The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-07
The FIGHT OPENS.
Contest With Standard Begins
in the Senate.
Four Preliminary Measures Are
Rushed Through.
REFINERY BILL is UP.
Senator Porter Begins Debate
With a Statement.
Shows Why Such Measure Is
Needed.
FORTIFIED WITH LAW.
Members Have Books to FOrtify
Their Positions.
Easily Save Enough to Build
Refinery.
Why Such Measure Is
Needed.
iORTIFIED WITH LAW.
Members Have Books to FOrtify
Their Positions.
Easily Save Enough to Build
Refinery.

The preliminary skirmishes, leading
up to the main battle against the
Standard Oil in Kansas, were com
menced in the senate at 1890 o'clock
this morning. under the special orders,
and the preliminary bouts were de-
cidedIy in favor of the people as
against the Standard
Five bills were on the calendar un-
der special rders. in the following
order:
Senator Samuel Porter's bill to reg
ulate the transporting of natural gas.
Senator Fitzpatrick's bill to estab-
lish maximum rates for the transpor-
tation of oil.
Senator F. Dumont Smiths bill
making pipe lines common carriers
and placing them under control of the
railway commissioners.
Senator F. Dumont Smiths bill to
prohibit discrimination between diff
ferent sections and to stop unfair
Senator Samuel Porter's bill for the
employment of convict labor in a state
oil refinery.
The first four bills were passed.
some of them amended 10 such an ex-
tent that they were practically new
bills.
The fifth bill. known as the state
refinery bill, was not reached during g
the morning session, as the bills were
appeared on the calendar and it was
noon when the fourth bill was recon-
mended by the committee of the whole
for passage, and the senate adjourned
until 2 o'clock, with the expectation
of taking up the refinery bill at the
afternoon session.
Although there was some discus
sion on various points in the bills the
attitude of the senate committee of
the whole was unanimously for the
four bills passed and they went
through without any serious or open
protest.
Change Their Tactics.
The lobby which is working to de-
feat the state refinery measure made
the plea that the state refinery plan
is socialistic move. Tht plea was ad-
vanced up to some time Sunday or
Monday and then when the petitions,
letters, kilograms and delegations in
the interests of a state refinery, So
cialistic or not, began coming to
Topeka the lobby changed its tactics.
Now the lobby and those who are
opposing the Dill put forth the plea
that a state refinery would not be
constitutional.
AS Governor Hoch has announced
that he favors an experimental state
refinery, the plea falls flat when Of
fered by any of the governors ad-
ministration men in the senate. or
the house, for an experiment will be
as unconstitutional as a 100000 re-
hnery and branch penitentiary.
The oil producers committee from
the southern Kansas fields has had
lawyers looking up all points and
working on the refinery bill along
with the senate lawyers and all who
advocate the bill are confident that it
is constitutional.
The unconstitutional argument has
little or no effect in the senate.
The Refining Bill.
Promptly at o'clock the senate in
committee of the whole, with Senator
Young i'll the chair, took up Senator
Samuel Porter's state refinery bill.
Before the senate began its labor a
photographer with flash light took
picture of the senate and the smoke of
the flash light took the place of the
smoke of battle and hung over the SEN
ators as they began the state oil refine
ry fight.
When the senate was called to order