Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-02-28
THE new RAILROAD LAW.
A Drastic Measure In the Interest OF the
shIpper-The Pledge Of the Republican
Party Redeemed In unmistakable Ian

W PoNtSuiiy every ncpuullNuh hVh
Der of the Senate and House and 1t is
90 reasonably certain of passage as 1t
is now drawn. that it is fair to con-
slider It as a law.
The manner in which this
wv, ~, bill was prepared Is in
""' """' such striking contrast to
the star chamber methods that marked
the preliminary steps in the Court OF
Visitation bill that it is worth con-
sidering 1t will be remembered that
when the Court of Visitation bill was
incubating, no one knew anything
about until it was brought into the Pop
caucus ready made. 1t was rushed
through the caucus under whip and
spur, without amendment or debate,
and put through both houses In the
same way. The authorship OF the bill
was variously ascribed at the time to
David Overmeyer. f. c. Little, David
Martin and Attorney General Boyle,
but each Of these gentlemen FASTENED
to deny any part or lot in it. Perhaps
when Bailie Waggener is on his death
bed we may learn who wrote 1t, but
until that time its parentage remains
unknown. Bastard in its makeup as
well as parentage, it remains a found
ling whom no one will acknowledge.
The nresent rai,road hill, ;s a Repub-
lican measure and was framed in this
wav The two railroad committees Of
the Senate and House composed OF
some of the ahlest members of both
branches and representing all political
parties frst met in Joint session. They
considered the three or four railroad
hills that had been introduced They
listened to eyeryone who desired TO be-
heard farmers cattle SINNERS millers.
rrain men lumher men coal men.
railroad ATTORNEYS and freight agents.
IN short ali classes who are interested
IN TRANSFORMATION Eor DAYS and weeks
the hearings were had. omen 10 every
one. Then the various bills. the rail
road commissioner law, and the sim
liar laws of other states were carefully
analyzed and discussed In the light Of
the hearings already had. Opinions
were interchanged and gradually the
sentiments and views Of the full COM
mittees crystallized into shape. Then
q subcommittee from both houses was
appointed who prepared a bill In tho
light of all that had been gathered
from all sources. Then this bill was
submitted to the full committees meet
Ing Jointly 1t was again considered
line by line. Changes were made and
then a Republican caucus was called.
attended by every Republican senator,
and 81 out of SO members Of the
House. and the completed bill was sub
mitted to this caucus, Here 1t was
again read and discussed line by line.
and a few important amendments
made, and so it stands as a Republican
bil.
M ,epislative measure In Kansas
mos ovor On carofullv onen)v and pnb-
,;c,v cons;dered ond formulated as this
Mi ona q stonds today mo strongest
roi,road law over adonted nv anv state
IN tho Irnior
- '' Tho hiu !, too lopy IN RI.
The Bil, ~. u, T., 81, IL oon.
In Detail s;s,s ~ fortv sect,ons
,,a hr;oav oroly,od /, nrovides for a
pnarJ 81 pailrnod commissioners
aoma,s,,na ~ throo momhars one nj
49,, n,,st ho ~ mo minor,tv marty
o %nun, ' hu ~, no avocutiyo council nm
Ann,, tSo, ono for "a vear ono for
tn,n voors ond ono for three vears and
omon,, uaor thorooftor ono member is
ohosar for term If three vears The
,.s',hars roooivo % 5oo nor onnnm and
aa,ant a socrotorv at a 50o and stem.
ooronhor Of a 9oo Tbis cuts off one
oiorr from tho old law and makes II
.hnanar in cost tban anv other com
w .,,oni"n in thn country Tho hoard Ia
n,mam nonaral cnnervisorv nowers over
eu rai1rood unes nynrass comnanies
s,aon,na oar comnan,os and common
o 90 nr,ans II Noe mower IN suhnoena
oad ''' ovor,;ra w,tnoeees administer
"nths and oomnol tbe nrodnction nj
ba e and naners anl refnsaI IN
a ouU" hofore II and testify mr. nroduce
hpp,,a and nonoro ,e mode , misde.
mooror
|, may order ad ,i,ions IN
Wide Pow ro,l,ng o,ock md .ou,n-
ers Granted mont M ra,,ro.de ad.
a,.,ons or ohonoos /, station bouses
change mr. rpduction in rates and such
uannro, ohongoo IN ,be manner NJ omar.
atinn ~ conducting tho railroads n,
thn stoto os NAV he shown IN be IA ,be
nuh,ic interest II NAV nrovide for
awning mr. leas,np NJ cars Inv SINNERS
NTH reou,otiono for load,ng hauling
VA VA" ,o,nrnino samo and charges fov
both os vol nc for loading nv rom.
nonv nm return haul II NAV order
p switches and tracks he.
twanu crnss,ng or nara,le, lines and
."n,,io.,nns ,boraof ordor coretruc.
.,a S' ~ now donots SWITCHES and sida
.n o 70 accommodate trafic n hoe
sia'h' W. 1850