Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-03-20
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
Condensed Proceedings of the States Law
makers in Biennial Session at Topeka.

Condensed Proceedings of the States Law
makers in Biennial Session at Topeka.
SENATOR JUMPERS bill prohibiting the gov
ernor from ordering Investigations of state Of
fcerS passed the senate the 10TH Among
the other bills passed by the senate was one re-
quiricg foreign life insurance companies to
pay PA per cent tax upon premiums received
from business in Kansas, and appropriating
$4,000 for sIste printing for the year ending
June 30, 1898, aad $4,000 for the year ending
June 90 1899 The bill to compel waterworks
and lighting companies to give all over six per
cent of their net profits to the city was killed
THE house, by vote of IS AZ,
killed the initiative and referendum resolution.
The house passed the anti-Pinkerton bill. The
house al~o passed the bill which prohibits pri-
vate contract of convict labor, and requires the
warden of the penitentiary to employ the sur
plus convict labor on state roads and upon
other work exclusively for the state. The judi
cial appropriation bill passed, and slight
reductions were made in several departments,
including cut to 81, 800 of the salary of the
governors private secretary. The bill to con-
solidate the irrigation board and the forestry
commission passed.
THE senate the 18th killed these bills:
Providing for four-years term for state OFF,
GERS; to repeal the metropolitan police law; re-
quiring justices and district judges to summon
witnesses to testify regarding liquor law viola
tionS Both houses agreed on amendments to
the textbook bill and it was sent to the gov
ernor; also the state university appropria-
tion BILL which provides for a reduction of 121s
per cent. in the salaries of professors Both
supreme court on salary of 81 900 per year.
The house passed Hanna's bill requiring all
waterworks and lighting plants to turn over to
cities where they operate all in excess OF six
per cent of their net profits and authorizes
cities of the first, second and third class to
purchase and construct light, heat, water
and power plants The house committee to in
vestigate the accounts of ex-State Coal Oil In
spector Taylor made its report recommending
that the matter be turned over to the attor-
ney-general for his consideration. Among the
other bills passed by the house were: Raising
the annual dues of pharmacists to 81; amend
ing the Australian ballot law; placing the
penitentiary and state reformatOry under one
board Keifer's bill to investigate the methods
of trusts and corporations was killed
THE 18th was the last day for the considera-
tion of general bills in either house. No gen.
era1 congressional apportionment bill was
passed and the only change made in the present
law to put Shawnee county in the First
district in exchange for Pottawatomie, which is
put in the Fourth district Among the bills
passed by the senate were: TO regulate the
inspection of oil; regulating the board of
gents of the state agricultural college; to dis
pose of the dead bodies of paupers and crimi-
nails to medical colleges; the anti-Pinkerton
bill; levying of 41-10 mills for
general revenues. Resolutions thanking the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and the populist majority
for courteous treatment were presented by
Hessin (rep) and passed The senate, by a
vote OF 30 to /, declared = A Riggs, popul1St,
elected Judge of the Fourth judicial district in
place of Charles A Smart, republican - The
house passed general bill removing the dis
The house voted to discharge the committee
appointed to investigate stock yards bribery
charges The house committee appointed to
Investigate charges against District Judge
Hazen, of Shawnee county, reported in favor OF
the judge, declaring the charges were OF
not sufficient Importance to warrant attention
insurance bill, which makes several
radical changes in the present methods of in
surfing property. The house killed the follow
ing bills: To compel semi-monthy payment of
wages by corporations; to retire the chancellor
from the state university board of regents; to
regulate express companies and reduce charges
of same The house passed the bill for the as
seSSment and taxation of telegraph and tele
phone companies Both houses got into a
wrapgle over the general appropriation bill and
an adjournment was taken until nine o'clock
Saturday morning.
THE senate and house on the 18th met in ad-
journed session on the general appropriation
bill As agreed upon it carries a sum approx
imating a., S11,a for the financial needs OF the
next two years Cuts were made in the salaries
of nearly all state appointive offices, except
bank commissioner and labor Commissioner.
The salaries of all elected state officers, includ-
ing supreme court and district judges, were un-
changed All employees in the state offices.
however, from the governors office down,
were reduced in salaries. Among the appoint
i've officers salaries that suffer reduction are:
Board of railroad commissioners: secretary of
the state board of agriculture, secretary of the
state historical society: state mine inspector:
superintendent of insurance; secretary of the
state board of health; governors private secre-
tary, aQ1uIanu-SeneraL SalarleS OF appellate
court judges were cut from g, 500 to 81 600.
The legislature rescinded its action
| with regard to the appointment
of q committee to investigate bribery charges
and appropriated IS, 900 to conduct thorough
| investigation. The committee consists of Rep
| reSentativeS Outcalt, RavanScraft and Grimes
| and Senators Householder and Cooke Gov.
Leedy appointed Senators King and Campbell
and Representatives W. F. Brown. Ed 7. Hack
ney and G.. W. johnson members of the
comui ssion to confer with commissions from
Texas and Oklahoma regarding reduced freight
rates to the Gulf of Mexico.