The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-14
IN The HOUSE.
Maximum Freight Bill Special Order
for Friday Morning.

w. Y. Morgan's maximum freight rate
| bill has been made a special order OF
business in the house of representatives
on FRIDAY morning at 10 O'CLOCK: Inc
reduction on all grains and flour, bran
and other grain products.
| 1t is believed that the house will pass
the Morgan bill without much OF a nght:
by the grain shippers and millers OF
the state without division 1t is gem
orally conceded that the present grain
rates IN the state are very much too
high.
The house on Wednesday afternoon
passed the bill creating the commission
form OF government in cities OF the
first class by a vote of II to 4.
The only fight (which developed dur
ing the whole course of consideration
fered by Davidson of Sedgwick to the
section concerning the right of cities TO
order reductions in rates on gas, water,
electric light, telephones, and other pub
original form that cities have the right
to reduce rates at any time, but not to
such an extent that companies can not
make at least 10 per cent on their act
ual investment. The bill then went on
to provide that actual investment
should not be held to include '.watered"
stock, value of franchise, ETC., ETC., by
which meant corporations could not ar
range things SO that all their earnings
over 10 per cent would be absorbed and
thus forever prevent any reductions In
rates.
Davidson moved to cut out the pro-
vision prohibiting the watering of stock
1t was not good amendment from the
standpoint of the cities, but the corpor-
ations wanted it badly, and Davidson
urged that it would drive out capital
from investment in Kansas if it should
stay in the bill. i
Bird of Shawnee commended that the
ADOPTION
vent any city adopting the commission
form of government from ever recefv-
ton.
Davidson held that without the
amendment the, bill would work
hardship on the growing towns in
the investment of capital. He was sup
ported by Helmick of Neosho and
Holdren of Montgomery. The amend
ment carried by decisive vote and
the Objectionable feature was stricken
out.
w. A S. Bird of Shawnee county in
troduced bill Wednesday afternoon
intended to knock out the theater trust
in Kansas. The bill was drawn in
Texas and is an exact copy of the Tex
as law on this question. The bill pro-
hibits any theateri manager from refus-
ing the use of his house to any respecta-
BILE company which may apply for dates
when there are no other shows billed
LOT the oates dpplleQ LOT. lne-
alters will not permit Independent COM
panies to appear in the controlled
houses, and this bill is intended to
eliminate this.
The Saunders BILL requiring railroads |
to allow passengers more than Is years
old to ride on freight trains, was passed |
by the house yesterday. The bill as 1t |
now stands takes all liability for in |
juries from the railroad companies.
There was fight in the house yester-
day afternoon over the life insurance |
bill introduced by Wilson of Marshall !
county which, provides that: sa
whenever the appHcatfon for GER |
tificate of life insurance in any frater-
nal beneficiary society. or association
contains a warranty of the truth of the |
answers therein contained, no misrepre |
sentation or untrue statement in such
application, made IN good faith by the |
applicant shall effect a forfeiture or |
be a ground of defense In any suit |
brought upon any such certificate of /
insurance issued upon the faith of such |
application unless such misrepresenta- |
ton or untrue statement relates to some /
matter material to the risk"
The bill was adversely reported by the !
on insurance but was order |
ed printed. The fight yesterday after |
stitute the minority for the majority |
report. The minority report which rec
commended that the bill be passed was
The debate continued for I
nearly two hours, the friends of frater-
nal insurance societies making a hard |
fight against the bill on the ground |
that it would destroy many of their