The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-22
"Paving Combines" Invite Bar
rier of Greenwood to X. G..
Want To Explain How "Trusts"
Are Struggling for Existence.
INTRODUCED INQUISITION BILL
Then He Was Showed With
Letters, Wires, Phone Calls.
Messages All From Weeping,
SOrrOwing Brick Companies.

If E. L. Barrier of Greenwood coun-
ty, will just go to Kansas City some
weekend, he can eat a number of
good meals at first-class hotel and
smoke bunch of two-bit cigars-all
at the expense of the down-trodden
and oppressed paving combines. A
number of representatives of highly
respectable and very honest, God-fear-
ing and law-abiding paving trust rep
resentatives want to take Barrier into
their confidence. They want to show
him how the paving Orga niZations are
struggling for a bare existence. but
might continue business under favora-
bic legislation.
Last week Barrier sent to the house
hopper bill which extends to the at
torney general inquisitional power in
trust and combine Investigations. Bar
rier didn't say much about it, but the
bill was really aimed at the brick and
cement combines. the packers, grain
and elevator companies and a few
sundry organizations. The Greenwood
county member provided that the at
torney general might call officers and
representatives of these industries on
the carpet, compel them to testify and,
if necessary. to bring their books. Aft
er the bill was introduced, Barrier
went home.
Scramble To Explain.
NOW the DTlch ana cement OrSahl-
Zations are making all manner of eff
forts to confer with the author of the
bill. At least half dozen special de-
livery letters were on Barriers desk
when he returned to Topeka. A cou-
pie of kilograms were waiting. Now
Barrier is frequently called to the tele-
phone room to answer long distance
calls. All of these were from the paw
ing organizations which told Barrier
they were struggling under a mighty
burden and seeking merely to do some
little good in the world by promoting
interest in permanent road construc-
! ton. Certainly, Barrier was informed
he had been misled by the assertions
that the paving men were in a COM
bine or agreement. Stories of long
profits were idle gossip. Rather than
adverse legislation. the paving men
even suggested some beneficial laws
something that would encourage, pro-
| tect and strengthen struggling, inno-
feent and infant industries. - Dndef
such action by the Kansas legislature
Barrier was advised, the paving people
would be able to get through the win
ter and in due course of time might
| earn a dividend for their shareholders
! ''All of the letters suggested that
come to Kansas City-at their expense
and talk it over" Barrier said to-
| day. From the bulk of the cores
, pondence, l expect 1 could spend
hotel in Kansas City just listening tC
the sorrow song of the brick and ce
mert people. Maybe I might take hi!
| family with me and I expect I coult
set a bunch of mighty good urarte,
! cigars and some tickets to the thea
! ters if 1 just went down.
| Practically every letter assured m,
! I was doing the road. building caus,
! a great injustice. They suggested tina
L ask the committee to kill or al leas
amend the bill. Then. in sorrow ant
anguish, the paving men wrote M
that they were making an awfu
struggle for existence and desired t,
! remain pure and above suspicion.
was told that if 1 would Just COM
down to Kansas City, they would tel
me all about it and the trip wouldn'
! cost me a cent"
| Barrier expects to go home again
this week end. He is feeding a buncl
| of fat steers on his farm near Eureka
He rather feels, tho, that he may asl
permission to attend one of the bricl
or. cement inquisitions if his bill =
enacted into law