Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-03-21
WHAT IT HAS DONE.
THE WORK OF THE LEGIsLATURE
JUST ADJOURNED.
A Resume Of the Legislation Of the Recent
session-Less Than Thirty General Laws
Enacted About Those Meas
ures Which Interest the Public.
Topeka CAPITAL. March IA.

Topeka Capital, March IA.
A session of the legislature has never
been held in Kansas which enacted such
a small number of new laws as the ses-
sion which adjourned sine die yesterday
morning. There are not to exceed thirty
new laws which concern the people OF
the whole state. The session is remark
able, however, for the great number OF
local bills which became laws OF these
there are about 225-more than twice as
many as any previous session has en-
acted. The number of bills introduced
during the session was 1,274, Of which
654 originated In the house and
400 were senate bills. Less
than one-ffth of the bills introduced
become laws. OF the thirty general
laws, all but three or four were senate
measures; the house accomplished
almost nothing.
There were many joint resolutions be-
fore the legislature to submit to the
people at the next general election prop
osition, to amend the constitution of the
state; one was to repeal the Prohibitory
amendment; another was TO give the
women the right to vote at all elections;
another was to repeal the provisions by
which municipalities are empowered to
vote aid to railroads; another was to in
crease the number of supreme court
judges, and others touching upon
various subjects, but all were defeated
or died IN committees, and the only
proposition which will be submitted to
the voters of Kansas at the next general
election is one calling a constitutional
convention to amend or change the
constitution of the state. This resolu-
zion originated in the senate and passed
the house about ten days ago.
Probably the most important law en-
acted at this session-the measure
which is of greatest interest to the people
of the whole state-is the banking bill.
The state banks of Kansas have been
practically without regulation or con-
troll 1t has been possible
for any sharper to come to
Kansas, organize a bank, receive
deposits and swindle the people out of
thousands Of dollars; the wildcat banks
which nave thrived and prospered so
long in the new counties Of western Kan
sas will, it is believed, be stopped by this
new law. 1t is similar in it's operations
to the national banking law, requiring
all banks organized under the laws of
the state to make sworn quarterly state
ments showing the actual condition of
their business. 1t creates the office of
bank commissioner at a salary of $500
per year, and this gentleman is given
authority to close up the banks which
do not comply with the law. This is
house bill but is similar to the bill in
troduced in the senate.
Another measure which is of particu-
lar interest to western Kansas is the ir-
rigation bill-the most voluminous
measure passed at this session of the
legislature, covering eighty-fiye printed
pages. Irrigation has in the past three
years become one of the most interesting
questions in Kansas, but until the present
time there has been no law on the subject.
This law is very similar to the Colorado
law, and touches every feature of the
irrigation question, tells how irrigation
districts may be organized and protects
the water users as well as the ditch
owners. 1t is pronounced by Judge
Gregory and others who are deeply
interested in this subject as
wise measure and one
that was greatly needed. 1t
originated in the house, where it was
specially championed by Representative
Hopkins of Garden City. The discus
sion on the bill in the senate occupied
nearly two days.
Then there is another very important
new law in the alien land bill, which
prohibits any non resident alien from
owning foot OF land in Kansas. 1t is
said to be the most radical law on this
subject that has been enacted by any
state, going so far as to provide that
land now owned in this state
by aliens shall within three years be
sold by the sheriff and the proceeds
turned over to the owner.
1t is said that about 100000 acres of
land in this state is now held by aliens;
it is principally in Morris, Marion and
Chase counties, where one Lord Scully,
owns large tracts, and the demand for
the law came principally from these
counties. 1t was opposed by large
number of western members who |
claimed that foreign capital would be |
frightened away by such law. SEN |
ator Richter introduced the bill and it |
was champIoned in the house by Repre- |
sentatiyes Pearson and Allen, both re-
publicans. The constitutionality of the |
bill is questioned and the matter will |
probably 60 to the courts.
There are several new laws which par
ticularly interest the workingmen of the
state. One makes labor day (the first |
Monday in September legal holiday;
this was a republican measure orig
mating in the senate. Another OF great |
to the large number of en-
ployes of the state is the measure which
makes eight hours days work for all
laborers, mechanics and other persons
by the state, or by any county,
city, township or other municipality, or
by contractors or others doing work or
furnishing material for the state or for
any county. city or other municipality,
or by contractors or others doing work
or furnishing material for the state or
for any county, city or other municipal
ity; this includes all state institutions.
The bill contains provision for fine
and Imprisonment for any officer or con-
tractor who violates the law. Then
there is another law which protects
trades unions and other associations in
their trademarks, labels, etc, and pro-
vides fine and imprisonment for any