The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-31

lTy grant them the peculiar right OF
eminent domain they thereby contract
and agree that they will not discrim-
mate between shippers, and will treat
all the public alike
mere is no one here today who will
contend that railroad has right to
discriminate in freight rates. There
Is no reason why there should be dis
elimination in passenger rates"
Mr. Policy: Il ask you if it is dis
elimination to give a free pass to some
ana charge cents to others?''
MI Stone: Il contend that is just
as much discrimination as if they
should maui my goods for Is cents a
nundred and haul yours Free
am not charging that a man who
accepts pass is corrupt, and I do not
say mat every man who accepts a pass
IS ln1luenced. But as this newspaper
saIu, me railroad pass is an insidious
influence The people feel that the
pass IS an unequal advantage in the
hands OF the railroad"
e MI. stone read copious extracts
Years ears a q iope ek newspaper of two
me tI declaring in favor of a strict
antipass law. Mr.. Stone added:
1hese extracts are from a paper
when IS now a recognized railroad
organ 1t. does not print anything
about free passes now The trenchant
pen or j. K. Hudson is silent on the
subject of free passes nor does Del
Aelzef say anything of this sort any
more And the management of that
paper was the same at that time that
it is now"
Mr.. Stone continued: There are
Tour or 1ve railway surgeons in the
mouse. Ihey want to retain heir
passes, while all the other members of
this house should do without They
collect pay for what they do for a rail-
ROAD company, am informed, at reg
ular rates"
DR.. Briefly of Cloud county, rail-
way surgeon, said:
IF you should come to my house
IN your buggy to take me out to at
tend a case of sickness in your family,
hauling me? ''
mo, SIR" said Mr. Stone, but my
Dill PROVIDES that railway may haul
surgeons to attend injured in an ac-
Briefly: if l should take you to my
house in my buggy, 1 would not ex-
pect to be required to haul you around
in my buggy free of charge for year
thereafter
This sharp retort was greeted with
CHI GERS.
The Railroad Attorneys.
Mr.. Stone then took up. the consid-
GRAFTON of the railroad attorneys.
There is no reason why railroad
attorney" said Mr.. Stone, should not
pay mis- fare when on railroad business,
and put the expense of that ticket into
his bill to the railroad company. But
what the gentleman from Cowley
county wants is to get a lot of free
transportation over and above the
value of his services. But what this
bill will do is to prevent a man doing
political services for a railroad and
pass off as railroad attorney. That's
the class of people that the citizens of
Kansas want to reach.
Now this Hepburn bill was simply
the best thing the president could drag
out OF an unwilling senate. In some
respects it is a good bill: in others it
is remarkably weak, and it is so
drawn that in some places you could
drive wagon through it,
EDright Opposes Stone Bill.
E. A. Enright of Kansas City. Kan,
then made a speech in behalf of the
Milligan bill. He said:
81 see that the primary election law
was sidetracked behind this anti-pass
bill. We know that our shippers are
of great Importance to the state and
yet the bill of interest to shippers IS
for this anti-pass law.
What the people most desire is an
primary, election law, and l
will stand shoulder to shoulder with
him in the fight for that bill. and will
in the great fight for better freight
rates. But L am opposed to sidetrack-
ing these great questions for the anti
pass law. When we have passed the
take up these minor matters. 1 hurl
it back to Mr.. Stubs. why don't you
put forward your primary election
law?"
II will say said Mr.. Stubs in re-
ply, that 1 have been trying to get
the primary law out of the committee
for two weeks, and only succeeded
night before last. and it is a special
order for tomorrow afternoon
Il want to say further" continued
7
radical antipass law until we have
settled these great questions
DR.. Briefly of Cloud county made a
humorous speech against the stone
bill. He said he wanted to keep his
pass as a railroad doctor.
J. D. Brown, a Democrat of Harper,
made a strong argument for the Stone
bill.
]. d. Bergman, from Clark, said:
1.-THE difference between the Stone bill
and the Milliyan bill is the difference
a good law and a bad law. If
we enact an anti-nass law we want a
If 1 have any objection to the Stone
bill it is that it doesn't go far enough.
1t is my idea that the employe of the
company is not entitled to free trans
portation unless he is on business of
the company.
ION the proposition that the Hep
burn bill is satisfactory 1 desire to
take most emphatic exception. 1t is a
weak measure. 1t was accepted simply
because it was better than no legisla-
ton at all.
IF you pass the amendment of the
gentleman from Cowley you pass a
and the people of Kansas
do not want that sort of a law
Spat Between Stone and Bird.
W. A. S. Bird of Shawnee, said: 81
represent district where half the peo
pie are railroad employees. There are
some of these who get as low as one
dollar a day. Would you deprive these
employees of a little transportation once
in a while?"
After a few words further Stone of
Shawnee interrupted with a question:
Are you opposed to a reduction in
freight rates? ?" he asked.