The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-27
A JOB THAT PAYS.
State Proposes to Have State
Traffic Manager.
Would Pay Him Salary of Ten
Thousand Dollars.
TO SECURE AN EXPERT
Figure That a Good Man Will
Come High.
Senate Approves Plan to Dodge
PrOhibitOry Law.
TO SECURE AN EXPERT

If the senate bill reported favor
ably today by the senate committee on
railroads is passed, there will be
created for the state a job paying
twice the salary received by the COVER
nor.
The bill provides for the appoint
ment for the state board of railroad
commissioners of traffic manager, or
rate expert. at a salary of $4,000 a
year. This is the biggest salary the
state has ever offered to any official,
though it is known that under the fee
and rdke-off system certain state Of
ficers have in past years received much
more than $4,000 per year.
For $4,000 a year, it is believed
that the state can hire from the rail-
road com panies one of the most ex-
pert freight men, who can as an en-
ploye of the state, give most valuable
service in steering the board of rail-
road commissioners in the right track.
The great weakness of the board of
railroad commissioners has always
been the lack of a practical, exper-
fenced and thoroughly posted traffic
and rate expert.
The bill which provides for the APP
pointment of $4,000 rate expert has
on railroads as a substitute for the
Stewart bill. In addition to giving the
board rate expert, it provides for a
complete revision of the present rail-
road law, fixing up the places which
are suspected of weakness, and en-
towering the board to proceed to ascer-
tain by the employment of expert
engineers and other assistants, the ac-
tual value of all railroad property in
the state The bill is very similar to
"a hi xx-h oh a
by the house committee on railroads
some days ago. The house committee
bill was prepared largely by A. E.
Helm and S. S. Ashbaugh, and the
been in consultation on the bill, and
have agreed upon similar provisions.
The senate railroad committee also
reported favorably on the Guyer re-
ciprocal demurrage bill. which has
been passed by the house. This bill
changes the present law so that it is
believed that it will be enforced.
The same committee reported IA
vorably the Carver bill. which requires
railroad companies to move stock
trains at an average rate of 5 miles
per hour, after they are started from
point of origin. This bill has been
passed by the house.
Senator vint stillings' bill providing
for the Iowa plan of lodging the pro-
hibitory amendment was taken up by
the senate in committee of the whole
Tuesday evening, and recommended
for passage. This bill is decidedly
unique in many particulars, and pro-
vides for a tax of $1,000 a year on ev-
cry retail liquor dealer in the state,
operating in a city of over 10, 900 pop
ulation. The city must, however de-
clare in favor of the plan at a city
election before it can be put into OPP
Grafton. One-third of the qualified
voters of the city must petition for the
election before it can be submitted.
Section of the bill goes on to say:
"All persons engaged in keeping
places where Intoxicating liquors are
sold or kept for sale in any such city,
who shall fail to comply with this act, |
and pay the tax assessed against them, |
shall be subject and liable to all the
penalties prescribed in chapter SEA of
the general statutes of 1905, known as |
the prohibitory liquor law. If any |
person be charged with the violation
Of any of the provisions of chapter SEA |
Of the general statutes of 1905. or if |