The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-04-12

own or go out of business.
The most important measure of
| the session was the railroad bill. 1t
is the most stringent ever enacted by
any state. Among its provisions are
| the following:
A board of commissioners consist
ing of three members is established,
no more than two OF whom shall be-
long to one political party.
This board is given general super
visory power over the railroads, eN-
press companies, sleeping car COM
panies and common carriers.
1t has power to subpoena and exam
inc witnesses, administer oaths and
compel the production of books and
papers. A refusal to appear and tes-
tify or to produce books and papers
is misdemeanor.
The board may order additions to
rolling stock, additions or changes in
station houses, changes or reductions
in rates and such general changes in
the manner of operation or conduct
of the railroads of the state as may
be shown to be of public interest.
| 1t may order connecting switches or
tracks between crossing or parallel
lines and regulate the same, order con-
struction of new stations, switches
| and side tracks to accommodate traf-
| fic.
1t has full control over questions
concerning the crossing of one road
over another. 1t has absolute power
| to supervise and reduce rates of trans
portation.
The mayor and council of any city,
or the trustee of any township may
make complaint that freight rates are
| unreasonable, unjust or discrimina-
ting, and upon such complaint reach
ing the board they are required to
Immediately investigate and if the
complaint is shown to be well-founded
the board shall put into effect such
rates as it deems reasonable and no.
| tify the company of the same.
If the mayor and council or trustee
| fails to act, the same action from the
| board can be secured by the petition
of 25 residents of such city or town
ship, or either the consignor or con-
signee of freight may make such com
| plant.
Railroads are forbidden to charge
unreasonable freight rates, to discrim-
mate between different points or be-
tween shippers, or to charge more
| for the short haul than the long haul,
or to make secret rates or rebates.
Cars must be furnished on notice,
and for failure to do so actual DANA
ges and So per day may be collected
for each days delay.
Railroads are forbidden from pool
| ing, rate sharing, dividing earnings
or combining, under penalty of So
900 per month for each month of such
arrangement.
All railroads are required on Sep
TENDER 1st of each year to make full
report of stock, earnings, dividends,
receipts, disbursements, operating eX-
penses, cash value of road ETC., and
the same is transmitted by the board
to the governor
1t is perjury to swear falsely before
| the board.
Any road failing to obey an order
of the board is liable to fine of
800 per day for each days refusal,
to be recovered by the attorney gen.
eral for the benefit of the state school
fund. In addition, a penalty of from
500 to $1,000 may be recovered in any
county by the county attorney. And
in addition to this the individual ag-
grieved or injured by failure of road
to obey an order of the board, may
recover treble the amount of his dam
ages and reasonable attorneys fees.
In addition to all these penalties the
board may order the attorney general
to bring mandamus action in the
name of the state to compel the rail-
roads to obey the boards order, and
such suits have precedence in the SUI
preme court over all other cases eX-
cept criminal.
1t is the strongest railroad law ever
enacted. No other commission in Kan
sas ever had such power The lack
of power to enforce has made pre-
vious commissions weak. It's pres
cnce in this law adds to its great force.
Hereafter, when the board makes
ruling it will be obeyed.
Heretofore the grain inspection de-
partment, one of the most important
departments of Kansas state govern
ment, has been conducted without
check or supervision. Inspection fees
have been collected and the same util-
lied in the payment of the expenses
of the department. There has been
no check or supervision whatever.
This legislature passed law placing
the business affairs of this depart
ment under the state auditor, and
hereafter all the fees will be paid di-
rectly into the state treasury and the
payments that are made for the ex-
penses of the department will have
to pass the inspection of the audi
tors Office. 1t places this department
on thorough, business basis.
The demand that train men should
have the right to cast their ballots
where they might be on election day
was met by the passage of law Civ
ing them this right.
A measure was also passed enabling