Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-03-07
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
A WEEK OF EARNEST EFFORT AND
THE PASSAGE OF SOME NECESSARY
AND PRACTICAL BILLS.
House..

mouse.
Topeka March 1.-The opening OF
business in the house for the week was
proceedea by the presentation OF bas-
ket OF flowers from the equal suffragists
of Hutchinson in recognition OF the
passage by the house OF the woman suf-
trage bill. A large number OF bills
were passed by omnibus methods
the only important one being
Elders insurance bill. 1t is q valued
policy bill.
The bill to compel witnesses before
Investigating committees 10 testify, has
become a law. The house has con-
Cured in the senate amendments.
Speaker Elder said the clerks OF the
house should be discharged for careless
ness Warren. OF Lyons. raised the
laugh on the speaker by making mo-
ton that the present clerks be dis
charged and republicans appointed that
the work might be properly done.
The passenger rate bill and the alien
land bill was recommended for passage.
Speaker Elder called up the railroad
bill relating TO railroad tariffs. After
the first section OF the bill had been
discussed for some time, and amended
by making passenger fare p cents per
mile, the committee took up the ninth
section relating to passes. Amend
ments wore offered on motion OF Speaker
Elder the bill was passed as printed.
Wednesday remarkable sight was
presented of woman presiding in the
house for while. A young woman,
fair and beautiful. occupied the speak
ers chair, and yet she could not talk
bass She had he honor OF being the
first woman who presided over state
body and right ably she held in line the
dozen mcn be!s who were mumbling
over the bills on third reading, con-
stitutioral requirement. About sixty
bills were adopted on that day.
A congratulatory telegram was re-
ceived by the house from the woman
sufragists of Wichita. 1t was left with
| the speaker to answer, Reeder. of Ellis,
saying. ''Send our love, too" The
Maddox insurance bill passed the house.
The substitute for the maximum freight
bill. prepared by the republicans of the
house and presented by Douglass, re-
ceived only twenty-five votes.
The resubmission resolution created q
long and heated debate. Douglass. OF
Sedgwick. opened in careful consider
ed argument for resubmission. He
stated that it was only justice to large
body of the people Of Kansas who desire
II resubmission of the question OF prohi-
bition. to give the voters a chance TO
vote for it and show whether q majority
want resubmission or not. Rice, OF
Bourbon. made presentation OF the ben
efts of the prohibitory law and stated
the reasons for its continuance and the
proofs that an overwhelming majority
were for prohibition and against resub-
mission. Lupfer OF Pawnee, spoke
against resubmission. Also showing
how prohibitive the alliance people are
as compared with all otheV people.
Pearson of Allen, made ono of the
strongest speeches. He eR.eavored to
show the fallacv of every argument by
he resubmissionists aI2 gave the
history of the state and a. other states
lnder prohibition as against result
mission. Many others. notably Judge
Webb Of Shawnee. for prohibition, and
DR.. Nelly. of Leavenw orth, for resub-
r.ission. spoke on the subject at great
length. and the debate lasted three
homes. There was enthusiastic cheer
log when the result showed an over
yhelming defeat OF the resolution. the
recommendation of the cOmmittee:being
jhGt it be indefinitely postponed.
Seventy-tw0 voting for and twenty
seven against the postpo"ement: twenty
4. II, ~ xvs 4nor Vnncf nj
them being dodgers.
The committee appointed - investi-
gate Judge Botkin made its re. sort. The
report -ecites its action. states that
Twenty-Five witnesses were examined on
the part Of tho prosecution and none on
the part OF the respondent, and thct
the charges, not being denied, were
considered proven, and the following
resolution was offered and, after some
discussion. adopted:
T Resolution that TheodOrius Botkin,
Judge OF the thirty-second judicial dis
trict, be impeached Of high misdemean-
OF in Office.
A resolution was also adopted pro-
viding that q special committee of three
be appointed to notify the senate that
Ln6 0Ouoc WILL pTCoOh0 oh AL PShHASNS
against Judge B0tkin and that in due
time specific articles of impeachment
will be presented by the house mana
gers; also q resolution that the articles
Of impeachment presented by the speci-
al committee be adopted by the house
and one that q board of managers, con-
sisting OF five members Of the house,
be appointed by the speaker to act with
the attorney general and to prosecute
the trial of the judge before the senate
upon the articles of impeachment with
power to employ counsel and q stenog-
rapher. The board Of managers for the
house consists Of Wilmington. C00ns,
Coulson Mitchell and Webb. Ad-
jOurned.
Topeka, Kansas, March 2 1891
The state senate ON the first legisla-
tive dav OF the week, after tAe disposal