The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-02-12
OUR LEGISLATURES LETTER.
House OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
To L%AHy I'll 1000

The "Quarter Centennial" or 25th
birthday, of Kansas was duly celebrat-
ed in this city last Friday in an elabo-
rate style and very pleasant manner.
Many Of the old pioneers of the state
were here, and the speeches made, and
the papers that were read, would make
a good history of the territory and the
state of Kansas up to this time. Gov.
Martin gave an address on the occa-
sion that ought to be printed in PAM
phlet form and scattered broad cast all
over the east as an immigration docu-
ment. It contains more general in
formation in regard to Kansas as she
has been and is to-day than any docu-
ment 1 have seen. A great many menu
beers went home Friday last, but enough
staid to keep the machine running and
a great many bills (mostly Locally were
passed through the committee of the
whole and placed upon the calendar
for third reading. These bills will pass
the house as fast as they can be reached.
One bill of general interest provides
that each county may provide for a
county high school. having in view
the preparation of students for admis.
sion into the University, Agricultural
College and other such institutions, al
so the training of teachers for our COM
mon schools. This bill has just passed
to-day and if signed by the Governor,
will become law. I will send you a
copy.
The senate has passed grand jury
bill which will require counties like AL
len to have one grand jury each year
and more populous counties two. /
believe it will pass the house.
A bill to punish drunkenness is like
ly to pass which will change the pun.
ishment from fine to imprisonment. 1t
is claimed that fines often take money
from very poor families and is a great.
er punishment to the family than the
the drunkard.
The house committee on apportion-
ment has just agreed on bill and had
it ready to report to the house for the
re-apportionment of the house of rep
resentatives, providing for 125 men,
bers, but before it was handed in the
house passed a resolution directing us
to only provide for 100. This will make
us do our work all over again. At first
glance this seems the proper thing to
do but when we consider that many
counties in the eastern part of the state
like Allen have more population and
wealth than four or five counties in the
western part of the state. while each
county organized must have one men,
Der, it would seem only fair that the
large counties should have all their
representation until such time as other
counties are actually organized. Leav-
ing off five members is simply to take
them from the old counties and let
them be vacant until the west is set.
tied up. 1t takes none from the west.
AS many members were absent this
may be reconsidered tomorrow.
Our hedge bill passed the committee
of the whole, but its fate is doubtful.
1t provides for trimming hedges along
public highways.
I think I mentioned in my last some
changes that were contemplated in the
prohibitory law. l think now there
will be more changes than I had con-
templated. 1t is probable that estate
made to get Intoxicating liq-
uors will have to be made under oath.
s. Is.