge at the rate $3.50 when
other roads charged SIS.
Senator Fitzpatrick got a little warm
over the objections offered by Senators
Mcmillan and Householder, and said
that If the state officers had not made
the agreement with the Santa Fe ard
brought the Twentieth home the Popu-
campaign against the state officers ard
would have made great political capital
of it.
Senator Kennedy said. 1T seems to
me that we are in the position of a maj
who has contracted a debt for merchan-
disc and then has the bill presented. We
agreed to pay this bill and should be
honest enough to do it,"
Senator Porter said that his county
had furnished its share or the soldiers in
the Twentieth, and that he was positive
there was not a man in the county wl.o
was not glad that the company had fur
nished the transportation and wanted
the bill passed
Senator Householder closed the argu
ment over the bill by saying that he was
satisfied the majority members of the
senate were in favor Of the bill. but he
wanted to call their attention to the
fact that the Santa. Fe had taken ad-
vantage of the excitement and patriot
ism to OVercharge the state IF the road
Ae~1 DICA EctA4Ce4Ns ne E1Alf II HQu14
have given a reduced rate.
If you VIII change this and vote
money to the boys who did the fighting
as other states have done in place Of
voting 1t to a great corporation as yOt.
are doing, you will see that all the mi
nority senators viii vote with YOU
The amendment was lost by a strictly
party vote
The senate which was sitting as a
committee Of the whole reported prog
ress and adjourned for dinner.