Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1897-03-25

to run the gauntlet OF innumerable
amendments, offered many times in
the hope of either killing time or
killing the bill. Under the rules
unrestricted debate was allowed, and
as the previous question" could not
be ordered in committee Of the whole,
it is easy to see how even a small
number Of obstructionists might re-
tard action. IL q bill ever reached
third readiag and roll call, the rule
granting a. member five minutes
in which to explain his vote gave
another good pretext for killing time,
upon which the man with consti-
patton Of ideas and fux Of words"
was always ready to selzs. Speaking
of roll calls causes nue. to remember
that the House rules provided that
ten members could demand yea
and nay vote on any question, and
l have in mind instances where the
minority took advantage of this rule
and followed one dilatory motion with
another, demanding roll call in each
case until two or three hours would
be consumed in roll calls alone.
These are q few of the ways in
which the business of our State Leg
islature ceases to be '"business" and
becomes what some of the members
call 'horse play" Add to all the
other evils the time consumed in
selecting State Printer and United
States Senator, and you can then be-
gin to understand why no record is
made until late in the session.
Now, very pertinent question will
be: Was the late session q failure?
1 believe that except on the leading
state issue as made by the peoples
party ever since it's organization
the question Of railway freight rates
the record is perhaps the best ever
made In this state. On the railway
question, it must be admitted miser-
able failure was the result. Let ua
look at only few Of the many good
measures which became laws:
Senate bill No. 400 is an antitrust
law. 1t defines trusts and prohibits
formation Of the same and provides
heavy penalties for violation Of the
act. Senate bill No. 157 prevents
discrimination by employers against
labor organizations House bill No.
43 prevents black listing of employees
House bill No. 154 provides for re-
cordlng assignments Of mortgages.
Senate bill No. 1852 provides for trial
by jury IN contempt cases. Senate
bill No, 22O is to compel street rail-
way companies to place vestibules on
cars for protection Of motor men.
Senate bill No. 556 is to regulate
the mining Of coal at the state peni-
tertiary and to do away with the
contract system. House bill No. 10
provides for the taxation of mineral
reserves. House bill No. 456 pro-
vides that firms, corporations or COM
panies shall pay their employees in
lawful money, thus striking telling
blow at the infamous company store"
Senate bill No. 446 is Credentials
bank bill. Senate bill No. 127 is the
stockyards bill which is now being
contested in the Federal court.
Besides these, there is a law to
enable cities to acquire possession
of street car lines, water, gas, tele-
phone and electric light plants; one
providing for the distribution Of GER
tain money to the fire departments
of the state; to provide for new
compilation of the statute, cutting
out all obsolete, dead or repealed
matter; to compel railroad companies
to fence their rights Of way; to grant
ex-Union soldiers license to sell goods
IN Kansas; to prohibit railroad com.
panies from obstruCting highways;
to transfer the state G. A. r. reunion
grounds and buildings at Ellsworth
to the w. r. @. for home and hos
pital; the fee and salary bills; the
state grain inspection bill; abolishing
state board Of irrigation, also placing
all the reformatory institutions under
the management Of one board, and
number of other good measures which
| csnnot now recall.
Some one may ask why there WAS
no railroad legislation AS to why
there was not passed such railroad
bill as we have, as party, advocated,
.-..Il L.. a o,,coE,ar, boo kor1 o., AZ.