The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-09-21

ted with one of the state denartn1ents
IN discussing the proposition.
when Kansas was organized the
makers OF the constitution inserted a
paragraph that the commor 1aw ~
England should be the law in Kansas
except where it interfered with
usaSes- Onoer the common law the
common carrier was required 70 CAR
ry passengers and freight in safetv
with reasonable speed and at reas,
enable rate. Since the railroad COM
mission was created the people have
forgotten all of these comron Iau,
remedies for the trouble with the rail-
roads. If they desired they could keen
the railroads in the courts all the time
and secure adequate remedies and NOT
lose the time in securing them which
is now required for a hearing by the
board. There are. of course some
things which the commissioners have
been able to do without a suit. such
as securing some improvements in the
service and in perfecting the condi-
tfons of tracks and roadbed But ev-
cry order they issue must be fought
out in the courts afterwards
Mr.. Grattan Has His Say.
at matters not to me- was the
comment that G. F. Grattan, attorney
for the board of railroad commission
ers, had to make today when he was
asked what he thought of this propo
sition.
Personally. I do not care three
whoops whether the position 1 hold is
abolished. or not" continued Mr..
Grattan 81 made personal sacrifice
as far as income goes in taking the
position. If the legislature wants to
abolish it, it will be all right with me.
If the people. through their organ,
the legislature, want to abolish the
board of railroad commissioners, let
them go ahead and do 1t. Not word
of protest will come from me. l will
not make the slightest effort to stay
the move of a single legislator along
this line as far as 1 am concerned per-
sOnally.
But it is my idea that the abolish
ment of the board of railroad COM
missioners would be a step backward,
a retrogression. If the people, through
the legislature want to take this step,
let them go ahead and do it. It's up
to them. There'll be no kick coming
from me because 1 may lose a job.
did not seek it and am holding it at
pecuniary loss to myself. My law
practice at home is worth much more.
Nothing, would please me better
however, than to see a few indtvf-
duals in this state write their names
on a proposition to abolish the board
of railroad commissioners, unless
there was an insistent demand from
the people that the board be abolish
ed. I am afraid that this demand does
not exist If I was certain that it did,
1 would be working for it as hard as
anyone for I believe that the people
should have what they want in the
administration of the affairs of the
state AS to my own place, as l said,
they can go ahead and abolish 1t any
old time as far as I am personally
concerned"
Leland Favors Extra Session.
CIV Leland, who made public the
plans of himself, for the adjustment
of the board of railroad commission
ers, has been represented in certain
as being opposed to the
calling of a special session of the leg
islature. This is far from being the
case, according to Mr.. Leland.
"I called on Governor Hoch. last
week" he said today, "and advised
and urged him to call a special ses-
sion of the legislature, not only for the
passage of the two cent fare law but
also for the enactment of a primary
election law and much needed amend
ments to the tax law. At the last ses-
sion / voted for all the reform meas
ures and for all the Square Dealers
bills / believe that special session
would be of comparative small cost to
the state as compared with the good it
would do the people in the making of
needed amendments to some of the
existing laws and in passing other
laws which are needed"