Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1893-02-04
OUR TOPEKA LETTER.,
TOPEKA, KAN. Jan. 80, 1898

TOPEKA, NAN. Jan. SO, 1898.
From Our Special Correspondent.
So far as legislative matters are con-
cerned everything remains at stand
still. Harmony, if such a word can be
used in this connection, prevails in the
hall Of the house of representatives.
Both houses continue to meet on their
respective sides of the hall and both
speakers occupy the same desk and
WELD separate gayels in harmonious
accord. Bills are introduced in each Of
the lower houses and read by clerks rep
resenting each particular side. In fact q
sort of legislative business is daily pro-
ceeded with by two legislative bodies in
the same hall separated by the center
aisle. inst the same as though q brick
wall reached from one end to the other
and from floor to ceiling. The only no.
ly noticeable inharmonious features are
those of the populist chaplain who each
morning invokes Divine aid for his side
without any regard for the sinners across
the center aisle; and the republican
postmaster who refuses to share honors
or space with the populist appointee and
un6inchingly declines to allow the latter
official to come inside the door and. in
order to remain secure in his position
occupies the office day and night, either
by himself or his assistant, taking his
meals and sleeping there.
Aside from these little matters the dual
harmony is maintained even to having
two doorkeepers for each entrance. The
saying that mo house is large enough to
hold two families" is each day given the
lie by the Kansas legislative two ring
circus under the same pavilion with
different management. Each day there
are rumors that on the morrow the pop
ulists will close the doors on the repubh-
cans and admit only those whom they
have upon their roll, or that the governor
will call out the state troops and by force
compel the republicans to give up their
position.
The election of United States senator
and state printer did not make the
change anticipated. The democratic
members and the Independent republican
who voted with the populists on United
States senator did so simply because
their candidate, John Martin, was q dem
ocrat and they wanted to help, not that
they wanted to recognize the populist
house, for they insist that it was not q
recognition and they are again answer
Ing the republican house roll call. The
republican leaders in the legislature
have forwarded to Washington protest
against the seating OF Judge Martin, de-
claring that he was not elected, snd that
Joseph W. Ady is entitled to the seat.
The most remarkable public document
ever filed for record in the state OF Kan
sas is the bond of state treasurer, Biddle
which has finally been approved by the
executive council. Mr.. Biddle's bond is
for one million dollars and the bondsmen
all qualify for double the amount of their
making the bond on its face
worth million dollars. Is remarkable in
that it contains the endorsement of over
three hundred people in amounts rang
ing from 800 to $4,000; including
populist, democrats and some republi-
cans. Those OF the latter political faith
were furnished by Geo. M. Seward, the
young republican who has been q clerk
in the treasurer's Office under Mr.. Slower
and is now to be assistant state treasurer
under the new administration. Mr.. Sew
ards bond is for 100000 and he is rep
resented in that amount on Mr.. Biddle's
bond. The state tressurer's Office is nov
being transferred and probably this week
Mr.. Slower will accept Mr.. Biddle's re-
ceipt in full for all monies and will walk |
out of the Office.