The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-08
IN THE SENATE.
House Refused to Concur in Railroad
Bill Amendments.

The senate amended the house rail-
road bill to provide for $4,000 rate
and traffic expert, and also to provide
that the board itself, and not the gov
ernor shall select its attorney. This ac-
ton was taken Thursday night, and the
bill at once messaged to the mouse,
which voted to nonconcur in the senate
amendments. A conference committee
is now at work on the bill.
The house bill was discussed Thurs
day afternoon and evening in the SEN
ate. The bill was drawn for the house
committee on railroads by S. 5. Ash
baugh and A. E. Helm of Wichita.
Senator Waggener and Senator Getty
wanted to change the present law to
make the attorney for the board ap-
pointed by the board instead of by the
governor. This was opposed by Sena-
tor Stewart Senator Brewer and 9TH
ers The opponents of the amendment
conte nded That the attorney IS really
an attorney for the people and not OF
the board and should not be appointed
by the board.
You all know why the present attor-
ney of the railroad board didn't get
along with the present board said
Senator Stewart, referring to Carr Tay-
1or. 49,
Because he stood by the shippers OF
The state, that's why" said Stewart
BY a majority of one vote it was de-
cided that the governor should con-
tinue to appoint the attorney of the
board.
The next question raised was wheth-
er or not the board should be allowed
a $4,000 a year rate expert. This was
presented by Senator Waggener as an
amendment to the bill. The senate
railroad bill differed from the house
bill in that it provided for the $1O,-
600 rate expert, while the house bill
leaves it to the board to employ such
expert accountants, rate clerks and
other special assistants as may be nee
essary. Senator Waggener said;
"a great portion of the traffic of
Kansas is Interstate. Get traffic ex-
pert who can go before the interstate
commerce commission and present the
needs of the state. The railroads don't
want controversies If the state has
3uSt as competent and just as smart a
traffic man as the railroads you will
get better results with less trouble.
don't want the state to employ a 81
500 man, because it would be throwing
money away.
Senator Noftzger was opposed to the
$4,000 expert on the ground that it
would be dividing responsibility. He
wanted the board to do the best it
could and take the responsibility. SEN
ator Porter believed the state should
not by the year Senator Dolley said:
''The railroad board doesn't know any
more about freight tariff sheets than
1t does about running a battleship.
GIVE Jnem a man TO n6Ip Inem VINO
knows the business"
within ten years." said Senator F.
Dumont Smith, I'VE will have govern
ment ownership of railroads. 1t is
coming. just as sure as you live. We
are constantly taking more and more
control of the railroads. and before
long there will be nothing left for the
government to do except to take pos
session of the property. I believe We
should let the board select its own ex-
perts, pay them what they please, and
let them take the esponsibility.'
Senator Getty said: THE railroad
board is actually protesting against
this $4,000 rate expert. They don't
want him. I confess 1 can't see the
logic of their position. Our own judg-
ment tells US this is a good thing. Yet
If we take this action. and the board
fails in its work, it will hold us re-
sponsible. Against my Judgment. I
am in favor of letting that board rur
its own business
The amendment for a $4,000 a
year traffic man was adopted by a vote
of % to 3. When the senate reached
the latter part of the bill it reversed
itself on the proposition of having the
appointment of attorney made by the
governor. The bill was amended to
allow the board to appoint its own at
forney. In its amended form the bill
was pa ssed by the senate. The house
refused to concur in the senate amend