The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1885-02-05
Senate.
JANUARY, 90.

After the reports of the several and
ing committees, Senator Smith offered
a resolution relating to maximum
rates, rates per car load, etc.
The resolution was adopted for a com
mittee OF five on house concurrent TesO-
luton No. II, to investigate the cause OF
unequal assessment, and report by bill
or otherwise.
UNEQUAL ASSESSMENT.
Senator Pickler showed some items
In comparison of taxes in 1888 and 1884.
He showed that in some counties the
assessed value of horses was but $40 to
S25, while IN others they were assessed
at $40 per head. AS this Will cost the
state nothing 1t could do no harm, but
the appointment OF committee would
bring about better understanding.
The resolution was adopted and COM
mitAee appointed.
Among the bills presented were one
regulating salary of county clerk and
county superintendent; also one relating
to county boards of examiners.
CONCERNING COURT ON ELECTION DAYS.
In committee of the whole senate bill
to prohibit holding of court on election
and certain other days was recommend
ed for passage and report adopted.
OoudlOE OAlLU uAGTcu q E0SOluIlOu III
relation to reducing the compensation
of the state agent.
The afternoon session OF the senate
was occupied by the discussion of the
joint resolution providing for
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.
Senator Redden moved its passage
and delivered a very exhaustive aud
scholarly argument. He spoke IN sub
stance as follows:
Judge from the smiles of several OF
the senators that this motion is futile !;
that il will not meet with encouragement
from this body. But it should prevail.
A constitutional convention is neces-
saTy.
MANY AMUSING OBJECTIONS
are made to holding a constitutional
convention. Could the proposition be
I'considtred On Its merits in this chamber,
only one or two senators would be found
opposed to it. The necessity for calling
constitutional convention was cODced-
ed. But when senators were asked to
support this resolution, various excuses
were made, but the chief objection
was the prohibition issue. Some said
no constitutional convention could be
held until 1888 Then no election of
| governor and state officers could be held
until 1888 Then the officers elected
two years ago we're illegally elected
He wanted to discuss the constitution.
al convention. II it was necessary, he
wanted to record his vote upon that side
Many amendments should be made to
the constitution Stump speeches were
made by the score last fall in favor OF q
constitutional convention. 1t was pop.
ular during the campaign. Kansas had
| gone longer without a Grange of It's con
stitution than the surrounding states
| Illinois and Indiana we're referred to IL
support of this. Iowa only used her con
stitution eleven years before having 6
| constitutional convention. Nebraska
that was admitted into the
Union eight years after Kan
sas, years ago ordered a eoDsti
| tutionsl convention. Amendments haC
been adopted to our constitution, and
others had been voted down. Some 8
these amendments were cited by the
| speaker. Scarcely legislature had as
sembled in Kansas that had not submit
ted amendments. This showed the i'm
perfect character of the constitution
Was it better to go on
TINKERING IN A HIT-AND MISS FASHION
or To call convention aud submit a new
constitution in which the parts would
fit together. There we're mSny imDer
1
DEFECTS OF THE JURY AND JUDICIARY
He referred first to the jury system
There was g necessity for a modification
so that less number than twelve juror
should be sufficient to find verdict il
civil cases.
The speaker referred to the meage
compensation received by the member
of the Legislature. It was insufficient
II would not pay the board bill of tn,
her, especially If he brought hi
wife with him to Topeka. Hence, tn,
members felt justified in voting through
resolutions for postage stamps, in view
of their meager salary. Another evi
was the large volume Of of special legis
latioR which grew out of the imperfeC
! tions of the constitution. Appropria
tions of doubtful legality grew out O
this. The constitution should be plan
in this particular.
Reference was made to the report @
the Judiciary committee, which mad
| great changes IN article 8 of the constr
tuition, as an evidence of the need of
constitutional convention. The prC
posed change struck out twenty section!
making It almost like q revision of tn
constitution, rather than an amendmen
TOO MANY ELECTIONS
Another defect in the constitution ws
, that there were too many elections. Tn
i constitutions should be amended in TIL
: particular. Country elections should nj
be held oftener than once every tw
: years,
81 The disfranchisement clause of Ii
constitution was referred to. She sen
tor believed that he represented the SCI
timent of nearly all his CONSTITUENT
: | when he declared that this clause, di
e franchising citizens of Kaneas who hs
: served in the rebel army, should
/. stricken from the constitution. The u
justice of retaining this clause was 70
) chilly pointed out by the senator.
s THE APPoINTlInNT.
}. The necessity Of special session
the legislature, as conceded by Cover
: Martin. for the purpose of making q
o epporti0nment, was another evidence
the iBcongruities IN tae constltutio
The evils growing out of the prese
u provision for superintendent, especial
l. for the western portion of the state, "
o referred to by the senator.
a TIE HOMESTEAD LAW.
D. Notifications, also. should be made
Is the homestead law The exemption 6
0, forth therein should be carefully revise
- The present unrestricted exemptio
' were not In the interest Of labor or il
a tice. The senator believed in the pr
& ciple of homestead exemption, but the
should he q limitation IN homestead c
10 Iemptions from debt and execution. T