The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-22
INTO THE LIGHT.
Senate COMMITTEES on Railroads
Begins Its Work.
Fixes Time for Hearing on I'm
portant Measures.
THE ANTI PASS BILLS.
They Will Be Considered on
Monday Evening.
Railroad Board Asked to Report
on Cost of Transportation.
THE ANTI PASS BILLS.


variety of phases it has assumed from
the numbers of bills which have been
Introduced on the subject-wiH be
handled With dispatch, and fairness as
well. so far as the senate committee on
railroads is concerned. if the action of
this committee last night and the
plans Il made for the future, can be
taken as criterion of what the COM
mittee intends to do. -1-s
This committee. of which Senator
George Tucker is chairman. and which
was the only senate committee to be
reorganized to any great extent in
h. that body for this session, held its first
meeting last night. and not only ac-
compiished considerable real work.
but also mapped out a plan of cam
Z paign on railroad legislation which
= will at least keep 1t abreast of the
2 measures before the legislature.
1t was decided by the committee
for that matter who had a railroad
hill pending in the legislature. should
have an opportunity to be heard on
his measure and that also the inter-
ests which might be opposed to the
measure, as we'll as those interests
which might be for it, should also
have a chance to have their say. This
decision was reached on a motion of
Senator Martin, of Bourbon, which
was carried unanimously by the mem
bers of the committee present.
In line with this motion it was de-
cided that the committee would give a
public hearing in the senate chamber
on the two anti-pass bills which have
been introduced in the senate, and
also on the Brewer two cent fare bill
on Monday night of next week.
Decision was also reached to hold
hearings on Wednesday night of this
week on the Noftzger bill providing
that the Kansas railroads shall estab
lish terminal facilities in Kansas City
on he h ffT1ey
railroads from entering into special
contracts for special rates either
freight or passenger; on the Smith bill
amending the present railroad law, as
the senator from Edwards claims. SO
that the board of railroad commission
ers shall be stripped of their judicial
power but still have the legislative
power tn fix rates; and also on the
Smith bill which proposes to make
railroad company liable for double the
value of any coal or other material that
1t may see fit to confiscate while in tram
sit.
When the resolution of Senator Por-
ter of Montgomery, directing - the
board of railroad commissioners to in.
VeStiSate and. report to the legislature
on the cost of passenger transportation
so that a two cent fare proposition could
be considered intelHgently, came up be-
fore the committee there was an hours
discussion on it. And al the beginning
report the resolution to the senate
with the recommendation that it not be
passed This motion was afterwards
reconsidered and the committee decided
to report it favorably with an amend
ment that the railroad commissioners
make their report on the proposition by
January %.
After considerable discussion the
committee decided to report favorably
the bills introduced by Senator Stewart
0if1f will zfa cr-1 of
railroad commissioners to intervene in
any proceeding that may be underta-
ken by the interstate commerce COM
mission regarding the freight rates in
Kansas, and also permit the board to
file a complaint with the interstate
commerce commission whenever in it's
opinion the shippers Of Kansas are get
ting the worst of it on through rates.
This latter bill provides that the ex-
pense of the prosecution of such a COM
plant shall be borne by the state
The committee decided also to report
favorably the bill of Senator Martin, of
Bourbon, changing the forms of pro-
cedure in suits that may be brought
against railroad companies in negli-
gence cases. One feature of this bill is
that the defendant company need not
be served with a notice of the suit after
the suit has been regularly filed in
court.
sistance in the handling of the Kansas
school land business, a bill has been
I presented to the house by C. A. Stan
nard of Lyon county, providing for
{ the appointment of another assistant
state auditor. The duties of this as
sistant auditor are to revise the school
land records, and once each year pre-
pare a printed list of all unsold school
lands. The position will pay $1,000 a
year, with $500 for travelling expenses.
S. B. Haskins Of johnson county in
troduced a new guarantee bill in the
house yesterday. 1t provides that the
banks shall deposit 2 per cent of the
average daily deposits during the pre-
Vfous six months in any bank with the
state treasurer to insure the deposits
in all state banks. The bill in its
other provisions is similar to the bill
introduced by Senator Quincy and
Representative Kirkland.
The bill introduced by J. A. Foley of
Rice county provides that no railway
corporation shall introduce into a
court as evidence any stocks, bonds or
other. securities issued after the act
takes effect
Sheffield ingalls, of Atchison county
Q introduced the fourth bill to prohibit
the sales of merchandise in bulk in
fraud of creditors. Three bills were
introduced and thrown out by the
3, judiciary committee, all drawn on the
same lines as the Ingalls, bill.
senate Bills Introduced.
Ne ia. By Senator Noftzger--An act
making appropriations for the forestry
stations at Ogallah and Dodge City
No. us BY Senator NoftZger-An act
relating to telephone toll lines.
= No. 176. By Senator Smith-An act to
vacate certain land in Kinsley.
No. III Ry Senator SEnith-An act