Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1897-01-22
BASIS FOR a KANSAS SENATE BILL
INTRODUCED YESTERDAY.
DESIGNED AS A COMPROMISE.
PROVIDES FOR THE ABOLIsHMENT
OF yANDIyERT'S DISTRICT.
Eject VIII BE TO Avoid Impeachment
Proceedings Against the Judge
Bill Already FavOrabIy Act
ed Upon in COM
mittec.

Topeka, Kas.. Jan. 21.-Cspecial) A bill
was introduced in the senate to-day by
Mr.. Lrrpfer, of Pawnee, TO consolidate the
sixteenth and Thirty-second judicial DIS
tricts, On the surface, it simply INDICATED
that the people in Western Kansas were
becoming economical, and wanted TO re-
duce expenses by cutting of the salary of
a Judge; but this is bill where the sur
face indications are misleading. 1t is in
tended 10 prevent impeachment proceed
ings against Judge S. w. Yandivert, of
Kinsley.
The bill provides for the consolidation Of
the two districts named above, and also
that the judge of the Sixteenth district
shall be retired. but shall draw pay until
the expiration of his present term Judge
Nandiyert is the judge of the SiXte snth
judicial district and Judge Andrews of the
Thirty-second. The two are To be thrown
into one, with Andrews as presiding judge.
The bill was referred TO the judicial i.p-
portionment committee, and, at 4 meeting
tonight. the committee agreed 70 report il
favorabIy to the senate tomorrow. Its
passage will be a happy solution Of what
threatened at one time TO be most dis
graceful affair.
Its failure to pass will entail an eIior-
nous expense to the state through an. i'm
parchment trial that will array neighbor
against neighbor in the Southwest.
The bill is intended as a compromise
measure between the friends of Judge YAM
divert and those of J. W. Rush. of Larned.
These two men had a misunderstanding
over the winding up of the affairs of the
defunct bank owned by Rush. NandiVert
sent Rush to jail for contempt Rush
claimed that the motives of the judge were
questionable. This started the fight, which
has grown so bitter that friends had to in
terfere. Rush threatened, to bring i'm
peachment proceedings in the senate
against the judge, and he went to work
securing evidence. Judge Yandivert has a
number of enemies in that country, and
1t was not difficult for Rush to get eyi-
dence. II is all prepared and ready to be
filed Just as the legisla cure was about 10
convene the fight had reached that point
where bloodshed was feared and the
friends of each got together and fixed up
deal 10 settle matters.
In order to prevent Impeachment pro-
ceedings which must intensity the feeling
abolish Judge Vandiyerts district and Still
permit him to draw his salary as judge
until january /, 1898. the expiration of the
term for which he was elected. This suE-
gestion proved satisfactory 10 the princt
pals, and Senator Lupfer to-day introduced
the bill. The action of the judicial ap-
portibnment committee tonight in agree
ing to report the measure fayorably will
bring II before the senate tomorrow fol
final action While the Populist senate en-.
Joys the scrap going on between VandiVer-
and Rush, two Republicans, yet the mem
hers will not likely place the Taxpayers oi
Kansas at an expense of $1,000 TO 1880
for an Impeachment trial by refusing e
pass the bill. - ,s