The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-14
ITS A RIPPER"
Speaker Stubbs' Comment on
Railroad Bill.
Measure Passes House by IMAM
imOus Vote.
SHIPPERS PLEASED.
Puts Rate Question Where 1t
Can Be Reached.
Commissioners Not Permitted to
Use Passes.
ARE AFTER MIR. BELTS.
RumOr That Shawnee Senator
Is Weakening.
Prominent Citizens VIII Ask
for His Support.
Prominent Citizens Will Ask
for His Support.

BY a vote of 112 to 0, the house Of
representatives this morning passed
the Carver railroad bill. A few
amendments for the purpose of still
further Strengthening the bill. we're
made in committee of the whole.
Some of the members of the house,
on the final vote, stated that they be-
lieved the bill to be too drastic in it's
provisions, but owing to the fact that
the platform promised railroad legis-
lation. and that this is the only bill
proposed. they voted for it,
Speaker Stubbs voted for the bill.
He says:
This bill is a good one. It is a
regular ripper"
The shippers of the state are very
much pleased with the bill. A large
number of them were present this
morning when the bill was under dis
cussion.
A delegation of prominent Topeka
shippers including Thomas Page.
Otto Kuehne and Herbert Hackney
were at the state house this morning
for the purpose of interviewing Sen
ator J. E. Belts of Shawnee county.
Belts is wavering in his support of
the bill, it seems, and the committee
was absent, however, and the com
mittee could not get at him. They
will try again this afternoon.
After the bill had been favorably
reported by the committee of the
and passed.
On motion of w. Y. Morgan the
amended bill printed for the use of
the members.
Robert Stone. of Shawnee. was called
to the chair. and presided during the
session of the committee.
The bill was taken up section by sec
ton, and numerous amendment were
proposed.
Section 1 of the bill provides that the
railroad board shall be elected as are
other state officers, and that in case of
vacancy the governor shall have the
right to fill the vacancy. At present,
the executive council has the right to
fill vacancies. This section was not
amended.
Section provides that no member Of
the board shall be pecuniarily interest
ed in any railroad and that each mem
ber shall give $4,000 bond On sugges-
ti0n of Mr. H. ckncy, this section in re-
lation to qualifications was strengthen
ed. by the addition of these words. .sOr
otherwise obligated in any way to any
railroad company or other common
carrier
Section prohibits a commissioners
from accepting any passes or other gift.
Mr.. Hackney wanted to make such ac-
ceptance n felony, but the house voted
to leave it misdemeanor, as provided
in the bill
Section is one of the sections which
has a ''stinger'' for the railroad COM
panies. This section says:
Sec. 4. The power and authority is
hereby vested in the board of railroad
commissioners. and it is hereby made
its duty, to supervise all railroad
fcr17t
tariffs and classiflcations, and all rules
and regulations governing car service
the transfer and switching of cars from
one railroad to another at junction
points, or where entering the same city
or town. all charges made therefor, as
well as the rules and regulations adopt
ed by any railroad company for the op-
Grafton of its road in the running of
trains. It shall be the duty OF said
board. from time to time, to alter,
change, amend or abolish any schedule
classification, rate, rule or regulation
established by the railroad company or
companies, which the board. either upon
complaint as hereinafter provided or
upon its own motion may find to be
unreasonable, unjust, or discriminative:
and such amended. altered or new
schedule. classification, or rate. rule or
regulation shall be put into effect by
such railroad company or compaDies
within not less than thirty days after
receiving written notice of the order of
the DOard.
J. w. Creech, chairman of the ways
and means committee. thought that
the commissioners should not en-
deavor to interfere with the rules and
regulations adopted by a railroad COM
pany for the operation of trains.
There are not three men in the
state, outside of railroad men. who
can make a schedule for the operation
of trains.' said Mr.. Creech.
F. D. West of Edwards disagreed
with Mr.. Creech. when the people
of a county have voted bonds for
railroad they are entitled to good
train service. and the board should
have the right to see to it that the
trains are properly operated he said.
Mr- Creech's proposed change was
not adopted.
Section gives the board the right
to settle any disputes between rail-
roads about the division of rates
Section s, in relation to hearings
before the board. was amended by
making it the duty OF the attorney
general to attend to all litigation for
the board. and act as their advisor in
all matters.
Section gives the board the right
to investigate interstate tariffs and re-
port Determinations to the interstate
commerce commission
Section requires railroads to file
all their tariffs with the board
Sections 3 and 10 relate to the