The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-07

many of the senators were fortified
with law books and reference books,
rom the state library, and they were
prepared for an oratorical contest on
the refinery bill.
The senators fighting for the passage
OF the state refinery bill will not coun-
tenance further delay in the senate
They mean to put the refinery bill
through the committee of the whole.
this afternoon and then bring all four
OF the oil bills and the gas flow bill be-
fore the senate on third reading We'd
neSday for final passage.
The senate will pass five of the meas
ures, and check them up to the house
to meet their fate.
The senators for the refinery scoff at
the house resolution for the leasing of
q refinery and say that such a. move
would certainly be unconstitutional
The fight against the Standard Oil
trust was commenced with the reading
OF the first section. Of the bill which
provides that:
For the purpose of providing proper
employment for convtcts confined in
the state penitentiary, the warden of
the Kansas state penitentiary is hereby
empowered, by and with advice of the
OOard OF directors OF said pen1tent1-
ary, to purchase a site for the erec-
ton of an oil refinery at Peru, in the
County of Chautauqua, Kansas and to
construct and maintain and operate
thereon an oil refinery as q depart
ment of the state penitentiary for the
refining of crude oil, and to market
the same and its by-prOductS, and to
keep such refinery in repair, and fur
n1Sh therefor the requisite machinery
and equipment, and necessary facilities
and instrumentalitieS for receiving,
manufacturing storing and handling
crude and refined oil and its by-pro-
Senator Samuel Porter asked for un-
animous consent to make a statement
relative to the bill as whole.
~ =
said Senator Porter, lis one that has
been giving the people OF the state
great concern The assault has been
made upon this bill from various quar-
ters that this bill is Socialistic. The
idea of socialism does not enter into it
but see a great deal of federalism or
democracy. I am not here to speak of
the Standard Oil. We are here to pass
tects build up and foster an industry
that has sprung up in the last two
years.
In two years a wealth under the soil
of Kansas has been developed that
pales into significance the dreams of
Coronado. There has come to US a. real
wealth greater than the fabulous
dreams of De Soto and it has come to
a point when it needs the protection of
the people. The question is: shall the
people now protect their own wealth
and that is all there is in this bill"
Since this legislation was talked of
cents and enough has already been
saved the people of the state to pay
for this refinery"
The Natural Gas Flow Bill.
The first bill considered by the sem
ate committee of the whole this morn
ing Under the special orders was SEN
ator Samuel Porter's bill to regulate
the transporting of gas.
The committee on oil and gas
agreed that the first section of the bill
erI,- \ or
persons, firm, company or corporation
engaged in drilling for, piping, trans
porting, using or selling natural gas
may transport or conduct the same
through sound wrought or cast iron
or steel castings and pipes tested to
at least 400 pounds pressure to the
square inch.''
The provision that gas shall not be
transported except by natural pres
sure, which would prohibit the use of
pumps, was stricken out on the rec
ommendation of the committee.
Senator c. I. Martin offered an
amendment regulating the laying of
gas pipes on highways which was
adopted.
The second section was adopted as
follows: "It is hereby declared to be
firm, company or corporation to use
any device for pumping, or any other
artificial process or appliance that
shall have the effect of increasing
the natural flow of natural gas out of
any Well"
Maximum Transportation Rates.
The senate committee of the whole
then took UP the bill introduced by
Senator Fitzpatrick providing Cor
maximum rates for the transportation
of oil.
The first section was adopted as fol-
lows:
'From and after the taking effect
of this act it shall be unlawful for
any common carrier in the state of
Kansas to charge, exact or receive for
the transportation of crude oil or any
product thereof or any combination
thereof with other substances, in
packages, kegs, barrels, tanks, tank
cars or other receptacles, between any
points within the state of Kansas in
excess of the following rates for each
100 pounds or part thereof: