The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1901-04-11

the session was the railroad bill Tt
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, ex-
press companies, sleeping car com
Panies and common carriers
1t has power to subpoena and exam
me 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 a 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 NAV
be shown to be of public interest
1t may order connecting switches OF
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 discrimina-
ting, and upon such complaint reach
ing the board they are required to
hmm ediate1y investigate and if the
complaint is shown to be vvell-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 discrirn-
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 50 per day may be collected
for each days delay
Railroads forbidden from pool
ing, rate sharing, dividing earnings
or combining, under penalty of So
600 per month for each month of such
arrangement.
All railroads are required on Sep
TENDER 1st of each year to make a full
receipts, disbursements, operati ting e,1-
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
500 per day for each days refusal
to be recovered by the attorney gen
eral for the benefit of the state school
/ =.
500 to $4,000 may be recovered in any
| county by the county attorney And
| in addition to this the individual ag-
| grieved or injured by failure of a 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 su-
| preme court over all other cases eN
| 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
ence in this law adds to its great force
| Hereafter, when the board makes a
| ruling it viii 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 utiI-
| 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 tii-
| 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 4 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 a law Civ
| ing them this right.
y measure was also passed enabling
voters in cities of the first and second
| class, unavoidably absent from home
/ to SSfk