The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-27
Senate Passes the Coal Maxi
mum Freight Bill.
Kills One for Lime, Brick and
Cement.
SMITH LED THE FIGHT
KinsIey Senator Opposed Both
the Measures.
Senator's Getty and Porter EX-
change Compliments.

Two maximum freight rate bills wer
disposed of Tuesday afternoon by thu
senate in committee of the whole. On
was killed very dead; the other, aftel
several thrilling adventures escaped
with its life by the narrow margin o.
one vote.
1t was the coal rate bill which wa:
put through the committee. 1t provides
for an Is per cent reduction on coal
tariffs, and the motion of Fred Dumcnt
Smith to strike out the enacting clause
was defeated by a vote of IS to II. II
was then recommended for passage by
viva voce vote, but it is subject 10
amendment and debate, and it's troubles
are not yet over.
The maximum rate bill on brick, lime,
cement and stucco was threshed over
for a couple of hours, and then, after
the amount of the cut" had been
soIemnly reduced from is to Is per cent,
the motion of Senator Tucker to report
the bill favorably was lost by a vote of
g to Il. Then Senator Smiths motion
to strike out the enacting clause pre-
vailed by a viva vOce vote.
After the committee had risen and
made its report, Senator Tucker moved
that the senate disagree with that por-
ton OF the report killing the cement
and brick rate bill. This was for the
purpose of securing roll call and max
ing a record for future reference.
fuckers motion was of course defeated.
The vote was 20 to 16. The roll call fol-
lows:
For the motion: Brewer. DolIey. Getty,
Gilbert. Hodges, Hughes. Lower. Marion
Of Woodson. Miller, Quincy. Robertson,
Simons. Stannard, Stewart. Tucker.
Young-16.
Against the motion: Beeson, Baker,
Ruschow, Carver, Chapman, Conner.
Fitzpatrick. Fulton, Griffin, Hamme.
Harrison, Haskell, Hayden, Huffman,
Noftzger, Porter of Crawford, Porter
of Montgomery, Smith, Waggener, Will
kerson-S0.
Absent: Belts, Caldwell Stillings.
Tuesday afternoons session was pro-
life of oratory. Fred Dumont Smith
referred to it as natural gas''-and
then proceeded to add his contribu-
ton. However, there were some very
good speeches made, and the common
plug citizen who had climbed into the
elevated judgment seats at either side
of the hall was filled with admiration
for the men who could throw together
on short notice or no notice all such
eloquent and well developed phrases.
Nobody expects these speeches to
change votes. But they sound well.
Senator Waggener made one of the
best speeches of the day. With all his
customary eloquence, he said in part:
There are SO, 900 railway employees
in Kansas, representing probably 300,-
900 people. They are demanding ain
creased wages. Are they to be con-
sidered? If you cut down the re
ceipts of the companies Is or 20 or 5
per cent, there must be almost of
necessity a corresponding reduction
in wages.
There are thousands and thous- |
ands of bushels of corn and wheat rot |
ting because of lack of cars. How can
the railroads supply this demand if
their revenues are cut off?
''Will it benefit the people to para |
lyze by arbitrary legislation the bust |
ness of the railroads?''
"Win an IS per cent cut paralyze |
the business CT the companies?" in |
Quired Young of Mitchell
Il don't know" said Mr.. Waggener.
Then what are you talking about?"
said Young
Il say that you don't know and |
tn erefore we should be careful in leg
islsting about something we know |
nothing about Do the senators think
that by passing these reduction bills
separately they can make the railroads |
fight them separately? No, they will |
consider them as whole and claim /
that together they paralyZe the bust
ness of the companies. The great
trouble with the railroad rate situa-
ton is determinations. and l am in
favor of a law to prevent such dis
ordinations.
Senator Porter is a SISCSe hammer
orator. He hits hard. He landed on |
Senator Getty during the Tuesdays |
debate Senator Getty interrupted the |
Montgomery county senator's speech /
to ask question.
Did | understand you to say" said |
Getty. that We know nothing about |
this, and hence should do nothing?'
II don't remember what 1 said" re-
press another question
Now you watt said Porter, you |
can make a speech when 1 get done |
The senator from Wyandotte makes a |
talks more than anybody in this SEN
ate He talks so much that 1 have |
thought we might put up mark here
in the senate chamber for him to talk /
at He can talk just as we'll at d /
mark, or a post, as he can when there |
are people listening
II merely interrupted the senator |
from Montgomery to ask a courteous
You throw me off my feet said |
Porter and I have a long ways to |
fall The senator referred to his six |
feet and plus
Eyes, the senator will certainly have
a long ways to fall from his present
position said Getty.
Senator Porter accused the senate of
talking Populism. why don't you go
out and tear up the tracks and burn
the equipment of the railroad COM
panies?" shouted Porter.
After Senator Porter finished his
speech, Senator Getty got the floor and
made a few remarks He said:
The question l was trying to ask
the senator was this: If a burglary is
committed and the burglar escapes
should the legislature enact no laws for
his capture because they don't know
his name?"
When Getty sat down, Porter said:
II move that the senator be granted
the customary applause" To every