The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-20
AN ANTI-PASS BILL
Passes the Senate With Milestone
on Its Neck,
loaded DOWN WITH PROVISIONS

Which Make HI Unconstitutional and
Also UnenfOrcibIe-MereIy a~RecOrd
Maker"
The only anti pass bill of any descrip-
lion which has passed either branch of
,he legislature this session, passed the
Ienate late yesterday with only two more
votes than the necessary majority, and
Ghese were secured only after persist
ant call of the absentees.
Unfortunately the bill is weighted down
with maximum passenger rate feature
which insures its defeat in the house OF
representatives. 1t is Senator Jumpers
bill and it is more of a record maker
than anything else. 1t gives the Popu-
list senate the prestige of having legis-
lated against passes and lower cost OF
transportation.
The bill reduces passenger charges to
2 cents a mile from cents as at the
presently for adults, and half fare for
children from 4 to 10 years of age; babies
free. In order that the roads may make
this rate without sustaining too great
loss there is a clause in the bill which
absolutely forbids the issuance of any
pass or the acceptance of any pass, frank
DIT deduction by any one other than the
company's employees
The original vote on the Jumper bill
was 18 ayes to 10 noes.
After a call of the house it stood ayes
20, noes f3. Senator billiard was spotted
over in the house of representatives and
brought over to the senate. He asked:
ais this the bill that prevents Legislators
and judges from accepting passes?"
alt is" replied President TrOutman.
"Then | vote MOI.
The senators observed that he had
This made 20 ayes, IA noes. as follows:
Ayes-Armstrong Baldwin, Cooke,
Oennison, Forney, Helm, Helmick,
householder, Jumper, King, Lands,
leeds, Leedy, Reid, Rogers, Sem.
jhearer, Smith, Taylor and True.
Noes-Brown. Carpenter, Danner, Dill
ard, McTaggart, Metcalf, O'BrYan,
Reilly, Robbins, Scott, Sterne, Thacher,
WIlcockson and Williamson
Senator Reilly changed his vote from
10 to aye, and Senator Morgan arrived
md voted in the affirmative, giving the
Jumper bill % votes, the necessary ma
ority, and it was declared passed.
IRRIGATION BILL RECOMMENDED.
A Wasteful Piece of Jobbery to Provide
Places for Worthless Politicians.
The house committee of the whole
yesterday recommended the irrigation
bill which was prepared by the irriga-
lion committee. Mr.. Sutton attempted
10 have his bill which places the work.
Ing of experiments under the direction
of the state agricultural college, subs IT,
tuted for consideration. His efforts were
unsuccessful for the western members
opposed the substitution vigorously.
While Mr.. Brown of Pratt was talking
On this question someone raised the
point of order that he was not talking to
the subject but upon the general ques-
ton. 1.-The point of order is
not we'll taken," said Mr.. Brown,
for neither one of the bills has any merit
The whole thing is simply fraud There
is plenty of water in western Kansas
and everyone knows it. What the peo-
pie need is means of pumping the water
up. It is useless to create a commission
TO demonstrate thing that every body is
cognizant Of"
The bill as recommended provides for
a commission of three to hold Office two
years, not more than two of whom shall
belong to the same political party. The
salary of each memb is $1,000.
The authority of the commission ex-
tends no farther than to make expert
ments to determine the amount and To-
cation of the underhow and the best
method of utilizing it. For this purpose
the commission is empowered to con-
struct twenty irrigation wells, not more
than one of which is to be located in the
same county. No money is to be expend-
ed for the purchase of land or the erec-
ton of permanent buildings or expert
mental farming. The stations are to be
located on unoccupied school lands when
practicable, and in case such lands are
not available, donations of land of not
less than 40 acres may be received from
any municipal corporation, association or
individual
The commission is to have it's head
quarters in Topeka.
This is one of the most idiotic and
wasteful projects yet suggested. Most
of the money will go into salaries fol
pauper politicians who know nothing
about irrigation. 1t is to be hoped the
senate will kill the bill The state can't
do anything for irrigation that would
cost less than a million and the state
can't afford to spend million. We have
not adopted socialism yet.
GREENLEE BILL KILLED.
House Committee On Railroads Will Re
port No Railroad Legislation.