People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-04-08
NOT in VAIN.
A Summary Of Legislation Enacted By the
Late Session-Some Good Laws
Other Bad Measures Killed.

election of United States senator
aad state printer that little was
accomplished until these Offices
were disposed of. Then came the
rush of bills. OF the 607 bill.
introduced in lie senate and the
900 bills introduced in the house
only 2tl reached Governor Leedv
A stringent antitrust bill was
passed, as Was one regulating the
cost Of textbooks. One of the most
far reaching bills to reach the
governor makes it possible for any
city OF the first, second or third class
to obtain control of their own
Illuminating, water or power plant,
To prohibit the formation of trusts.
Under the provisions Of this bill two
or more personsor corporations are
unable to combine for purpose Of
controlling supply or prices. Any
corporation violating any of the
provisions shall be fined from $500
to $1,000 and be imprisoned not
more than one year.
To regulate the sale of school
) books. The bill provides for the
appointment by the governor of a
school book commission of eight
members, the state superintendent
of public instruction to be the
charm IN. The commission shall
advertise for bids to supply the state
with at rates at or below a schedule
fixed by the legislature. This
schedule cuts present rates in two.
If the commission be unable to make
contracts at the prices given, it shall
buy manuscripts and arrange for
the publication OF books needed.
For this last named purpose $780,
600 is appropriated.
To create department of grain
inspection. This bill takes the
inspection out of the hands of boards
OF trade and places it under the
control of the state inspector. The
state Inspector, under the old law,
was simply a fgure-head. The
expenses Of the new department gill
be paid out ofinspection fees.
To authorize clerks of cities to adj
minister oaths.
To redistrict the state in legislative
districts. The principal changes
are made in the short grass country
Of Western Kansas.
To require railroad companies to
fence their property on land which
is under fence.
To enable old soldiers to peddle
without a license.
To require railroad companies to
furnish free transportation to ship
pers of stock when accompanying
shipments.
To abolish the Peabody silk
station, and providing for the sale of
the property thereof.
To permit husband and wife TO
testify against each other in divorce
cases,
To prohibit railroad companies
from obstructing public highways
by leaving trains on crossings.
To authorize corporations to
become members Of mutual fire
insurance companies.
To consolidate the irrigation and
forestry commission.
To provide for the election Of
marsh j, clerk, and street commits.
Sioner in cities Of the second and
third classes.
To prohibit the penitentiary
directors from entering into a
contract for the sale of coal from
the ptnitentiary mine. 1t is pro-
vided that coal shall in no instance
be sold under the market price for
coal Of like quality produced by free
labor and sold in the general
mark>t.
To require corporations to pay
their employees in CASH, and making
it a misdemeanor for any agent OIL
a corporation to pay in anything
else.
To amend the Australian ballot
law.
To make it the duty of county
commissioners in counties having a
population of 10000 or more to