Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-02-07
some OF the Measures
ToPxkA, KAH.-The Legislature has before
it many measures of Importance.
One of than II thu

il many measures of importance.
One of them Is the
KKNToN RAILROAD BILL.
known as house bill No. 30. 1t has been
carefully considered by the alliance legisla-
tive committee and is recommended to the
alliance members by that committee. The
railroad committee has had the bill under
consideration and will report it for passage.
The bill IS an exhaustive one and is copy,
with slight notifications, of the Iowa rail-
road rate law, with all schedules.
The only important modification of the
Iowa law is in the matter of railroad COM
mlssioners. Section provides for an cleo
ton of three railroad commissioners at the
general election for county officers next fall;
such officers to take their seats January L,
1892, and to receive q salary of 5000 each.
Section legislates the present board I'M
mediately out of existence by providing fol
the appointment on the first Monday in
March of one member by the executive
council, one by the senate and one by the
house, to constitute the board of railroad
commissioners until January l, 1892.
The state is divided into districts and one
commissioner is to be resident of each dis
trict. though all are to be elected by the en-
tire state.
The board is given plenary power and the
attorney general is required to attend their
meetings.
PAVING AND SEWERS.
Representative Webb introduced a bill to
reimburse the city of Topeka to the extent
of So, 10, which she has expended for paw
ing the streets around the state house square
and $50, 900 which has been paid out by the
city for sewers for the state house.
NEW STATE BOARD.
Mr.. Gilman introduced bill requiring all
and all -
to make reports of their resources and liabil-
tiles to the superintendent of insurance; to
provide for the examination of the affairs of
such banking institutions, and to punish the
receiving of deposits by insolvent banking
institutions. His bill makes it unlawful
for any banking concern to do business in a
city of 1000 people without having actual
banking capital, commercial paper or real
estate of thesvalue of 5000; IN cities having
population of less than 5000 and more
than three thousand, they must have at least
$25, 900 capital, and cities over 10000 they
must have at least $4,000 banking capital.
The superintendent of insurance, the state
treasurer and attorney general are made
board of supervision.
CURRENT HISTORY.
Senator Lockard has in a bill which pro-
vides for the teaching of current history and
the elements of music in the public schools
of the state.
THE STATE OFFICERS.
The bill regulating the pay of state officers,
as it passed the senate, makes no changes
from the present law in the salaries of state
officers or others, except in the cases of sec
rotary and auditor of state, whose salaries
ase increased from $1,000 per annum to ST.
500 per annum. The lieutenant governor, in
addition to his mileage and per diem as pre-
siding officer of the senate during the ses-
sions of the legislatures, the sum of $1,000
per annum is appropriated to reimburse that
official for his duties as railroad assessor and
other duties. This clause differs only in there
being a permanent appropriation for this
purpose instead of including it in the miscel-
laneous appropriation bills. By this bill, all
fees received by state officials must be here
after turned over monthly to the state treas
urer, who will receive and account for such
funds as hereafter provided.
CUTTING TELEPHONE RATES.
Representative Andrews, of Cowley county,
has introduced bill which hits the telephone
companies. 1t makes it unlawful for any
telephone company to receive as rental for
the use of telephones more than So per
month for one telephone or $3.50 per month
where two or more telephones are used. The
price for the use of a telephone for converse
ton between cities Is not to exceed Is cents
for the first five minutes and 5 cents for each
additional five minutes. 1t requires all COM
panies operating in the state to publish uni
form rentals. 1t makes it unlawful tor any
officer of the company or any operator or
employe to reveal any conversation held over
the lines. A violation of the law is made g
misdemeanor for which fine of SIS is i'm
posed, or imprisonment in the county Jail
not to exceed thirty days.