Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-03-21

sion. Under this bill, primary elections,
which have heretofore been conducted
only as the politicians might arrange,
are now controlled by law. Notice OF
the election is TO be published in
newspaper, and supervisors must
be appointed by the party hold
| ing the election to see that
fair election is held. Bribery is pun
ishable by a fine or Imprisonment or
both.
The bill which authorizes the collec-
ton of taxes quarterly instead OF semi
annually, as at present, also became
I law. It also changes the law governing
! the semi-annual settlement OF county
| treasurers with the state treasurer. AT
present they are obliged to make trip
to Topeka twice year to deposit their
! collections with the state treasurer;
this is changed so that they will here
after remit by express or by draft, saw
| ing about $4,000 annually in mileage OF
treasurers. Representative Howard OF
Shawnee county is the author of this
bill.
A bill for the benefit of the destitute
farmers of western Kansas has become
law. 1t appro PIRATES $4,000 which ie
to be used by the direction of the board
OF railroad commissioners and for the
purchase of seed grain to be distributed
under the direction of the commission
ers of the various western counties as
loan to the farmers.
Among other bills of more or less gen.
eral interest which have become laws
are the following: One authorizing
wholesale druggists and dealers in
Photographic supplies to sell alcohol at
wholesale to druggists and photograph
ers for medical or scientific purposes;
another prohibiting the sale of intoxi-
eating liquors to inmates of national or
state soldiers homes; another prohibit
ing the editing, publishing, circulating
and selling of newspapers and otheI
publications devoted to scandal; another
regulating warehouses, the inspection,
grading, weighing and landing OF
grain; another prohibiting county COM
missioners from designating sny news
paper as the official county
paper which has not been published
continuously for one year; another pro-
viding that appeals from the police court
of a city of the first class to the district
court and from there to the supreme
court may be taken by the city upon a
judgment for the defendent on quashing
a complaint, upon an order of the police
judge arresting the judgment, and upon
a question reserved by the city.
The above is in short the sum total OF
the general legislation of the session
which has just adjourned. There are
fewer new laws than has been enacted
for many years.
MEASURES WHICH FAILED.
The most important measures before
the legislature-tnosew which were talked
about all through the session-failed
completely. Everyone supposed there
would be law providing for the cleo
ton of the board of railroad commits
sioners by vote Of the people; all the
political parties declared for it in their
platforms of the last campaign, but the
law remains just as it is and the rail
road board will continue to be chosen by
the executive council. The change was
attempted and both branches of the
legislature were unanimously for it but
it was incorporated with another
bill on the subject of railroads, pre-
pared by the railroad committee OF the
house, reducing passenger rates, etc.
This bill was Objectionable to the con-
servative element of the two houses and
the railroad commissioner provision
went down with the entire bill. Had it
been framed as a separate bill it would
have passed either house without oppo-
sition.
Aweek ago it was thought there was
no doubt about the adoption of the Aus
traliau ballot system. The house
passed the bill by the vote of all alliance
men, republicans and democrats.
1t came to the senate so late,
however, that the committee did
not have time to amend it as it desired.
1t is understood there would bave been
objections to it by some OF the senators
because Of the expense connected with
the system.
The equal suffrage bill went through |
the house all right, receiving a bare ma
jority, but it failed in the senate. Re-
submission was killed but no one ever
thought it had show.
There is no railroad legislation of any |
character, though many days were spent |
in discussion of that subject and the |
transportation question in all its phases
thoroughly gone over. The alliance |
wanted to bankrupt the railroads by re-
ducing passenger rates to two and one
half cents per mile, and cutting down |
trelghtS - 10 OO per cent. 1hey would |
not consider any conservative measure
on this subject, hence the railroads were
left alone.
There subject which received more
attention than any other during the
present session was financial legislation,
but the laws remain unchanged OF the
twenty-five or thirty bills touch
ing upon this subject which were
during this session
not one becomes a law. Elders
bill to tax mortgages. etc, was killed as
soon as it got over to The senate. There
was desire on the part of both alliance
men and republicans to have a new
mortgage law and the alliance can be
held responsible for the failure to enact
q law on that subject. The senate
passed mortgage law, which was care
FULLY and wisely framed, and it was
nessaged to the house on the
of the 9th. Consid-
grafton Of senate messages ceased
at 6 o'clock on the 10th. Douglass
called up this senate bill on the 9th and
moved TO concur in the amended senate
all hrf - I1,-