Barbour County index., 1910-10-05
Senator Hodges.s Record

claims for support on the record OF |
the Democratic minority in the legis-
lature, and especially on the things
initiated by Senator Geo H. Hodges
the Democratic candidate for Cover
nor. AS a member of the state SEN i
ate. Senator Hodges introduced
| three-fourths of the square deal
measures on the statute books, ana
it requires almost solid lineup on
the part of the Democrats in the
legislature to enact them into laws
More Republicans voted against
than supported them, and yet the
Republican party is claiming sole
credit for them.
That our readers may know just
! what part Senator Hodges had in in
stituting these reforms we submit
the following resolution and bills
that were introduced by him:
| Resolution: Instructing our sena-
tors and requesting our congressman
to introduce and support a measure
in the congress of the United States,
putting lumber on the free list
Passed.
An act: Compelling railroad
companies to weigh their empty
coal cars within twenty-four hours
before loading and within twelve
hours after oading-Passed. Ex-
planation Railroads weigh their
empty cars once year always when
cars are dry. The weight is stencil
! ed on the car. Open cars accumulate
dirt, become water soaked and heavy
| in the winter months when most OF
the domestic coal is used. Coal is
loaded in cars often times with
foot of sleet and ice in the car. The
gross weight of the coal and ice is
! taken and the stenciled or dry
weight of ice or sleet in the car
which averages per cent of the
weight of the coal. Coal companies
base their invoices on the railroad
) weights and thus the consumer pays
the coal companies for coal that was
never loaded and pays the railroad
freight on the sleet, ice and dirt in
the car. This measure if strictly
enforced will save the people of Kan
sas not less than $25O,OOO.OO per
: year.
, An Act: Compelling express COM
| panies to pay an excess tax on the
: business they do in Kansas.-Pass-
| ed.
Until this act became a law ex-
press companies have paid no taxes
on their business. They have en-
joyed the benefits and protection OF
= Kansas laws but contributed nothing
4 to their support. This act brings a
S revenue to the state every year.
An Act: Preventing the confis-
e cation of coal by the railroad com
f panies. Passed. This measure wa.
= introduced as a committee bill. Be
fore this enactment became a law
cars and even train loads of Goa
have been appropriated by the rail
G roads for their own use, causing un
Z told suffering to the people of Kan
: sas, free from any penalty. If Goa
, is confiscated now the common car
+ rier is liable to heavy penalty.
r An Act: Making a fifteen PEE
= cent horizontal reduction in freight
@ on grain and grain products.-Pass
E ed. introduced as a committee bill
q 1t saves the shippers avast sum o
a money.
% An Act: Permitting the people t,
build good roads, commonly know
throughout tthe entire west as tn
Hodges Rock Road Law" Passed
- This measure does not compel an
, community to build rock roads bu
. it is an enactment that permits tn
building of good roads by communi
ties when they want to. 1t is on
of the most important laws on tn
- statute books and will contribute t
- the upbuilding and the making Q
Kansas a great state more so tha
~ any enactment passed in years.
- An Act: Providing for the IL
beling of all linseed oils, leads an
-, mixed palnlS, known as the PuT
Paint ill.''-Defeated
- The joint author with Senate
~ Young of the present amended ba
u lot law. The bill simplifies the ba
in lot and allows a mixed ticket to b
voted without danger of bein
thrown out.
et An Act: Providing for a two-cer
at passenger fare in Kansas.-Defea
W. ed.
n The Reciprocal Demurrage Law
an Passed. It's an act compelling th
X railroad companies to pay $1O0
BIS day for their failure to supply an
er farmer or shipper with ears after 4
at hours until the car is furnished.