The Globe-republican., 1907-03-21
Aieutenant Governor Fitzgerald
Reviews the Things
Accomplished
BY THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE
Some Laws Which Will Be OF
Great Benefit to the
People Of Kansas.


returned home 10 Dodge Clt> yesterday
morning, from Topeka, where be has
been continually since the beginning Of
the legislature which recently adjourned.
The general up MON expressed BY the
people who have been IN attendance at
the past session IA that Mr.. Fitzgerald
, msde the best presiding cfii%r that has
ever been known in the Kansas SENATE.
BE went to Topeka with II good many
people feeling prejudice against him,
oD4.c cunt Of the claims 0f certain papers
that he would favor certain faolions.
THIS prejudice died speedy death soon
after the Legislature convened. Those
who had harbOred 1t found that Mr..
Fitzgerald presided In dighided, fair
and impartial, and an able manner They
found that personally, be favored every
thing Ia the way OF beneficial legislation
regardless OF where 1t came from, and he
concluded his services In the senate one
OF lhe strongest men with the people Of
Kansas.
Mr. Fitzgerald was asked this morning
for Il summary of the Legislation enacted
ip behalf Of the people by the recent
sessi"n
He said: IL regard the strengthening
OF The railroad law by increasing the
pOw.r Of the board of railroad r"mmis.
aiopers, 40 as 10 give the board u ques'
tiouab,e juriediclion over passenger, ~
well rs freight charges. az perhaps the
most important mt asure, especially when
considered as II should be, wih the law,
providing for the empio ment OF an ex-
pert and experienced traffic man to in
vest,g4te and compare rates; for va'ua'
tion OF the railroads by experts, for NJ
investigation Ut dlscriminatiODs, Cal
shortages aud other kluured evils. and
the service anu rates, buth freight and
passenger generally, interstate as we'll as
state. These two laws, working togeth' r,
honestly enforced, will reinuve the ran
cur and prejudlce against railroads. The
coalm,ssi0n Is provided with ample meaDt
anu facilities " eutUre these laws. II
has authority, ard money plenty now u
hre experts in rate making and In valua.
tiou, and also legal talent to look after
the Interests Vi the commonwealth, that
10, rs It should be
"My opinion Is that the law will never
be satisfactory enforced until the board
Will be made judicial, instead Of q po.
iitlcal tribunal. The ablsst Jun lists In the
stale should cit In these cases aud deter
niue the interests involved.
"Millions are at stake-nO ordinary
mind can grasp or comprehend the whole
question. Every defendant has right
20 have confidence 10 the ability, the To-
tegrlty, the wisdom and the impartiality
Of the court which tries him, or deter
mines the earning power Of his property
This being true, the commission properly
Constituted, not the Legislature, IL the
tribunal to make equitable and just rates.
Tue commission can take uD the woik Oi
adjusting the rates W here this Legislature
stopped, and WAS 80 instruc ed by resolu-
tlou and provided with ample means aud
facilities"
The ley islalure reduced the tariff ID
per cent On wheat, c1rn, rye, oats, barley
kAffi corn anc their products, aud milIel
(, aul alfalfa seed. IL is estimated thai
this will save the farmers of Kansas mJle
than mlliiOD dollars year.
\ Fouith--The terminal bill which re.
quires railroads operating in Kansas, to
maintain freight terminals at the state
line. This Is Tor the purpose OF making
grain and stock shipments to Missouri
river market, state instead Of interstate
business, and thus places the tariffs fol
this point under the jurisdiction Of this
commission. Heretofore all such con-
siguments were to Kansas City. No. II
will also help TO enforce the reciprocal
demurrage law.
Fifth-Requiring railroads to put on
sele mileage bucks Of 500 miles at 2 cents
per mile, good on road. Issuing saule fol
one year, and an interchangeable mileags
4 book Of 1000 N les good on any road in
fha stste at the rate Of 2 cents per mile
hlso, after deducting rebate.
| This milesge book measure has been
4 'riucized severely by the two cent fare
,dvocates, but II the Nebraska law should
% determined by the courts 70 be COnis-
atory the Kansas Legislature will b
| pmnended for Ito wisdom and states
aanel,ip. II the commonwealth Of Ne
raska wins the suit, under the authority
wen by this legislature, cal on shorl
ptice, put In the two cent rate. A small
aiority OF the senate believed that the