The Globe-republican., 1909-10-07
THE KANSAS ROAD LAW VALID
Counties Can Go On With Rock
Highway Work Says Attorney ~
General jackson.

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Topeka. Kansas rock road bill
passed by the legislature last winter
is constitutional. according to the at
torney general. In addition to this as
sertion, the attorney general helped
the rock roads advocates of Johnson
county out of hole and showed the
way by which work could go ahead
on the Olathe-Kansas City road, which
has already been authorized.
The county commissioners of John
son county, Senator George H. Hodges
and others interested in the road had
long conference with the attorney
general. The commissioners wanted
to know about the constitutionality OF
the law. The attorney general said
that he had examined it carefully be-
fore and since its enactment and he
had failed to find anything in 1t that
could possibly invalidate the measure.
The county commissioners adver.
tised for bids for the road once and
there were no bidders because the
commissioners believed that no bonds
could be issued and no payments
made to the contractors until the en-
tire road was finished. The attorney
general told the commissioners to ad.
vertise for bids, and to allow the con-
tractors the option of contracting for
the entire road, or for one or two or
three miles, or as much as any con.
tractor could undertake. Then the
engineer could determine how much
each mile OF the road cost and the
apportionment Of the cost to the
property owners could be made up,
the tax spread on the books, and the
taxpayers could pay the costs. II with.
in specified time the property own.
ers. did not pay the costs, then bonds
could be issued.
The work is to be done in exactly
the same manner as streets are paved
in the cities of Kansas. The commits
sioner appeared satisfied with the
answer to all the different PROPOSE
tons they brought up and announced
that they would advertise at once for
new bids for the work.
The indications are that there is 60
ing to be battle royal when the
creamery rate case comes up for
hearing. Over 80 of the smaller cream.
cry companies of the state have Joined
issues and employed A. E. Helm, the
Wichita rate attorney, to represent
them. This alliance will back up the
state board of railroad commissioners
against the Continental Creamery com.
pany, and even though the case goes
against the board Of railroad commits
sioners will be prepared to carry the
case through all of the courts.
Judge A. w. Dana has granted an
Injunction against the Topeka South
western Construction company re.
straining them from selling, trans
ferring, incumbering or otherwise dis.
posing of bonds issued for the con.
struction of the Topeka Southwestern
railway projected more than two years
ago. The order was granted upon the
petition of the Topeka Southwestern
Railway company, and is to continue
in force until a suit, filed by the latter
against the former, is decided in court.
o
John S. Dawson, attorney for the
state board of Railroad commission
ers, is bewailing the fact that there
Is no provision made in the law for an
appeal from an order Of the state
board of railroad commissioners, ex.
cept for a railroad company or other
common carrier The board has turn
ed down Dawson's motion for a re-
hearing In the case brought by the
people of Mcfarland against the Rock
Island Railway company.
O.
The Women's Christian Temperance
union has lodged complaint with the
state railroad commissioners about
unsanitary waiting rooms in depots.
The board of railroad commissioners
sent notices to all of the railroad com.
panies to clean up the waiting rooms
and to keep them in a sanitary condi.
ton. In letter to the officers of the
W. G. T. U; the board asks that
specific complaint of unsanitary wait
ing rooms be made at once.
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Plans have been adopted by the
building committee of the Y. M. c. A.
for the erection of new structure, to
be located at the corner Of Seventh
and Van Buren, streets. The cost Of
construction of the new building, &C
cording to the architects plans. will be
100000.
The Rev. ]. P. White, pastor Of the
Second United Presbyterian church,
has delivered his farewell sermon. He
will go to Kansas City to organize q
church In the southeastern part OF
the city. The congregation here has
not chosen his successor.
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Texas fever has been stamped out
Of the nine herds which became In.
fected from the stock yards at Strong
City, according to J. H. Mercer, state
live stock sanitary commissioner.
The attorney general, on behalf Of
the state. Is preparing to bring an.