The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-01
HAS EASY SAILING.
Stone Antipass Bill Finally Rec
ommended for Passage.
Only a Few Minor Amendments
Are Made.
STRINGENT MEASURE.
Provides for a Fine for Solicit
ing Transportation.
Railway Surgeons Let in at Last
Minute.
STRINGENT MEASURE.

After further considerable discussion
Thursday afternoon the members or
the house in the committee of the whole
made a number OF additional amend
ments to the Stone anti-pass bill and
then acted on the measure favorably.
When the committee of the whole rose
an effort was made to put the bill on
final passage Immediately. Mr.. Stone
moved to suspend the rules so that this
could be accomplished. Such a motion
requires a two-thirds vote to prevail
and the vote on it was 68 to So, or just
one short of two-thirds or the number
voting. The bill therefore took it's reg
ular course and ought to come up for
final passage some time today.
The bill as 1t stands is probably a
most stringent anti-pass measure. ANY
railroad agent or officer who issues a
pass is subject to a fine of 800 or 50
days Imprisonment or both, and any
one can be punished in the same man
ner. There are a few excepted persons
who may travel on passes. They are
designated in the bill as follows:
Railway mail service clerks, express
messengers, news agents while at work,
conductors and pOrterS of sleeping cars
while on duty, local physicians and sur
geOnS while going to or coming from a
professional call on an employe or his
family or accompanying an employe to
or from a hospital, persons injured in
wrecks and doctors aEQ nurses attend
ing them, caretakers of stock and fruits.
INDECENT, destitute or homeless persons
bearing proper certificates, passengers
escaping from an epidemic, pestilence
That is the full list about half an
many exceptions as appear in the Hep
burn law. Those who may receive spec
ial reduced rates are provided for in the
following section:
THE provisions of this act shall not be
construed as prohibiting excursion rates.
open to the public generally; reduced
fare to ministers of the gospel and those
giving their entire time to religious.
benevolent or Charitable works; or TO
the inmates of soldiers homes, state or
national, including those about to enter
and those returning home after their
discharge and members in good standing
of the Grand Army Of the Republic"
The amendment to put physicians and
surgeons in the excepted class and al
low them to accept passes when calling
on agents or employees or their families
or to accompany employees or their fami-
lies to or from hospitals was carried
by a vote of 66 to 81. The committee
amendments to the bill which put eX-
press messengers in the excepted class
and requiring that passes be given to
the members of the board of railroad
commissioners and employees when en-
gagged on state business were adopted
When the question of excursion and
reduced rates came UP w. A. S. Bird
of Shawnee county moved that an
amendment be adopted which provid-
ed all members in good standing OF
the G.. A. r. be allowed to accept re-
duced rates if such were offered to
them by the railroad companies. The
amendment was adopted. Cy Leland
stated that the purpose of this amend
ment was not to limit the old soldiers
in securing the reduced rates. but to
provide for some form by which the
standing of soldiers could be deter
mined as the commander of the posts
could certify to the standing of the
old soldier and that he had been hon
crably discharged from the service.
The com mmittee amendments to the
bill which included a definition OF
common carriers were adopted A
common carrier as coming under this
bill is defined as follows:
1.-THE term common carrier as used
in this act, shall include express COM
panies and sleeping car companies.
and companies operating railroads by
steam, electricity or other motive pow
act, shall include all bridges and fer
ries used or operated in connection
with any railroad, and also all the
road in use by any corporation oper-
atino a railroad, whether owned or
operated under a contract, agreement
or lease, and shall also include all
switches, spurs, tracks and terminal
facilities of every kind used or neces-
sarv in the transportation of the per-
sons designated herein.
A bill similar in terms to the stone
bill was acted on favorably by the sem
ate railroad committee last night.
There is no doubt about the bill pass
ing the house and the action of the
senate committee would seem to indt-
cate that such a measure Will pass
the senate.