The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-23

fdence in me. I have here a petition
signed by the jobbers of Atchison ask
ing me TO take 4 certain course IN TINS
matter, and it is against the house
railroad bill. I speak now as citizen
of Kansas. There should be no an
tagonism against the railroads In the
western part of the state, in the Vlcln-
ity of Mitchell county the people want
the railroads extended, which VIII de-
velop the country. They want the
Central Branch built through to Den
YER There is a partnership between
the people. and the railroads This
question should not be a political one.
The Republican platform was writ
ten and then your distinguished COVER
nor made his keynote speech at Mar
lon senator Waggener read from
Hoch'S Marion speech referring to the
Democratic railroad plank in the plat
form OF 1904 and the Democratic plat
form OF 1892 on the tax plank.
The governor, a most estimable gen.
tleman, says there is no complaint
about local rates in. Kansas but in rates
OF interstate commerce." said Senator
WagSener- HE said that the Demo-
cratic nominee for governor was max
ing a campaign on the railroad question
to regulate the rates of Interstate COM
MERGE a most grOtesque position said
the governor Does he mean that the
action of the house in. passing a rail-
road bill was grotesque? He said that
Kansas had the best railroad law ever
written on statute book. Governor
jority of 10000 and the Democratic
platform was showed under
I know nothing about these two bills
being considered and don't want to
know anything about them, but let us
be fair. 1t was said in the campaign
by a speaker that If I was sent to the
senate I would come here with wool in
my teeth, blood on my jaw and sus-
picion barking at my heels. I have
been in an embarrassing situation here,
but L say be conservative,
we are building for posterity and
nope not for Office So far as I am con-
cefned that shall be my endeavor. I
am not here representing the railroads. |
They have no brass collar on my neck |
l propose to vote my convictions. am |
here as a senator"
Senator Benson made the briefest
and WltteSt speech. He said ''I only /
wish to say as a member of the mi
norlty here, that you Republicans are |
in an embarrassing position and you
my speech"
Senator Tucker said: There are
four words in section 4 of the house |
Dill, upon their own notion and |
these four words are the cause of all /
this discussion. The railroads are not |
content to carry the commerce of the |
country but they wish to control the /
commerce of the country The ex-
perience of other states has demon
strated that the state can legally reg
alate railroad rates. Other states
have done it and the courts have sus-
Hained them. / believe the state has
The legal and moral right to regulate
rates The railroads stand in a diff
serent light than any other business
n the country They have been given
millions of acres of land and have I.
been given the right of eminent do
main. Railroads are common carriers.
They are public in their character and
therefore the state has the right to
regulate them
TT is for the cattIemen of my dis
riot that am supporting section 4 of
he house bill The people there
know what they want and they want
hose four words upon their own ;
notion :"
Senator Tucker read from an article
n this weeks Saturday evening Post
" Senator Robert La Toilette, of Wis
onsin, that the railroad commission K
rs should not wait to adjust rates y
lpon complaint. you all know Sen
tor La Toilette and his wisdom con- ]
senator Tucker To err is human {
o forgive divine, If I, err I do not :
wish to err in favor of the railroads !
nd if err too much in favor of the
ivine enough to forgive !
Senator Stewart read from evidence (
iven by NJ A. Low at a hearing be- !
ore the railroad commissioners in :
-hich he testified that the rate on :
rheat from Troy to Galveston through ;
Wichita is Is cents. the rate from
Serne, near the Nebraska line, was "a :
ents. while the rate from Wichita l
7as % II cents.
The rate on the amendment by Sem 7
tor F. D. Smith to substitute section [
I of the senate bill for section 9 of l
he house bill carried by a vote of l
s to IL /
Senator Waggener offered an
mendment to section 9 that if party f
lakfne' complaint to the railroad COM 1
lissfoners was found to be a member V
{ a trust that the complaint shall be a
isrnissed. The amendment was lost T
y vote of II to IS. s
Senator Noftzger offered an I
mendment that if any railroad vio- S
tie any law regarding railroads that il
ne railroad commissioners shall pro-
sed against them. It was lost by Y
ote of 2 to IT. h
Senator Getty offered an amend =
lent that when a complaint is made =
} the commissioners and a time set
or hearing that the hearing be held q
the county seat where the COM =
Iafnant lives. The amendment was =
depted.
PPVRN CTRRTc 1T c