The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-28
BIG SHOW WEEK.
important Epoch in the Kansas
Legislature.
Anti Pass and Two Cent Fare
Measures Up.
OPENS ON WEDNESDAY.
VIII BE Preliminary Skirmish
Before That.
Policy Bill Will Have a Favor
able Report.
OPENS ON WEDNESDAY.

X
hight over the anti-pass and two-ceni
fare bills. both of which are to come
before the joint session of the house
and senate railroad committees this
evening in the senate chamber.
This opening skirmish will be fol-
lowed on Wednesday at O'Clock by
the big round up il the house on the
anti-pass bill. This matter is made a
special order for ? O'Clock Wednesday
afternoon, and the contest promises
to be a hot one. The majority of the
house committee is in favor of what is
called the Policy BILL" which is really
a bill which means nothing, and will
not satisfy the people of Kansas who
want a real anri-Dass law 1t is be-
lieyed that the friends of the Stone
anti-paSs bill can defeat the Policy
bill, but they may be obliged to sub
mis- to some amendments of the Stone
Dill. which is very stringent.
The senate committee on railroads
may follow the lead of the house COM
1nittee and report a bill which means
as little as possible. The senate has
no bill corresponding to the Stone bill
IN severity. It has the Waggener bill,
which requires railroads to give passes
to public officers. and the Robertson
bill, which prohibits passes for all ex-
cept sheriffs and constables.
1t is not known how the Democrats
Will line up on the anti-pass bill. but
1t is supposed that they will be gen
orally In favor of a strict law prohibit
ing passes. The following letter on
me subject from a. S. Wilson of Ga
lena, the law partner Of William F.
Sapp, will be of interest to the mem
bers of the legislature who are think
Ing OF fighting the anti-pass law:
Editor State Journal notice the
mouse committee is divided on the mat
ter Of pass legislatio and has made two
reports. This is not as it should be for
there is no division in sentiment among
the people of this state on the subject
They are all opposed to the pass and
IN favor of stringent anti-pass Iegisla-
ton, and our senator's and representa-
tiVes know this, that is, they did know
It when they started to Topeka If
they would take a walk out into the
country few miles from Topeka, away
from the Copeland county and breathe
some OF the fresh country air for a half
hour or so, which they are accustomed
to breathe at home. they would proba-
bly, recall the fact that they knew when
they left home what the people though.
about this matter.
have noticed that often. men who
have pretty good sense at home appear
to change when they go to legislature
and get to Topeka. and become to a GER |
tain extent. non compos
nave been there myself. There has |
neen a heap of talk about who was the |
youngest member of the legislature, |
the youngest district judge, etc Now |
claim to hold the record
40
from Washington county, at the age of /
2. and again in 1871 at the age of % |
and was appointed judge of the Twelfth |
district before I was "a and held that |
position for about II years
I thought when 1 went to the leg
lsiature was some punkins' YOU |
bet; and when the railroad LAWYERS |
and insurance lawyers came around /
and solicited me to support their
measures and to give them the aid of
my mature judgment and experience.
1 thought what a great man I am any
way 1 became very much stuck on
myself and thought I knew what nv
constituents wanted a great deal bet
ter than they did themselves They
might know about farming and run
ming stores. but they were not states
men like me.
Il have changed my mind some
about these matters during the years
which have elapsed since that period.
and some OF our present senators and
representatives will probably do the
same thing. that is, the ones who have
the capacity to think and learn.
THE young members are not the
only ones who make these mistakes
when they go to Topeka. have
known older men when they became
members of the legislature to be just
as big fools as the young ones In
fact they are probably worse because
there is less probability that they will
learn.
Il am not surprised very much
therefore. that there is a division as
to the pass matter, having seen such
things before
All there is to it. the people want
a stringent antipass law. Now why
not pass such a law and be done?
What is the use of a division of opin-
ion?
pie of the United States wanted
Panama canal. but the transcontinent-
al railroads always managed to defeat
the measure, until finally President
- -.T-
both feet and told them the people
wanted the Panama canal and they
had better give il to them or there
would be a row, and on looking around
the senators and mem bers of congress
found that Roosevelt was backed up
by about so.O00.O00 people and they
came to time.
''This pass business has been talked
about for years and everybody says it
Is an evil but no law is enacted
"A. S WILSON"
Got the Four Additional Janitors.
In spite of the Efforts of Steve Bran
den, of Butler county. to stop the at
tempted padding of the house pay roll
by the addition of four Janitors. the
house on Saturday afternoon, just be-
fore adjournment. with only about 40
oIution increasing the pay roll by the
addition of ]. NJ. Montgomery. Frank
West, Gus Hagan and John Davis
To make the action still more con-
snicuous. the resolution provided that
the pay of these four employees should
be dated back three weeks to the be-
of the session. This means that
each one of the three will get $63 as n
Donation
the committee on house employees to
vent over the heads of this committee.
and elected the men 1t was a very
much cut and dried affair
When the resolution was first pre-
house refused adODt I'll