Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-02-07

TOPEKA. Fifteenth Day of the Session.
The chairman of the house committee on
penal institutions said, while asking for q
clerk fer his committee, that he thought
some rottenness would be developed when
they visited the pepitentiary. A clerk was
| allowed.
NORMAL AT WICHITA
A special committee, consisting of Repre-
sentatives Hurt, Cleveland and Coulson, was
| appointed to visit Wichita anu look into the
matter of locating a second state normal
| school there.
WAR on SHARKS AND scALPERs.
Cobun, of Barton, introduced house reso-
| luton aimed to correct the false reports go
| ing abroad that the Kansas Legislature is la
bic to antagoniZe eastern capital. It says
that our warfare is not directed toward the
eastern loaners of money, but towards the
sharks and scalpers."
CHATTEL MORTGAGES.
The first mortgage legislation attempted by
the house was in committee of the whole
upon bill to change the laws relating to
chattle mortgages. After much discussion
the committee arose without taking action.
FROM The MINERS.
memorial from the coal miners of the
state Is before the legislature, protesting
against competition of the states peniten-
tary mine against free miners. ,@i
SECOND CONFERENCE.
second committee of conference has
been named upon the legislative appropria-
ton bill. The first conference was a failure
for the reason that the house would do moth
ing but demand of the senate that the action
OF the house be concurred in.
IRRIGATION IN COMMITTEE.
The senate changed the name of one of its
standing committees from committee on
agriculture to committee on agriculture and
irrigation; and added Senators Wilson, Car
roll of Leavenworth, Smith and Tucker to
the committee.
ALIEN OWNERSHIP OF LANDS.
The sennte in committee of the whole ap-
proved of Senator Richter's bill to prevent
alien ownership of land in this state.
WICHITA AND lEAvENwoRTH.
Senator Ed Carroll's bill to amend the police
commissioner law for cities of the first class
SO as to exempt Wichita and Leavenworth
from its provisions was approved by the SEN
ate IN committee of the whole.
ALLIANCE COUNTY.
There is a proposition before the legisla-
ture to form a new county to be called Ali
ance, by taking it from the counties of Lyon
and Wabaunsee.
COUNTY DEPOSITS.
Senator Buchan has in a bill to change the
law regarding deposits of county funds so as
to prohibit the deposit of over $4,000 in
any one bank.
ASSESSMENT AND TAXATION.
A concurrent resolution was introduced in
the house which proposes to regulate taxa
ton and equaliZe assessments by establish
ing a commission of ten members, of which
the auditor of state shall be president; a per-
son who has studied taxation represents the
house and another represents the senate.
There is to be a member for every great
interest in the state, manufacturing, fpan-
cial, mercantile, railroad, telephone, tele-
graph, mining, smelling, and agriculture, to
be elected by the farmers alliance and indus
trial associations. The state insurance COM
missioner is also member. Members are
to be paid expenses, no salary. No state
officer draws any pay; 81, 200 is the appro-
priation for the commission.
SCHOOL MATTEKs.
A bill, introduced by Senator Bentley, was
prepared by Prof. d. S. Pence, of Sedgwlck
county, who is the president of the State
Teachers association. 1t provides that the
state superintendent and four county super
intendeLts to be named by the state super1n-
tendent shall prepare uniform course of
study for all schools in Kansas. Another
bill, introduced by Senator Bentley, con-
Germs the duties of county superintendents.
The bill, it is said, Will do away with some of
the impossibiiities required of county super
lntendents under the present law, and it also
unifes more closely the educational depart
ments of county and state. Both of the
above bills are important ones and their pas
sage is favored by the State Teachers asso-
citation.
GEARY-DAvIs.
Mr.. Templeton, the member froV' Geary
county, has introduced a bill to change the
name of Geary county back to Davis. They
have been kicking on Geary county ever
since the name was changed.
USURY.
Mr.. Stephens, of Franklin county, has in
troduced bill which makes it unlawful to
take more than per cent. interest. Anyone
who takes over per cent. forfeits the inter-