The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-31
THRESHlNC IT OUT
Anti Pass Bill Is Still Before
the House.
Bitter Struggle Over Its Pro-
visions Continues.
STUBBS STIRS THINGS.
No Reason Why Members Should
Change cover Night"
Sheffield ingalls, Didn't Like
the Suggestion.
Sheriffs Are Trying to Defeat
the Measure.

Although the majority OIL Ine IIleIIOcIS
of the house of representatives showed
their mettle Wednesday afternoon In
the preliminary skirmish on anti-pass
legislation by practically deciding that
they were in favor of the Stone bill, the
most stringent of the anti-pass laws
that have been suggested to the legis-
lature, interests who desired to let down
few of the bars in the bill evidently
got busy, for an effort was made to
emasculate it when it came up for fur
ther consideration in the house TINS
morning. But the interests did not
have sufficient influence to change the
temper of the majority of the house on
the proposition and although some
amendments were made to the bill, and
more will be made for it was not finally
disposed of at the morning session,
none of the amendments made or to be
made will destroy the strength of the
measure and it will probably pass the
house in just as strong form as 1t was
in Wednesday afternoon.
1t was current talk around Represen-
tative hall this morning that a good
many sheriffs. those lords of their re-
spective domains. had hurried to To-
peka to day and were using what influ-
ence they could with the representatives
from their districts, and their influence
is in no way inconsiderable, to have the
bill amended so that sheriffs and con-
stables and a few others could ride on
passes, but their efforts did not meet
with any apparent success Only two
or three of these sheriffs ventured on
the floor of the house but a we'll in
formed man said that there were fully
30 of them in the vicinity of legislative
levels. Probably all of them hustled
here on passes.
good many of the members of the
house had the idea that after the dis
cussion of the anti-pass proposition
yesterday afternoon and the action ta-
ken by such a decisive vote in favor
of the Stone bill the question of pro-
crossing the bill from the committee of
the whole to a third reading would be
a mere routine affair. But those who
had entertained these halcyon views
were sadly mistaken. There was an
other and bitter fight on the measure
from the drop of the hat. and although
the salient features of the fight have
been settled there will be more to come.
AS soon as the house convened at ten
o'clock this morning and the roll had
been called a motion was made that
the rules be suspended and the house
resolve itself into a committee of the
whole for the further consideration of
this bill. The motion prevailed and
Mr.. HoIdren was appointed to preside
over the committee. Sections one and
two of the bill had been considered yes
terday afternoon when further consid-
Grafton of the measure had to be dis
chamber took an idea to go out. So
when the bill was taken up for consid-
Grafton this morning a discussion of
section three was in order.
This is looked upon by the friends of
the measure as one of the vital sections
of the bill 1t provides that the word
..employe" to whom passes may be is
sued shall be construed to include all
persons who devote their principal time,
skill and energy to the service of the
railroad company by which they are
employed and who receive stated and
remunerative salary therefor, and TO
exclude local attorneys. physicians and
surgeons. immigration agents, and all
others who do not depend, primarily,
upon such employment for a Hveli- |
hood"
When the clerk had read the section
Mr. Montee was on his feet in an in
stant with an amendment striking out
all of this clause after the word |
therefor" and inserting a clause max
ing it permissible for railroad COM |
panies to issue passes to contractors
and their employees who are actually
in work on the railroads. The
effect of this amendment, If it had
been adopted, would have been to per- |
init local attorneys. physicians and
surgeons and last but not least, immi- |
grant agents. to travel on passes. The
was seconded and then |
the fun began. A debate of two hours
followed There were many features
to this debate which really ought to
have had a comic opera setting. But
1t was interesting none the less.
Stubbs Starts Trouble.
Mr.. Morgan started the ball a roll
ing by stating briefly that if the
was adopted the entire |
work of yesterday on the measure
would be undone, and w Roscoe
Stubbs gave the rolling ball its first |
big kick by saying that he did not |
think that any one would be proud to |
change his position on the measure |
over night.
'sBy some misfortune, or something |
else said Mr. Stubbs, I'VE lost the |
electric light last night or we would |
have finished the consideration of this I
then. There is no reason |
vhy anyone should change his posi- |
ton of yesterday. And any amend |
ments suggesting changes in the bill |
ought to come from it's friends and not /
from its enemies"
This little speech raised the right |
eous indignation of a good many of I
the members and when they got a !
chance to say eight or ten thousand |
words they wished Mr.. Stubbs to un- |
that they were representing
the interests of the "peepul' of their I
respective communities and in doing /
SO had a perfect right to try and /
amend the bill to make it more effec- |
tive.
Sh effield Ingalls, seemed particularly
incensed at Mr.. Stubbs' few words. He |
insisted that any man who had an
to offer to the BILL re-