Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-01-21
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
fhe First Session Convenes and the Mem
bers Are Sworn In.


| fhe First Session Convenes and the Mem
bers Are Sworn In.
THE Kansas legislature met in biennial ses-
| non at Topeka on the Eth In the senate at
nigh noon the outgoing Northumberland.
James A Troutman, called the body together
and introduced his successor Lieut.-Gov. Har-
icy. Rev. d. d. Boyle, of Topeka. offered
prayer. Then the senators were sworn in. As
sociate Justice Allen administering the oath.
| The senate was formally organized by electing
Senator Householder (pop.) president pro tenn
over senator Sterne (rep) the vote being % to
IL. Other senate officers were chosen from nomi-
GEES OF the populist caucus, as follows: President
pro tenn, Senator Hanna; secretary, NJ. Wat
son; sergeant-at-arms, Scion Gray. The usual
committees were appointed and after listening
to the reading OF Gov. Leedy' message, the
ate adjourned until Wednesday In the house
Secretary of State Bush called the body to
der and Rev. o. L. Smith, of Sumner county,
invoked the Divine blessing. The members were
then sworn in, Associate Justice Allen admins
ter1ng the oath. w. d. Street (pop.), OF De-
catur county, was chosen speaker, receiving ~
votes to AZ for c. E. Lobden (rep.). The house
selected its other officers from the nominees of
the populfSt caucus, as follows: E. G. Weilep,
speaker pro tenn; A. d. Gilpin, chief clerk; j
NJ. DunSmore, Sergeant-at-armS; Rev. A B.
were appointed, and after listening to the read
ing OF Gov. Leedy'S message, the house adj
journed until Wednesday,
THE first bill introduced in the senate on the
18th was by Cooke, providing for loaning the
permanent school funds to citizens of Kansas
Then followed the introduction of numerous
measures, including to prevent sending
homeless children or waits into the state; to
secure uniformity of taxation of bonds and
other securities and evidences of indebtedness;
to provide a lien upon crops for labor performed
or machinery used; to establish normal school
at Wichita; to amend the ballot law; to regu-
late rates for legal printing; to reduce railroad
passenger rates to two cents; to compel the
marking of all convict-made goods; to
reduce salaries 0f1nRrS
empt from garniShment the wages
Of all laborers and mechanics who
are heads OF families; to permit cities and
townships to employ idle labor and providing
for payment of same; to compel the weekly
payment OF wages in cash; to prevent ''blacl-
listing OF employees; to prevent docking of
hogs at any market in the state; to prohibit the
coercion OF employees; to allow townships TO
erect buildings for its officers, and for the pun
iShment OF those who obtain accommodation at
hotels by deception The house held a brief
session, but no bills were introduced.
In the senate on the 18th Harris presented a
bill to regulate and control private corpora
tions; King. to regulate prices at the Kansas
City stock yards; Farrell, to exempt $50 of
debtors earnings from garnishment if neceS-
Sary to the maintenance of his family, also TO
remove the political disabilities OF all ex-con-
federateS in the state; Householder, maxi
mum freight bill, also to prohibit members and
employees from drawing pay for time not actu-
ally employed; Titus, to reduce telegraph rates;
Coleman, making county high schools compul-
sorry In the house the first bills were in
troduced, among them being the fol-
lowing: To prevent Importation of pau
per children into the state; to prevent
corporations from discriminating against labor
unions; to amend divorce laws so that plaintiff
and defendant testify; to prevent black
listing" of employees; to establish normal
schools at Concordia Fort Scott Ness City and
Norton; for state uniformity of textbooks; to
license ex-uniOn soldiers to sell wares any
where in the state; to abolish the board of par
n m rate 0f fay
ton; to provide for holding elections every four
years instead OF two; to provide for employ
ment OF destitute men on public highways; to
tax all incomes OF AZ 600, and calling for the re-
submission of the prohibitory liquor law.
In the senate on the 18th Cooke introduced
sweeping measure against accepting or giving
passes or rebates and providing penalty Of 500
to 81 ,OOO. also measure for twO-cent passenger
rates. thinner for the election of all municipal
officers in cities of 81. 900 and over. and taking
all patronage from the mayors; also requiring
commissioners in counties of IL, 900 population
to meet once month and allow and pay claims;
Helm, to appropriate 81 S37 to the W. R. c.
home at Ellsworth; Hanna, to prevent
the sale Of poor milk butter and
cheese Then after voting down HouSeholder'S
resolution to pay senators and employees only
for time actually employed the senate adjourned
until Monday 800 Hackney introduced bill in
the house apprOpriating 1870 900 to the state
university; Seaton's resubmission resolution
referred to the committee temperance;
keefer's resolution for taxing incomes over
SUN was Indefinitely postponed; a resolution
inStructing the Kansas delegation in congress
to vote for income tax
ried without division. Among the other
bills introduced were: duplicate of Caldwell'S
senate stock yards bill; to diSorganize town.
ships having less than 30 houSeholderS; dupli-
cate of Sterne'S senate bill to exempt laborers
from punishment; to require county commits
sioners, when loan is applied for, to issue a
certificate to the actual value of the land to
be mortgaged; to prohibit members OF the
legislature their relatives from holding office
under the state administration; to tax and as
sesS telegraph and telephone property; to ap-
propriate S. coo for 161 of land in Republic
county for state park The house adjourned
until Monday.
Mrs. Diggs for Leader.