The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-17
anti PASS LAW.
Bale Waggener, Railroad At
tOrney, Introduces One.
Permits the State officers to
Ride Free.
WOULDN'T RUSH 1T.
Senate Refuses to Declare an
Emergency.
Stock Yards Investigation Also
Receives Set Back.

permit sta tie officers to ride free on
the railroads of the state was introduce
ed in the senate this morning by Sena-
tor Bale waggener of Atckison. 1t
was easily the feature of the morning
session. When Senator Waggener is
not devoting his attention to the leg
islative affairs of the state, he acts in
the, capacity an attorney for the
Missouri Pacific railway, together with
his other many legal activities so it is
safe to assume that the anti-pass
measure has the approval of the rail-
roads of the state, or at least of the
Missouri Pacific.
This bill proposes to make it unlaw-
full for railroad to issue passes to any
shippers of freight except those who
actually accompany live stock ship
ments.
1t makes it unlawful for railroads to
issue passes to delegates to any state,
county. or congressional district politi-
cal conventions.
But then it provides that the rail-
roads on certificate of the secretary
of state shall issue passes to all state
officers to the justices of the supreme
court, to judges of the district court,
to sheriffs and county attorneys and
TO members of the senate and house of
representatives of the state legislature.
1t provides that mileage for state Off
GERS and members of the legislature
shall be cut off in lieu of the passes
that the railroads must issue to them
al the request of the secretary of state.
All of these passes issued to state Off
GERS and members of the legislature
must be countersigned by the secretary
of state.
A violation of the act is made a
misdemeanor not only for the agent of
the railroad issuing unlawful passes
but also for those travelling on them
which is punishable by a fine of not
less than 800 or more than $500. or
imprisonment in jail for not less than
six months or both a fine and i'm
prisonment
Senator Waggener introduced this bill
at noon and with a smile on his face
asked that the rules be suspended, an
emel gency declared and the bill placed
on second reading. Senator Fitzpa trick
objected and the bill took the usual
course Senator Waggener said that a
similar bill would be presented to the
house by Representative w. a. Kiff of
Atchison.
An hour and a half's time was taken
up in the senate this morning discuss
ing that old, old legislative story of the
control of the stock yards along the
Missouri-Kansas state line.
Senator Smith reported from the
judiciary committee a substitute reso-
luton providing for the appointment
of joint committee of members of
the house and senate to meet with a
committee of the house of the Missouri
legislature to make an investigation of
the stock yard situation in Kansas
the purpose of framing uniform legis-
iation concerning yardage charges and
variety of other things.
This resolution was reported from |
the committee by Senator Smith with |
out meeting of the committee having |
been held. He did this, he said, on !
the urgent request of the live stock !
committee of the house, which was
very urgent that the resolution be |
passed. The house committee of the !
Missouri legislature is to meet in Kan |
sas city tomorrow and Senator Smith |
stated that if the resolution was to !
have any effect it should be passed to- |
day and that was the reason he re-
ported the resolution without a COM |
mittee meeting. Senator Smith said |
he doubted the expediency of the !
measure because the committee of |
the Missouri legislature only repre- |
sented the house and the resolution at |
issue asked for the appointment of |
some Kan-as senators on the commit !
tee. Senator Smith, however moved /
that the resolution be adopted.
Senator Noftzger objected to the /
resolution being considered becase it /
had not been considered at meeting |
of the judiciary committee. He was a |
member of the committee and knew |
nothing about the resolution. Il think |
the resolution is defective in one par |
ticular," said Senator Noftzger. TT |
makes no provision to provide ex- |
penses for the committee. Perhaps |
the idea is that the committee shall |
be entertained by the stock yards peo- |
pie" Senator Noftzger moved that !
the resolutions be referred back to the |
judiciary committee.
Senator Getty said that he was also |
member of the judiciary committee |
and had never heard of the resolution !
He favored the proposition to send the
bill back to the committee.
Senators Miller and Young spoke in !
favor Of the resolution and said there i
was crying necessity for uniform leg |
islation for the control of stock yards I
situation on the state line.
Senators Fitzpatrick and Getty took |
strong stands against the proposition. |
Senator Getty said that 1t was ridicu-
lous to think that a committee coulG I
make a satisfactory investigation OF |
the stock yards condition.
Senator Waggener suggested that Il /
the legislation passed by Kansas had |
driven the stock yards into Missouri it |
might be a good thing to let the Mis- /
souri, legislature go it alone and per-
haps Missouri would enact legislation |
which would drive the stock yards bus |
mess back into Kansas.
Senator Tucker agreed with Senator /
Getty He was on the last stock yards
investigating committee apd said that |
he had found it impossible TO learn any
thing of value during the few days that
could be devoted to it
Senator Simons suggested that an
amendment be made to the motion to
&c Ter the bill hack by instructing the |
judiciary committee to report on the |
resolution at o'clock this afternoon.
Senator Noftzger accepted this
amendment and after he had discussed |
the proposition the motion to send the
bill back to the judiciary committee
was adopted.
Among the bills presented was one by |
Senator ]. H. Stewart of Sedgwick, au-
thorizing the board of education Of the |
city of Wichita to provide separate |
schools for colored and white children in /
the grammar grades The board of ed |
alton of Wichita some time ago sep |
arated the white children from the !