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Show n.: n; dill tiBBSriBsaMasajBskassasssssaMSBl Oratcrs B:ccmc Elcjncnt Orer "tiicCcmincaPco-; "tiicCcmincaPco-; pie vs. CcrporatloiSe A spirited discussion that arrayed what some of the orators termed the corporations and the common, people against each other waa had in the Senate Sen-ate yesterday while Gardner's measure. No. 44, was under consideration. The bill, which makes the killing of stock by railroad companies prima facie evidence of negligence In the act, was championed by Senators Gardner and H. 8. Larsen irt eloquent speeches, and as strongly condemned as class legislation by Senators Allison, Sherman, Sher-man, C. P. Larsen and Johnson. Senator Gardner said he realised that In opposing the railroads he was "treading "tread-ing on profane ground." He said the railroada ahould have no more rights than the people. The.bUl was intended to shift- the burden of proof, that was all. Senator H. S. Larsen took up the cudgel cud-gel for the "people." He said be was. on the Railroad committee two years ago, and found it Impossible to get any measure meas-ure out of the committee that was not dictated by the railroad attorney a. In the present session, he said, the bill extending ex-tending the power of counties to grant 100-year franchisee was dictated by the railroads. He said the railroad companies never paid for animate killed until compelled com-pelled to by the courts, and if a widow had a cow killed it would be better for her to let the matter drop than to try to get damarea. . He thought it right to gtve the victim power to compel the railroad employees) to come into court and testify. He said he could furnish proof right In the Senate Of engineers pulling the throttle throt-tle open and running with all possible speed when they see animals on the truest. Senator Allison made strong argument against the bill. He said if it passed it would be the only law on the statute books that compelled the defendant in a suit to prove his innocence. He said if the widow had her husband killed on the railroad track she would be compelled to prove negligence on the part of the company com-pany before she could collect damage; she should be compelled to do the same as to ber cow. He denounced the bill as purely class legislation. After debate pro and con Mardock moved to make further consideration a special order for s o'clock Tuesday, and the motion carried. |