Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1891-01-29
Big We sk's Work.

o'B we WORN
TOPEKA, kAS.-The house is busy and rush
ing work with unusual rapidity for the first
week in session.
ELECTIONS COMMITTEE AT WORK.
Mr.. Dumbaull. chairman of the house
committee on elections. offered resolution
which was adopted authorizing the commit
tee to summon witnesses and send for pagers
which may re necessary in considering the
contested election cases before the COM
mittee.
: The HOPPER.
The first week of the session, ending Satur-
day noon, filed the introduction of 81 house
bills: among them are many that are nearly
duplicates. or. at least, having the same OBJ
Ject: tor instance, there are three which seek
to abolish the Office of state oil inspector.
The SENATE "ABoLIsHISG."
Senator Murdoch offered resolution in
structIng the committee on state affairs to
abolish the offices of the state board of par
dons and the state oil inspector. Laid over.
FEES OF STATE OFFICERS.
The senate has commenced work in COM
mlttee of the whole upon its :. b. 2, which
fixes the fees and salaries of state officers.
In the cases of secretary of state and audi
tor the bill was changed to provide that all
fees we're required to be turned over to the
compensation for this $500 were added &c
each salary.
The state superintendent. by this bill, Is
added to the executive council and also is to
become a member of the state board OF
charities.
ANOTHER BRIBERY BILL.
Mr.. Dooiittle, of Chase county. intro
duced bill Ito protect the purity of the leg
islature." 1t makes it unlawful to give any
member of the legislature any money or
other valuable thing, or any office or appoint
ment, for his influence or vote in favor of
the passage or defeat of any measure or the
election of any person to any Office. 1t
makes it unlawful for any member to re-
ceive or demand money, and any member
asking or accepting bride not only loses
his seat, but upon conviction is to be impris-
oned In the penitentiary from one to five
years. 1t also makes it felony for anyone
to act rs a Lobbyist Cor any measurs or for any
one to employ an attorney or agent TO secure
the passage of a measure or the election OF
any officer. This bill was written by Sam
Wood.
TO PREVENT COERCION OF VOTERS.
Representative McC!iman, of Nemaha
county, an alliance member, put in a bill to
restrain coercion at elections. 1t provides
that any person, corporation, company or
association, or agent OF same, having IN their
employ any person or persons who are legal
voters at the national, state or municipal
elections and who shall by any threat, bride,
intimidation, or any form of coercion at
tempt to influence the voters in their employ
fl ION exercising their franchise as free Amer
lean citizens shall be deemed guilty of a
miSdemeanor and upon conviction shall be
fined from 500 to 5000 and be imprisoned
two years in the penitentiary. His bill also
provides that when any employee discharged,
inundated or IN any way coerced subse-
quent to an election. and who shall by pre-
ponderence of evidence prove that such dis
charge intimidation or coercion was caused
By their freedom of the ballot or voting for a
candi date to whom their employer was OPP
posed. shall sustain their charge, and the
offenders shall be fined and imprisoned as
before provided.