People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-03-10
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
Condensed Report of the Weeks Proceed
Ings at Topeka.

Condensed Report of the Weeks Proceed
Ings at Topeka.
TIE senate had hot debate on the 18th over
resolutions offered by Mr. Lands which recited
in preamble that the senate believed the pop
ulists elected a majority of the members Of the
house at the fall election: that the will Of the
people thus expressed should be respected
and the populists entitled to organize
that body and that they did so by organ
tzing the DunsmOre house that the supreme
court in partisan decision, upheld the Doug
lass house, and while recognizing the right Of
the supreme court to interpret laws passed, yet
there is no appeal from such unwarranted decis-
ion, except TO the people, therefore the senate
will temporarily submit and send all messages
and bills 10 the Douglass house and do all in its
power to redeem pledges made to the people
and let the blame for such failure rest where it
belongs The resolutions were finally adopted by
q TO s. against which the republican members
protested. TO. When the house met the populist
members appeared and took seats on the north
side Of the hall Several members filed pro-
tests against the action Of the supreme court
which went on the record Mr. SeatOn offered
a resolution that half Of the standing commit
tees resign and that populists be appointed in
their places which was modified by giving the
speaker power to increase the standing
committees fifty per cent, although the
pOpulists declared against it, saying that they
asked no favors, and wished to get through
without delay and adjourn Mr. Douglass
offered a set Of resolutions setting forth what
measures were necessary to be passed, which
tupp Ri11u than fpfrodupa1
the afternoon session the school text book bill
was considered in committee Of the whole
The bill creates a board of commissioners
whose duty it will be to secure uniform series
Of text books. The books are to be owned by
the several school districts for the use Of pupils
In the schools. 1t was recommended for pas
sage
WHEN the senate met on March many bills
were received from the house and were imme-
diately taken up and passed A special COM
mittee reported in favor Of removing the capital
to Kanapolis. The senate held an executive
session and confirmed q number Of appoint
ments, When the doors were opened Senator
Danner introduced joint resolution amending
the constitution so that members Of the legis
ature shall receive IS per day for their services
The railroad committee reported the maximum
rate railroad bill, which is the same as agreed
upon by the populist house go In the house
much time was consumed in talking. Many
bills and resolutions were introduced The
resolution Of Speaker Douglass which declared
IL necessary TO pass certain measures, viz,
a law providing for the election Of rail-
road commissioners by the people and defin-
ing their duties: a mortgage law, providing for
a reasonable right of redemption and, if posi-
BILE lessening the expense Of foreclosure pro-
ceedings: q law providing for the complete re.
vision Of the general statutes Of the state; a
law making needed amendments to the statutes
relating to assessment and taxation; law for
the preservation Of the purity of the ballot a
law regulating the weighing and screening Of
coal at the mines; law for the payment Of
wages weekly; TO provide for an appellate
court: to appOrtion the state into congressional
districts. and submitting necessary constitu-
tiOnal amendments, then came up and was OPP
posed by Mr. DunSmore on the ground that it
was political buncomb 1t was adopted. The
woman suffrage resolution was adopted by
large majority. All Of the appropriation and
other bills were read and referred and the house
adjourned
THE senate on the I'd was occupied most
Of the day in considering the maximum freight
rate bill and finally passed it by vote Of . TO
TO- 1t provides that three commissioners shall
be elected by the people at the general election
In 1899 For this purpose the state is divided
into three districts and no person owning bonds
or other railroad stock or property, or in any
way pecuniarily interested in any railway
shall be eligible to the ONCE of commissioner.
The senate passed the house worlds fair bill,
making an appropriation of SEC, 900 for the Kan.
sas exhibit at Chicago by vote Of 30 to g. The
senate also adopted the concurrent resolution
to submit woman suffrage amendment to the
constitution 10 the people The final vote on
this resolution was % to s. The amendments
added in the house were concurred in. At the
afternoon session number OF appropriation
bills were passed 70. In the house appropriation
bills were considered In committee Of the whole.
congressional apportionment bill was report.
ed from the committee dividing the state into
eight districts, AT O'Clock in the afternoon
the worlds fair bill was received from the sen
ate and Immediately taken up and passed as
amended BY vote of lO2 to Z. The uniform
finally passed. Mr.. Dunsmore offered a con.
current resolution for final adjournment Satur.
day at O'Clock, which was defeated by So to SO,
the poDulists voting solidlv for it Attn even.
ing session the appropriation bills for the deaf
and dumb asylum and blind institution passed
Also the bill TO regulate the weighing of coal al
the mines. The bill to prohibit the corrupt use
OF money at elections was considered in com.
mittee of the whole with Mr. Dunsmore in the
chair
THE senate on the Sd passed the senate free
text book bill, which differs in some RESPECTS
from the measure passed by the house BY it
the superintendent of public instruction is
member OF the school book commission, and the
governor is empowered TO appoint the other
two members, to serve for terms Of four years
each Most Of the day was taken up with bills
on third reading, mostly Of local character,
The weekly payment OF wages bill was under
discussion in the afternoon The committee
reported ii back with railroad companies elm.
mated from its provisions, and determined
light was made to have the railroad exclusion
clause cut out The bill was passed as report
ed which excludes railroads from its provisions
THE feature OF the session Of the house was
the debate on the Greenlee railroad bill which
took up the greater part Of the day. The de.
bate was long and heated. but the bill was final.
ly recommended for passage By the committee
OF the whole. Several appropriation bills were
passed without objection. among them being
the state reform school ana The state normal
school bills. A large number Of local bills were
rushed through
IN the senate on the 4th Senator Kings sub .
stitute to Senator Bakers resolution appoint.
ing committee to investigate the charges
made against Gov Lewelling, Fred ]. Close
and James f. Legate, by the Topeka Capital
was adopted The committee will consist Of
five members, two Of them republicans. The
live stock commission bill passed and Mr.
Danner introduced bill making an appropria-
ton to complete the caritGl, but the senate re-
fused 10 suspend the rules and consider il. The
bill providing for an appellate court was passed
under Suspension OF the rules. 1t provides
for the division Of the state into two districts
and each district into three divisions, each d.
vision TO be provided with one Judge, who is TO
be appointed by the governor until the next
general election, when they will be chosen by
the people &c. The house rushed through the
Greenlee railroad bill Itprovides for the cleo
ton Of railroad commissioners on Novemhar