The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1892-09-09
RECORDS COMPARED.

What a Populist House Claimed and
What a Republican Senate Ac-
compIished.
Frail humanity, especially when en-
gagged in political strife, is sometimes
apt to forget cold, merciless records.
This was the case with the populists,
who went up to Topeka in 1891 filed
with an intense enthusiasm and desire
to at once reform the people, reform
legislation. reform the republican party,
and, in fact, to reform everybody and
everything except themselves. The
beams in their eyes would have made
respectable sleepers upon which to build
a modern tabernacle.
A choice specimen of populist (alli-
ance) literature was, and is manifesto
reciting what the house of representa-
tives, with its ninety-two alliance men,
bers, did, and what the republican SEN
ate, with its thirty-seven members, did
not. This document contains a eff
teenthly," and gives resume of alliance
work as follows:
"First-By and with the aid of the
senate, 472 acts were passed and be-
came laws upon the statute books of
Kansas, among the most important of
which are:
Second Prohibiting alien owner
ship of land in Kansas and providing
for the sale of all lands owned by aliens
acquired after the date of this act in
from three to six years time. or upon
the death of aliens holding lands pre-
vious to the enactment of this law.
'Third-The following house bills
we're concurred in by the senate, and
are now part of the laws of the state:
"Fourth-To authorize the sale of
alcohol by wholesale druggists and deal
ers in Photographic supplies, and for
other purposes.
"Fifth-Apportioning the state of
Kansas into senatorial and representa-
tive districts.
'Sixth-An act to abolish survivor
ship in joint tenancy.
"Seventh-An act to establish an ex-
perimental station at the state univer-
sity of Kansas to promote and conduct
experiments for the destruction of
chinch bugs by contagion or infection.
"Eighth-Requ:ring moneys coming
into the hands of county treasurers in
certain counties to be deposited in
banks.
"Ninth-For the continuance and
maintenance of forestry stations.
"Tenth-An act constituting eight
hours days work for all workingmen
employed by the state, county, city or
township.
"Eleventh-An act to regulate ware
houses, the inspection, grading, weigh
ing and handling of grain.
''Twelfth-An act relating to the
sales of real estate for delinquent taxes
in such counties as shall adopt the pro-
visions of this act.
mending the calling Of convention to
revise, amend or change the constitution
of the state of Kansas.
Fourteenth - An act prohibiting
combinations among persons engaged in
buying or selling live stock, and to pro-
vide penalties therefor.
Fifteenth house committee on
banks and banking prepared a bill reg
ulating and controlling all banks with
in the state of Kansas, and submitted
it not only to the leading banks of
Kansas, but of the west. The senate
also prepared bill regulating the
banks of Kansas, but the house substi-
tuted for it the house committee bank
ing bill, and it was passed by an
almost unanimous vote of the house
and by a large majority in the senate.
This bill will put an end to the era of
wildcat banking in Kansas"
The above is all that has been
claimed to have been accomplished by
the house, Speaker Elder placing his
name to the manifesto to give it au-
thenticity. An examination of the rec
ords of that legislature reveals differ
emit history than that given by the pop
ulist leaders, which may be summed up
as follows:
No. l. The number of acts that be-
came laws was 263, of which 100 origi-
mated in the house-143 in the senate
The discrepancy of 210 was probably
caused by confusion over the great |
number of local bills passed by the
house.
No. 2. The bill prohibiting alien
ownership of land, ETC., was introduced
in the senate by Richter on January %, |
passed that body January 30th, and |!
was sent to the house the same day. It !
rested there until March I'd. when the |
house amended each section, completely |
destroying all its provisions. The sem
ate non concurred in the house amend
ments the next day and asked for con-
ference committee. The conference was
held with the result that the house, on
March 9Th, receded from its amend
ments and passed the bill. It went
back to the senate and was sent to the
enrolment committee. It had no
sooner reached that committee than a
message was sent by the house to the
senate recalling the bill for further
amendment Senator Richter rushed |