The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-15
AGREED UPON BILL
House and Senate Get Togeth-
er on a Railroad Bill.
TAPP'S IDEA PREVAILS
In Matter of Demurrage on
Cars Ordered by Shipper.

Topeka, Kan, Feb. 1.-THE house and
senate railroad committee today agreed
upon a railroad bill which will be intro
duced tomorrow The measure provides
that there shall be a board of three com
Iuissioners elective by the executive coun-
Gil The principal eight was on the man
ner of selecting the commissioners. Gov
ernur Stanley and his friends insisted
that the governor be allowed to name
them. The vote stood about two to one
in favor Of election Ly the executive
council.
Under the provisions Of the Hill the
commissioners shall have power. Gpon
complaint to make rates and elasSjica-
lions and nforce their orders by Pro-
ceedings in the supreme court. Refusa.
on the part Of tho railroads TO accept
rates established by the commissioners,
after having been approved by the sl-
preme court, is made Punishable by fine
Of $1,000 a day during the time of such
disobedience.
The bill is a lengthy one, but its pro-
visions are simple and explicit. 1t IS a
combination of all the different railroad
bills presented. The commissioners are TO
serve for three years. with a sa,a airy OF
s, 900 a year. They are given general
supervision over the railroad compar:es
operating in the state and are re lu;@ed 10
hear all complaints, adjust differences
and inspect the ,sompar-es' systems frcm
time to time. Fer thus purpose the com
panies are required to furnish then with
free transportation
One section of The bill provides that
railroads must arnish cars promptly
upon the demand of persons wishing TO
ship freight and they are made liable to
a demurrage charge Of 81 per day if they
fail to furnish the cars within reas IN
able time.
II is made unlawful for any road to en-
ter into an agreement with anotde- to di-
vide earnings, and su ch action is made
punishable by a fine of 5000 a month. In
cases where the com Danies fix unjust
rates in violation of the orders Of the
board they are made liable for three
times the damage to the agg-ieved party
and a fine Of 500 10 s5,0a) which amount
shall revert to the school furd IF The
county in which the complaint arises.
The board is given power to require the
companies to place inteclocSing switches
on all grade crossings and to erect and
maintain suitable deDors, switches and
yards at places where deemed necessary.
The roads, however, are given permission
to 20 into the district court to appeal
from the decision Of the board on any Of
these matters.
The roads are required to make annual
statements of their business to the board,
and refusal or neglect 20 do 50 IS made
punishable by a fine Of so \ day for every
day after September -. the date when
the reports are to be made.
individuals are given authority under
the act to condemn land for switches in
the same manner IS railroads, but must
pay the amount DECIDED upon as the
value of the land by a beard Of apprais-
ers.
Section p Of the bnl regulates the
charges a railroad may MAKE for passen-
ger service. It for5ids a higher charge /
than 8 cents per mile. but permits an ad- I
ditional charge Of 10 cerss On cash fares
on trains. 1t also provides that 10 char &c /
in the rates may De male without s'>ty
days notice