The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-04
POLITICAL GOSSIP
Senator Elect Caldwell Hedging
on Benson Support.
The Curtis People Take Charge
Of Him.
ROCK ISLAND BALKS.
Refuses to Furnish Political
Transportation This Year.
Others Send Out Passes to All
But Democrats.

| state senator from the Cloud-RepuDllt
district. arrived in Topeka Thursday
afternoon, and was at once taken in
tow by the Curtis followers. They seem
ed to regard Caldwell as their meat
| Senator Caldwell himself, however, re-
| fused to say what he would do on the
senatorial proposition.
1T has been reported that you would
| vote for Benson" was remarked to
| him.
THAT story" replied Senator Cald-
we'll, had its origin with an occurrence
at our convention. when somebody
sought to put me on record. They sent
/ a young man to me to ask me how l
stood on the senatorial proposition. I
said: Governor Hoch has appointed a
very excellent man 70 that office, and ]
! don't know how I would improve on
| the appointment That is all 1 have
said on the subject and 1 don't believe
any body knows how 1 Will vote"
| The Curtis committee on reception
found a room for Senator Caldwell, and
] worked overtime trying to do nice things
for him.
] 1t is understood by the politicians
| that the Rock Island has cut out the
political transportation for this year. A
state officer sent a request to the Rock
| Island attorneys office yesterday for a
pass. and was politely informed that
nothing could be done for him. The
Santa Fe and Union Pacific. however.
are issuing the ANIMALS as usual. 1t Is
reported, however, that no ANIMALS are
being sent to the Democratic represen-
tatives and senators.
Some poetical genius has sent the fol-
lowing stanza to the State Journal:
Everybody walks but father,
He rides around all day,
Politician for the railroads
And he don't have to pay.
Newspaper men are walking,
Shippers get their pill,
Everybody's soaked by the railroads
Since Hepburn passed his bill"
A well known state officer, who has
been friendly to the railroads and fight
ing the primary election law, said to-
day:
'Tm getting to the place where
don't care much how radical this legis-
lature is. 1t really would do me good
to see them pass that primary election
law. I don't believe it is practical, but
1 would like to have them take the full
swing of the pendulum, and see how
they like it. Let them enact all their
railroad laws and corporation laws and
let them beat Curtis and Campbell. I
am in favor of giving the Square Dea-
lers their way, and Sc how they come
out
Governor Hoch's message has been
completed, and is now in the hands of
the printer. 1t Will be distributed by
the Associated Press in manuscript
message of the president of the United
States. The message is said to be
very long one. It will be delivered to
the legislature Tuesday.
The anti-pass bill which has been
prepared by the Square Dealers makes
a good many exceptions to the rule and
does not prevent the giving of excur-
sion rates and special rates. Under that
section of the law it seems that it will
be possible for the railroads to expend
a special rate" to anybody whom they
desire to favor, and the rate can be just
as special" as the railroad desires. The
text of the law as it is now proposed is
as follows:
De it enacted by the legislature OF
the state of Kansas:
Section 1. After the first day OF !
February 1907, it shall be unlawful for |
any railroad company to issue, or give |
any free pass, ticket. or transportation |
in any form, to passengers. for use |
upon its lines within this state, except |
to its employees and their families; and |
after said date. it shall be unlawful for |
any person, other than such employees |
and their families, to solicit, accept or |
use any such free pass, ticket, or trans
portation.
Sec. 2 Any officer. agent, or en-
ploye of any railroad company, doing |
business within this state, who issues,
gives, or delivers any free pass, ticket,
or transportation to any person not au
this act shall be deemed guilty of a
and punished by a fine of
not less than one hundred dollars, or by |
Imprisonment in the county jail. not
less than thirty days, or by both such
fine and Imprisonment; and any person,
not authorized by this act to aotept and
use such pass ticket or transportation,
who solicits, for himself or others, or
accepts or uses the same, shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and !
shall be punished as hereinbefore pro- |
vided.
sec g. The word employee as used
in this act shall be construed to in
clude all persons who devote their prin-
cipal time, skill and energy to the SER
vice of the railroad company, by which
they are employed. and who receive a
stated and remunerative salary there
for, and to exclude local attorneys,
physicians and surgeons, immigration
agents. and all others whose service TO
the railroad company is OF Incl
dental nature. and who do not depend,
primarily. upon such employment TO:
a livelihood.
"Sec. 4. The word family as used
n this act, shall be construed to in
,lude the employe. his wife and minor
and to exclude all others.
"Sec. s. The terms of this act shall
lot be construed as prohibiting the ;
passes. tickets, or transportation for
he following privileged, or excepted ,
,lasses: Railway mail service en-
oleyes, baggage and express agents,
Jews agents and employees on sleeping
,ars, to be used only when in the per- y
ormance of their respective duties; /
persons injured in wrecks. and doc {
ors. nurses. and necessary attendants; i
;aretakers of stock, poultry or fruit ]
o be used exclusively in accompany S