Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1897-02-20
An EXCITING DAY.
Members Of the Kansas House Indulge In .
Heated Controversy Bills Considered.

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Heated Controversy Bills Considered.
TOPEKA, Kan., Feb. 1S.-When True.
blood's resolution to appoint commit
tee to revise the calendar came up for
action In the house Speaker Pro
Temporc Weilep gave notice to the re-
publican side that the majority had de.
cided to run the wagon" over oil 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 bc transacted by a
majority and he would so rule on mat
tiers appertaining TO the business of
the house. The speaker then put the
question by viva voce vote and de-
clared II 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 tenn. 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 IRE G7 bills on general
orders ahead of the railroad bill, and
unless the calendar be cleared and I'M
important bills eliminated 1t will be
impossible, in the face OF the organized
opposition to II, to get 1t up for action
before the close OF the session, which
is only IS days off. The populists,
while they have 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 Weilcp, chairman of the popu-
list caucus, was put in the chair to do
II. The republicans protest that laws
enacted by the aid of this ruling would
be overturned by the courts, but the
populists are undisturbed by this. The
house journal will show the transac-
tons of the day and among them that
the resolution ordering the appoint
mcnt of committee to revise the cal
cudnr was passed.
Brown, of Pratt. populist, offered in
the house resolution expelling II. c.
Mayes from the floor and striking his
name from the payroll. The resolution
recitcs that Aiayes 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.
Kccfcr. of Lcavcnworth, presented
bill providing for an inheritance tax.
According To it, widow cannot inherit
more than $4,000 from the estate of the
deceased husband, and child cannot
inherit any more than $4,000.
When Senator Shcldon's anti-usury
bill came up for final action 1t was
killed, - to is. By vote OF - to IL
the senate recommended for passage
Lcwelling's bill appropriating s7i,siO
to buy Garfield university Mt Wich-
tia for II 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 to repeal the metro
politan police law. On motion the pro-
test against the appointment OF VIII
liam Rogers to be regent of the state
university was expunged from the
records.
The senate committee of assessment
and taxation has adopted a general
bill providing that all property. real
and personal, shall be assessed Mt its full
value. instead OF one-third of the value
us il is now: that u detailed inventory Of
all property shall be made, open TO
only the inspection Of county at
torneys. county clerks and boards OF