Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-02-25
AN EXCITING DAY.
Members Of the Kansas House Indulge In
Heated Controversy Bills Considered.

Members of the Kansas House Indulge In
Heated Controversy Bills Considered.
Topeka, Kan, Feb. Is. When True
blood's resolution to appoint commit
tee to revise the calendar came up for
action in the house Speaker Pro
Tempore Weilep gave notice to the re-
publican side that the majority had de-
cided to run the wagon" over all OBJ
structions put in the way Of the will
Of the caucus. lie said the constitu-
ton prescribed that the business Of
the house should be transacted by a
majority and he would so rule on mat
ters appertaininp to the business Of
the house. The speaker then put the
question by viva voce vote and de-
clared it carried. Immediately the re-
publicans began clamoring for
recognition and protesting against
the speakers ruling, but their
loud protestations were OF no
avail. Again and again the speaker
pro TEN. put the motions, each time
declaring them carried, notwithstand-
ing the objections made by repub-
licans. Not since the Legislative
'war' of four years ago had the
house chamber witnessed such exciting
times. There are 81 bills on general
orders ahead of the railroad bill, and
unless the calendar be cleared and UNI
important bills eliminated it will be
impossible, in the face of the organized
opposition to it, to get it up for action
before the close of the session, which
is only 10 days off. The populists,
while they have a good working ma
jority, have not the % ma
jority necessary to change the
rules 1t was necessary therefore, for
drastic ruling to be made by the speak
err, and Weilep, chairman of the popu-
list caucus, was put in the chair to do
it. The republicans protest that laws
enacted by the aid of this ruling would
be overturned by the courts, but the
populists are undsturbed by this. The
house journal will show the transac-
tions Of the day and among them that
the resolution ordering the appoint
ment Of a committee TO revise the cal
endar was passed
Brown, Of Pratt, populist, offered in
the house resolution expelling II. G.
Mayes from the floor and striking his
name from the payroll. The resolution
recites that Mayes is clerk of the house
committee Of live stock, and has been
guilty Of writing to the newspapers
articles rejecting upon the honor and
integrity Of members Of the house.
Keefer, of Leavenworth, presented a
bill providing for an inheritance tax.
According to it, widow cannot inherit
more than $50, 900 from the estate Of the
deceased husband, and child cannot
inherit any more than 100000.
When Senator Sheldon's anti-usury
bill came up for final action it was
killed, 22 to Is. BY q vote of 20 to Is
the senate recommended for passage
dwellings bill appropriating S74,slO
to buy Garfield university at Wch-
tia for normal school. These
bills were reported favorably:
Placing the stock yards under
control Of the railroad commissioners;
to enable the state to build north and
south railroad, and torepeal the metro
politan police law, On motion the pro
test against the appointment of Will
liam Rogers to be regent Of the state
university was expunged from the
records.
The senate committee of assessment
and taxation has adopted general
bill providing that oil property, real
and personal, shall be assessed at its full
value, instead of one-third of the value
us it isnow; that q detailed inventory of
NIL property shall be made, open to
only the inspection of county at
torneys, county clerks and boards OF
equalization.