The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-27
WHAT BUSINESS MEN WANT.
Federation of Commercial Interests
VIII Ask for New Railroad Law.

terests will ask the legislature to pass
next winter are now being put into
circulation in order that it may be
thoroughly discussed and improved if
possible. Mr.. Hoch, the Republican
candidate for governor, has declared
that the present railroad law is the
best one in the country, but the bust
ness men and shippers of the state do
not think so.
A compilation was first made of the
best features of the laws of other
states, especially Iowa and Texas, and
then these were placed in the hands of
Judge F. L. Martin of Hutchinson and
A Z. Helm of Wichita for revision
Judge Martin was one of the boss bus
ter leaders in Reno county and he has
been identified with the Federation of
Commercial Interests from its begin
Ming Mr.. Helm has been city attor-
ney of Wichita and has been interested
in all the fights Wichita has made for
better rates and also the fight of the
cattlemen before the railroad board d
year ago. They went over the matter
carefully and prepared the bill which
the federation now endorses.
In its introduction the federation
makes this statement to the people of
Kansas:
For years the people have suffered
from railroad extortion and dtscrim1n-
alton, and Notwithstanding legislation
upon the subject, no relief has been
obtained.
This is accounted for by the fact
that the politicians who have enacted
the laws have allowed the railroad at
torneys to dictate the phSSseology or
write them entirely. In this manner
defrauded, with the corporations the
only gamers.
.'The Kansas Federation of CONNER
ciaI Interests therefore places this bill
before the people and proposes to make
il an issue in the coming campaign II
was not written at the headquarters OF
the railroads. 1t was carefully prepar-
ed from existing laws of adjoining
states that have been upheld by the
courts.
.'The federation places this bill before
the people and kindly asks its endorse
ment Every candidate for state sena-
tor or representative should be pledged
to vote for it In every representative or
senatorial convention this issue should
be plainly put before the candidate,
and no candidate should receive a NOM
ination who does not, or will not
pledge himself to vote for this meas
ure When this bill which gives the
commissioners ample power to make
rates is passed, conditions Will change
and the people will again rule the state
which is now domineered over by the
railroads.
will the people come out in the
omen and endorse this bill which will be
discussed in the coming campaign I'M
der the searchlight or public opinion.
or will they prefer to let inexperienced
politicians under the leadership OF rall-
road attorneys write a railroad law Tor
them and pass 1t under whip and
Time will tell"
In speaking of the bill today H. L.
Reising. secretary of the federaaon'
1--WE asked Judge Martin to pre-
pare US a bill which should be per-
fectly fair to the railroads and not
cripple them in any way, and at the
same time should be fair and equit-
a BILE to the shippers. There is nothing
radical in this bill. Judge Martin mas
been a railroad attorney and thor
oughly understands railroad rates from
both sides. and 1 believe he has given
us a good bill
AS now made UP, the bill consists
of 81 sections, and provides for the
election of the members of the board
of railroad commissioners. as we'll as
for the appointment of special coun-
sci, secretary and the needed stem
ographers.
connected in any way either directly
or indirectly or by owning stock, shall
be eligible to a place on the board
If he should acquire an interest In
any road after becoming a commits
sioner, his place shall be declared va
cant He also must devote his entire
time to the duties of the office. Va
cancies are to be filled by appointment
by the governor.
general supervision of all the railroads
operated within the tate. They have
the power and authority, and 1t is
made the duty under the proposed law
to adopt all necessary rates and
charges, both as to freight and pas
senger tariffs, to correct abuses, to pre-
vent unjust discrimination and extor-
ton and to infiict penalties for the
of their orders The pen
atty for unjust discrimination upon
the part of any railroad is fixed at
from 500 to $4,000.
Relative to furnishing cars for ship
pers, the bill provides that applica-
ton for cars must be made in writing
to any superintendent or agent of the
road, and the point to which they are
to be delivered must be indicated.
Then the company shall deliver them
at the point named within a reason
able time, not to exceed six days.
Where the number of cars needed is
ten or less they shall be furnished
more then the company is allowed
ten days in which to make the deliv-
cry. Failing to furnish the cars within
the stated time. the railroad company
shall pay to the person ordering them
SIS per car for each day of delay and
in a court of competent jurisdiction,
the shipper may collect besides all
actual damages sustained on account
of the delay.
At the time he applies for cars, the
applicant must deposit one-fourth of
the freight charge for the use of them,
unless the road agrees to deliver the
cars without the deposit. In case the
applicant fails to load the cars within
forty-eight hours after they have been
delivered, he must forfeit to the COM
pany IS for each car not loaded. and
is liable for actual damages sustained
by the company. Where a number
of applications are filed separately,
and the orders for cars are filled at
the same time, the applicant is given
10 frSf fch RI I7p