The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-02-12
KANSAS LEGISLATURE

Feb 5-The House committee on fees and
salaries introduced bill regulating the
compensation of county Officers. The
measure places salaries on popula-
ton basis 1t provides the salary of county
treasurers shall be paid 500 per annum for
county having population less than 1000;
less than 8, 900 and more than 5000, $500;
more than 5000 to be ri 900, and an in
crease of 5000 for each additional 5000
, population, the maximum to be $1,000 with
clerk hire. Salaries of county clerks
are to be same as treasurers in
counties under 5000, with increase
for each 5000 above 5000 The
maximum salary for superintendent
of public instruction is to be 81 ,000 and the
minimum SO day for time actually en-
ployed, not to exceed $50 days per year. The
salaries of county attorneys are limited to a
maximum of 81 800, with fees of per cent
of all moneys collected. Clerks of district
courts are to receive fees which are
not to exceed 81 900 in the counties
with a population between $4,000 and
10000, with an increase of 5000 for each
additional 5000 to maximum of $4,000.
The salaries of sheriffs are to be
on a fee basis, the maximum in the
largest counties to be $500 The
salaries of probate judges are limited
to a maximum of $4,000 Registers of
deeds in counties with a population of be-
tween $4,000 and 10000 are to have 81 900
additional 5000 population. fee book,
open at all times to the inspection of the
public, Is also provided for, and many
changes are made in the duties of officers.
The Senate passed the judiciary commit
tee bill providing for the punishment of
J persons who shall conceal, injure, destroy,
sell or dispose of chattel mortgaged prop
erty; Caldwell's bill to prevent the discrim-
ination of corporations or individuals
against members of labor organizations;
Harris bill to establish trial by jury in
, cases of contempt of court and restricting
the powers of judges and courts in con-
tempt proceedings and four unimportant
! bills.
Feb. 4-Mr Keefer of Leavenworth intro
duced in the house a bill to fix the rate of
interest on any loan secured by power or
pledge at not to exceed ~ per cent month
and on any chattel mortgage at 10 per cent
per annum. The penalty provided is S1O0
fine or Imprisonment and forfeiture of five
times the amount of the loan to the bor-
rover. Mr. Larimer of Shawnee presented
petition signed by 25S men and women
of Kansas praying the legislature not to re-
submit the prohibitory anne ndment Most
of the day was devoted to work by the
various committees considering bills re-
ferred to them.
In the Senate Helm of Ellsworth intro
duced bill 20 provide for the appointment
in each county of public defender. This
official'S duties are to defend all parties
charged with criminal offenses who are I'M
able to procure counsel at their expense.
The Senate committee of the whole re-
ported for passage Senator Farrelly's bill
against tranwre cking. The bill fixes PEN
atty for trainwreckers of from five to ten
years in the penitentiary, and where life
is lost by reason OF sal d wreck the penalty,
upon conviction, shall be capital punish
ment. large number of bills were re-
ported unfavorably from committees.
Feb. 3-After a sharp debate the House
invited w. j. Bryan to address the Legis-
lature when it should be convenient for him
to do So The House concurred in the Sem
ate resolution calling for a conference of
representatives from Kansas, Oklahoma and
Texas to discuss the feasibility of construct
ing the North and South railroad. Senate
bill reducing fees for county printing was
defeated.
In the Senate Farrelly's bill providing for
the death penalty was defeated. 16 to IL.
The Senate non concurred in the House
resolution urging the governor not to APP
point a coal oil inspector and forest COM
missioner until the legislature has acted on
the bills to abolish those places. Senate
ways and means committee introduced
bill authorizing the state treasurer to take
up 5000. 900 of the bonded Indebtedness of
the state during the coming year. The SEN
ate passed bills reducing the salaries OF the
officers of Cherokee and Barton counties.
AS committee of the whole it recon-
mended for passage the anti-blacklisting
bill.
Feb 1.-The House passed bills to appro-
Ipriate 10000 to meet deficiency in the
current expenses of the Kansas Agricul-
tural college; to appropriate $14, 900 tor the
current expenses for the Agricultural col
lege for the fiscal years of 1898 and 1899;
making ffty-eight pounds of red and fifty
two pounds of Kafir corn bushei; to APP
propriate money for the current expenses
of the Osawatomie asylum, and to appropri-
ate $9, go to make improvements at the Ag-
ricultural college.
The Senate passed the following oils: The
Householder act relating to charitable In
situations; the anti-dockage BILL an act re-
curing commissioners of counties having
over % 600 inhabitants to meet and pay all
claims the first Tuesday of each month; an
act limiting the power of counties, town.
Ships school districts and cities to create
Indebtedness; bill authorizing the sale of
the Peabody silk station and abollshlng the
board of silk commissioners; the bill to
abolish the Thirty-third judicial district
and to provide for its attachments to other
districts; bill relating to the method or
settlement of an estate
Feb 1.-The House refused to adopt the
adverse report of the temperance commit
tee on Mr.. Seaton'S resolution to reSubmlt
the prOnlDItlOn question, anu OIueIcu tudI
the resolution be placed upon the calendar
under the head of general orders. Tue
House committee of the whole reported IA
vorably on Mr.. Botkin's biIl establishing the
weight OF a bushel of Ka1r corn at f1ftv-sX
pounds The Senate resolution, instructing
Kansas members of Congress to vote against
retirement of greenbacks, was indefinitely
postponed by an almost unanimous vote
An act fixing the amount a railroad COM
pany is liable for for killing of stock was
introduced in the House by Tapscott of
Hamilton 1t provides that railroads shall
pay 50. so for each American sheep; S1.oO
for Mexican sheep; Texas cattle, $40 for
yearlings S14 for 2-year-olds 800 for s.
year-olds SIS for cows; American cattle,
S12 for yearlings, SIT for 2-year-olds, S25
for 3-year-olds, $50 for 4-year-oldS, $40 for
cows and AZ. so for calves.
The Senate adopted resolution request
ing the Kansas members of Congress to
work for the passage of a new income tax
law in line with the decision of the Supreme
court The Senate passed the concurrent
resolution offered by the committee on
state affairs providing for the appointment
of a committee to confer with similar COM
mittees from Texas and Oklahoma about the
North and South" railroad proposed by
Governor Leedy in his message. Senator
Forney introduced joint resolution for
constitutional convention.