The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-14
OIL MEN ACTIVE.
New Plan to Prevent Piping of
Natural Gas.
An Anti Pumping Bill Has Been
introduced.
PENALTY is SEVERE.
Fine for Violation Would Be
Made 81, 900 to $4,000.
Gossip Concerning the Legisla-
ture and It's Acts.

Montgomery county has started a
backfire in the legislature against the
companies which are trying to pipe
gas out of the state. J. W. Holdren,
Representative from Montgomery, has
introduced into the legislature the
santi-pumping'' bill, which If passed
will prevent the transportation Of nat
ural gas to any great distance from
the gas fields.
Pumps are necessary to move the
natural gas through pipes from Mont
gomery county to Kansas City; prob
ably several relay stations will have
to be established at intermediate
points. The gas belt people realize
that they can not absolutely prohibit
the transportation of gas, but they
think that the anti-pumping bill will
accomplish the same purpose.
The penalty provided in Holdren's
bill for pumping gas is something ter
rife. The fine is from 1000 to $10,-
600 for each offense. and the company
or person may be enjoined from re-
peating the offense. The following is
the Holdren bill:
"Section l. Any person or persons.
firm, company or corporation engaged
in drilling for piping, transporting,
using or selling natural gas may
transport or conduct the same through
sound wrought or cast iron castings
and pipes, tested to at least 800
pounds pressure to the square inch. s
Provided, such gas shall not be
transported through pipes at a pres
inch, or otherwise than by the natural
pressure Of the gas flowing from the
wells.
sec 2-It is hereby declared to be
unlawful for any person or persons,
firm, company, or corporation, to use
any device for pumping, or any other
artificial process or appliance for the
purpose or that shall have the effect
of increasing the natural flow OF the
gas from any well, or of increasing or
maintaining the flow of natural gas
through pipes used for conveying and
transporting the same
Provided that nothing in this sec
ton shall operate to prevent the use
of nitroglycerine or other explosives,
for shooting any well or wells from
which gas is procured.
This is not the only bill which Mr..
Holdren has up his sleeve to use as a
menace against the natural gas con-
Germs He has another which, if
passed, might make it difficult for
any concern to do an interstate bust
ness. 1t says that cities may grant
gas franchises to natural gas COM
panies which do not pipe gas beyond
the boundaries of the state. The first
section of the law is as follows:
1.-The mayor and councilmen of
cities of the first, second and third
classes are hereby empowered to al
low any and all corporations, partner
ships, firms and persons engaged in
the business of piping gas within and
not beyond the boundaries of the state
to use the streets, avenues, alleys and
public grounds therein for the laVing
of gas pipes or mains under such con-
ditions as restrictions and for such
consideration as by ordinance may be
prescribed"
G. L. Banks, the other representative
from Montgomery county, also has
some gas legislation which he wants to
have considered by the present session. |
Tt is a bill giving the man who fur
nishes material for or drills a gas or
oil well a, first lien on the property for
his pay.
E. T. Skinner. Of Lincoln county. will
introduce a house bill on Monday |
which requires the treasurers of coun-
ty and city central committees to file |
with the county clerk a statement, after /
each campaign, of all their receipts and
during the campaign.
This bill is intended to replace the /
old law which requires candidates to I
file a statement of their election ex-
penses. This law was repealed by the I
last legislature.
Mr.. Skinner believes that law such /
as he proposes is badly needed by the
state to insure the purity Of the politi- I
cal campaigns
A. w. Benson. chairman of the house /
judiciary committee, says. that his bill /
in reference to law schools has been /
: "The purpose of this bill,'' says Judge
Benson, is simply to correct an over I
sight in the Law. now on the statute t
books. The present law specifies that I
a man must be a resident of the state I
Of Kansas to be admitted to the kan
sas bar after completing the required /
course of study. If a young man from /
takes a course here in the /
law school, for example, he
can not be admitted to the Kansas bar
on the same terms with a Kansas stu
dent. My bill simply eliminates the |
citizen of Kansas phrase, and inserts
citizen of the United States in place
Of 1t. 1t also requires three years
study in a law Office instead of two, as
! preliminary to admission to the bar
Representative w. A. s. Bird of
Shawnee county has introduced a bill
appropriating $17, 600 or as much
hereof as may be necessary to pay
or the completion of the asphalt
pavement on the walks and drives
about the state house grounds So
md south approaches, nor has it
paved the walks parallel to the east
md west approaches. The walks are
simply made of crushed rocks. which
ire rough. Weedy, and unsatisfactory
Of course the present legislature is
lent on economy, but the paving of
he capitol square walks is something
which would immensely Improve the
appearance of the state house.
Another bill which Mr.. Bird has
presented is the one giving a free
license to peddle In any city to all
lonorably discharged soldiers of the
Lrmy and navy of the United States
The way it stands now, only civil war
can secure free licenses.
Frank Curry of Topeka, w. o. Van
7elt og Pfttsburg. C. o. Churchill oil