Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-02-21
RAILROAD BILL


its
RAILROAD BILL
1t is a substitute for all the railroad bills
referred to that committee and is a maxi
mum rate bill; which is intended to reduce
freight charges; they say 13 per cent, but
railroad experts say the effect will be re-
duction of 40 per cent.
The bill Classics the railroads of the state
into three classes, based on their reported
gross earnings per mile.
1t gives the board of railroad commits
sioners judicial powers and functions.
1t prohibits a greater charge for a short
haul than for long haul.
minority of the committee made G re-
port in which they declared the bill recon-
mended by The majority had been prepared
in secrecy; that the minority has never had
an opportunity to see the bill, or to consider
it in the committee. They therefore protest
against the report of the majority.
SCHOOL BOOKS.
The house committee on education has re-
ported a school book bill.
1t authorizes the county superintendents
of public instructions of the different coun-
ties of each congressional district to meet
May l, 1891, in cities in the respective DIS
tricts, to select one person from each dis
trict who shall become member of the state
school book commission, the chairman of
which shall be the state superintendent of
public instruction. The members of the
commission shall serve for a term of four
years. This commission is authorized either
to contract with publishing houses for these
books or have them compiled ana published
in Kansas. The books shall be furnished to
the counties at actual cost to the state and
the counties shall determine by election
whether they shall furnish them free to the
pupils or require them TO be paid for. The
bill appropriates S25, 900 for the salaries and
be used in carrying on the publication of the
books.
THE SEED GRAIN APPROPRIATION.
was, after much discussion, referred to the
committee on ways and means by the house.
AUSTRALIAN BALLOT.
The house in committee of the whole ap-
proved of the bill to establish in Kansas the
Australian ballot system.
BILLS PASSED BY TUE HOUSE.
The house passed a large number of bills.
Among them are:
Mr.. Browns bill, repeating the law which
authorizes railroads to collect an excess of
fare of from 10 to % cents from passengers
who fail to buy a ticket at the station.
The sugar bounty appropriation.
House bill 100, relating to liens of irriga-
ton companies.
Speaker Elders bill to enable Franklin
county to build court honse by direct taxa
ton.
The bill repeating the laws of 1887. author
iZing counties and cities of the second and
third class to subscribe stock in companies
organized for the purpose of developing nat
ural resources
The bill relating to attaching adjacent ter
ritory to cities of the second class for school
purposes.
And number Of local bills.
IRRIGATION.
The committee on irrigation reported a
bill consolidating all the points in the several
bills on the subject, which had been reported
to them.
This bill was approved by ths house in
committee of the whole.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
When the bill granting the right to vote
and hold Office to women was reached ia
committee of the whole house there was no
opposition to it, save a fear on the part of
some that it was not in accordance with the
state constitution. After much talk the bill
was approved.
SEED GRAIN IN TIE SENATE.
The senate bill appropriating $500 to
furnish settlers in the border counties with
seed grain was before the senate on third
reading, subject to amendment and debate.
The senate talked about the bill for five
hours, and it proved to be unsatisfactory.
The bill was lost; Is to 20.
Senator Osborn voted against the bill, to
give him a right to move reconsideration,
that 1t might be revised.