The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-02-24
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
Condensed Report of the Weeks Procee
iugS at TODeka.

Condensed Report of the Weeks Proceed
inEs at Topeka.
THE senate was not in session on the 11th,
neither was the republican house. The populist
house was in session in the afternoon and con-
sidered, in committee OF the whole. Mclinnie's
bill relating to interest on money and to pro-
hibit usury. The bill makes the rate OF interest
on all judgments and accounts when no rate is
specified by contract per cent and provides
that any person contracting who shall ask for
accept or receive in any wise greater rate Of
interest than per cent per annum shall for
felt the entire principal and all interest that
may have accrued thereon.
In the senate on the 18th Mr.. Shearer intro
duced his referendum resolutions prepared by
the alliance. proposing to amend the constitu-
tion, giving the people the right to propose
laws aud TO vote upon the adoption or rejection
Of all laws passed by the legislature before
they become effective. The remainder Of the
session was spent in committee OF the whole
for the consideration OF bills go In tue pOpulist
house. which convened first and went into com
mittee Of the whole, Mr.. fuckers bill to regu-
late the fees TO be charged and collected. the
services to be performed and the salaries and
fees 10 be allowed and paid to county and
township officers, was considered 1t cuts
down salaries and fees Of county and township
officials about p per cent Little progress was
made in consideration of the bill The Tepubli-
can house met at O'Clock and Mr.. Campbell
t.
tions offered a resolution that Il Gum. Of
Labette having been summoned before the
committee had failed to appear and that
warrant for contempt be issued The resou-
tion was adopted A large number OF bills
were introduced.
THE senate was in executive session two
hours on the 14th considering the nomination
of IL II. Artz for acknowledgement The nomi-
nation was hnallT confirmed by n small major
ity.. zee. In the republican house Mr. Seaton's
resolution declaring the seats Of pOpulist men,
bers vacant after February 81 was adopted. A
long discussion was had over resolution TO
provide for voting bonds by several western
towns 10 aid the building of Touring mills. The
bill passed repeating the poll tax law for cities
of the first class. a spicy debate followed the
introduction of resolution by Mr. Waters de-
manding an investigation OF the charges made
against T. o. Harter. a nol-union engineer.
recently employed by the executive council
as chief engineer of the state house. Mr..
Hoch introduced q resolution. which was adopt
cd, that Ben c. Rich clerk of the pOpulist
house, was in the habit of disturbing the pro-
ceediugs of the house republican,. that the
serceant-at-armS be ordered to arrest and bring
Rich before the body for contempt The house
then adjourned and the sergeantat-arms start
ed in search of Rich. The populist house met
soon after the republican house adjourned
Ben C. Rich, chief clerk. who had bcenarrcsted
DF INC republican StTetAut-stt-dFll4S. bul EGS-
cued and released by pOpulist friends, was on
hand TO call the roll Speaker Dunsmore made
a speech and Rich called the roll Mr.. Cert
offered 4 resolution denounClng the arrest OF
Rich by ''an organized mob calling themselves
the republican house of representatives,, but
which we believe to be in reality the santa Fe
Railroad Co.." which was adopted. The house
then adjourned until o'clock next day, and
Clerk Rich was escorted TO his hotel under
guard
THE senate on the 18th was somewhat demOr-
allied by the trouble in the house and trans
acted no business Senator Sierne. t-ep.l, of
Shawnee, introduced q resolution setting forth
that whereas, a mob composed of anarchists
and their sympathizsrs have at5e mpted by force
and violence to overthrow the civil government
of the state Of Kansas. by preventing the legal
house of representatives,, presided over by Hon
George Douglass. as speaker, from meeting in
representttiv hall and performing their sworn
duties; therefore, resolved, that we view with
horror the attempt to overthrow the cOnstitu-
lion and the laws of the state OF Kansas. and
the attempt TO set up military d.spotism by
the governor OF the state " This was promptly
voted down by the populists zee. The republican
house broke down the doors Of the hall Of the
house OF representatives,, which had been b4rri-
caded, and entered amid great excitement and
confusion and barred out the popuiist house
They camped on the ground and held possess
O'Clock in the basement OF the south wing o;
the capitol and Immediately adjourned.
THE confusion and turbulent scenes at the
capitol took precedence over all attempts at
legislative work on the l6th- The senate did
nothing, and in the republican house rTop1si-
tion for settling the difficulty, rather r-ach-
ing comprOnise b. which the republicans
should hold The hail and the pOPllisis meet III
another room was received Hnd favOraOly Col
sidered The governor was 10 withdraw the
militia and the sheriff disbani his deputies.
\ resolution was adopted defining the arrest oi
Ben c. Rich, but no legislative business was
transacted The populist house met in a hail
in the Slormont building and proceeded to &c
through the regular order Of business Soy
eral bills on the calendar OF minor Importance
were passed, and two bills having special
bearing on the warlike situation about the
state house were introduced am rushed through
10 their final passage.
TIE senate on the i5th tool; no action upon
the bill passed b. the popuist house empower
ing the governor to remove for cause the sheriff
OF any county at any time The entire time of
the senate was occupied in discussing a BIZ
providing for the removal Of lhe capital 10 the
interior OF the state The 1epUbiic@n house
after camping on the BATH .-iield ali nigus iuIl
ally received the terms oGcred b. the governor
aud accepted them. which. ., leJSt, declared a
truce in the existing troubles. ~ s;3' o'clock,
Mr. H0ch speaker pro TEN. announced that the
time had come when the house cOJ'd take q
recess. He read . lis: OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
who would guard the hall AMI recess was
taken until next day. The pOlulist house, be-
fore it had learn ID OF the agreement between
the governor and republicans. adopted con
current resolution adjouraing the legislature
until April As soon as the knowledge Of the
treaty of peace was conveyed to them they re-
scinded their action and adjourned unit! Mon
dag afternoon.