The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-23
w. r. Stubs Got Money From
Railroads Two Years Ago.
USED in THE CAMPAIGN
Helped Square Deal Forces Win
the Victory.
Brilliant Senator Fined Barrel of
Apples For Mixing Methapors.

yesterday when these matters which
had been sidetracked for primary leg
fslation came up for special consider
alton. In fact there was no progress
made on any OF the bills-maximum
freight rate, two cent fare and anJipass
measUres-except that good many
or the senators got and took the OPP
portunity to express their views on
only the maximum rate proposition.
The expression of their views consum-
ed time until after o'clock. and the
senators themselves becoming tired of
hearing each other talk decided to
postpone further consideration of the
measures until Monday afternoon at 2
O'Clock.
The sum total of their work during
the entire day spent in the considera-
lions of the railroad measures was the
decision reached to take up the con-
sideration of the substitute by the rail-
road committee for the Smith bill fix
ing maximum rates on wheat and corn
by reducing the present rates charged
by the roads by eighteen per cent.
When it was decided to take this
measure up in preference to the con-
sideration first of the Young bill for
maximum freight rates on the distance
tariff proposition and the bill which
has passed the house on this propo-
siticn and is identical in a way with
the Young bill, Senator Smith offered
an amendment to it that the reduction
of the rates proposed in it should APP
ply not only to wheat and corn but al
so to rye, oats. barley, millet and kat
mr. corn This amendment was adopt
cd after an amendment had been de-
feated which was offered by Senator
Hodges that blue grass and f1axseed
should enjoy the same rates.
1t should be stated here that there
are couple of other bills fathered by
the senate railroad committee provid-
ing for a horizontal cut on lime ce-
ment, stucco and a few other products
of the state and that these are yet
to be considered.
After Senator Smith succeeded in
amending the bill in the particular
that has been stated he offered anoth-
er amendment that the horizontal re-
duction in rates on the various kinds
of freight mentioned in the bill as
amended be fifteen per cent instead of
eighteen per cent. He declared that a
reduction of fifteen per cent would
not give the railroads a chance to at
tack the constitutionality of the meas
ure on the ground that 1t was of the
confiscatory order, while they might
have a chance to make such an attack
If the reduction of Is per cent was
made.
No decision was reached on this
amendment when the committee rose
and it will be the question for decision
when the bills are taken up again on
Monday afternoon.
The only real interesting feature of
the debate was the speech made by
Senator Bale Waggener. 1t was his
hrst effort as a speech maker to any
extent since the session has been in
existence. And he made a speech that
was decidedly warm in many particu-
lars and his remarks not only related
to the raflI DAD measures under consid-
things as well.
The gist of his argument on the
maximum freight tie, or freight re-
ductfon proposition was that no such
legislation should be adopted. He be
heved that the matter of fixing just
ana reaSona bic rates should be left in
the hands of the board of railroad COM
missioners. He said that the adoption
OF maximum freight rate law of any
sort would practically mean the taking
away of the real powers now vested in
the board of railroad commissioners on
the fixing of rates. This would be So
ne argued, because the railroad com
-missionerS could not fix lower rate
than the one made by the law
Mr. Waggener declared at the outset
because of his long connection with
railroad companies, thai anything he
might say would be looked upon with
all sorts of criticism He said that he
felt that he was independent in mis-
actions as a senator of the influence
OF any railroad company. Il have a
hundred fold more interest" he said,
lin the welfare of the people of Kan
sas tnaE L nave IN any railroad COM
pany."
During the course of his talk Sena-
Tor Waggener paid his respects to the
square Dealers naming w r.
Stubs, James A. Troutman and viii
nam Allen White as the head of the
clan.
When he reached the subject of 'w
r. Stubs, reformer" he said:
In this rabbit book 1 find this state
ment of his in which he saws: The
power and influence of the public SER
vice corporations and the professional
politician in politics. comes almost en-
tlrely from. the use of money of cor
porations in campaigns That was
Salu Dy the distinguished reformer who
now not only wants to control the des-
TIMES of the Republican party but of
the people of the state of Kansas; and
on this matter, I want to say to YOU
now and here, that 1 propose to uE-
mask hypocrisy by saying that hardly
mad those words fallen from the lips Of
the chairman of the Republican conn
mittee. VIXEN he asked and received
from certain railroad corporations mon
ey to run the campaign of 1904 and the
checks are now in the city of Topeka,
payable to his order. and with his en-
oorsement on their backs. And vet we
are being controlled by reformers hx
men who care no more for the people
* the state of Kansas then they do
Tor the idle wind. unless they can get
into office on the wave of excitement -
Senator Waggener insisted that in
the adoption of the maximum freight
rate proposition all actual power to
revise rates would be taken from the
hands of the railroad commissioners
ana tnat II would really mean the re-
pealing of the law giving the railroad
commissioners any power over fixing
rates.
Senator Getty made reply in which
he declared that he was not on deck
TO defend w. R. Stubs or the Square
dealers" He believed that Mr. Stubs
and his friends had exercised their
rights as American citizens in such
actions as they had seen fit to take on
any sort of legislation. He wanted to
know why the senator from Atchison
(Waggener) had not favored direct
primary when he knew that the rail-