The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-01

TOPEKA, KANSAS, MARI
board, together with all other officers
and employees of said board; persons
injured in wrecks, and doctors, nurses
and necessary attendants in caring for
such injured persons, to be used only
in visiting employees and their families
or in accompanying employees to rail-
road hoSpitalSs caretakerS of stock,
poultry or fruit in carload lots to be
used exclusively in accompanying the
same TO destination or returning there
from; INDECENT, destitute or homeless
persons whose dependent condition is
certified to by mayor, commissioner of
the poor or the chairman of the board
of county mmissioners; and it shall
be unlawful for any person, other than
the above excepted persons to solicit
accept or use any such free pass,
ticket, or transportation
Senator Porter Offers Substitute.
Senator Porter then presented an act
relating to free passes. which is as
follows:
Section l. That railroads and other
common carriers doing business with
hibited from issuing passes or free
transportation to all state county,
Except sheriffs), municipal or judicial
officers of the state of Kansas, or to
their subordinates, or to candidates for
any of such offices; provided. however,
that for the purpose of enabling them
to properly attend to their official du-
ties, railroad companies are hereby re-
state of Kansas. TO the board of rail-
road commissioners, its secretary.
clerks, and attorney, and to the board
of railroad assessors and it's official
force, to the secretary of the state
board of agriculture.
Sec. 2. Railroad companies and 9TH
er common carriers doing business
within the state of Kansas are also
l1i
transportation to delegates to state,
congressional, judicial, county or 9TH
er political conventions, or to other
persons going to or returning from the
same. and are also prohibited from is
suing passes or free transportation to
enable voters to go or return from
their voting places.
Sec. 3. Any person to whom rail-
roads other common carriers are
prohibited from issuing passes or free
transportation, are hereby forbidden to
solicit, accept or use the passes or
free transportation covered by the
''Sec. 4. Any corporation or agent, or
officer thereof, or any person who vio-
lates the provisions of this act shall
be guilty of a nlisdemeanor, and fined
in a sum not exceeding 1000 or less
than $100.
''Sec. 5. This act shall take effect and
be in force from and after January 1,
1908. and it's publication in the statute
Senator Brewer of Dickinson OBJ
jected to the phrase land to members
of the legislature's which in the print
ed bill followed at the end of section
/. At the suggestion of Senator Fitz-
patrick, Senatort Porter struck out the
words objected to.
Made the Issue Clear Cut
Senator Fitzpatrick opened the de-
date on the bills He said in part:
tThese two bills present in clear
distinction the two kinds of antipass
bills which are talked of. We are now
able to decide on one or the other of
these bills. 1 believe. that the senate
has clearly indicated that it does. not
propose to pass aI5y bill which abso-
Iutely prohibits Tree passes. That
much can be considered as settled. We
will pass a bill which provides. for ex-
cepted classes. 1 believe the Porter
answers the purpose of an
antipaSs law better than the other. Tt
is the object to allow passes to be is
sued to those whose possession of
passes will be of benefit to the public.
1t is better to say who may not ride
free than to say who may ride free,
because there are so many cases of
people who deserve to have transpor-
tation issued to them.
Senator Porter said he would object
to the senate committee bill because
of the fact that it is too long and COM
plex. Senator Porter said he had de-
cided to support the Porter amend
ment. ct am opposed to striking out
of the Legislature. [ believe
that members should have free passes,
and that the railroads should be obli-
gated by law to carry members"
Tucker Opposes Amendment.
The Porter amendment did not
please Senator Tucker, chairman of
the railroad committee. 81 do not
believe that the proper way to satis-
fy the people of Kansas" said Senator
Tucker, sis to require the railroads to
issue transportation to certain indi- |
and prohibit the issuance to |
a few classes. 1 am convinced the |
people are more thoroughly aroused |
on this question than on any other |
question"
Senator Getty also attacked the
He said: 1.-The people |
want an antipass law in order that
may be eliminated. I |
believe my bill eliminates discrimina- |
ton better than this amendment of |
the senator from Crawford"
The vote was then taken on the !
Porter amendment and it was lost by |
a vote of IS to II. This showed that |
five senators did not vote.