Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-02-18
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.
Condensed Proceedings of the States Law
makers in Biennial Session at Topeka.

Condensed Proceedings of the States Law
makers in Biennial Session at Topeka.
THE bill to reduce the legal rate OF interest
from ten to eight per cent was passed by the
senate on the 9th Senators Ryan. Harris Cros-
sen and Farrelly Cpop) voting with the repuo-
icans against the bill Senator hanna intro
duced an anti-high hat bill. Titus bill for
levying tax of one mill for the support of the
common schools was favorably reported; also
Forney's bill to create the office of county as
SCISSOR. The senate passed the bill to keep run
ming streams pure. In the house the live
stock committee was authorized to meet a like
committee from the Missouri house to inyesti-
gate the Kansas City stock yards The bill to
limit the output of coal at the state peniten-
t1afy was passed, a to - The house In COM
mittee OF the whole recommended the passage
of the following bills: To repeal the metro
politan police law; to prevent the leaving or
camp fires by campers; granting ex-union
soldiers license to canvass or sell goods any
where in the state; making it unnecessary
for township candidates to file state
ments Of campaign expenses: providing
for the recording Of assignments Of real estate
mortgages The committee on elections re-
ported in favor of seating Montgomery (pop.)
over Wilson (rep.) of Stafford county. The
ways and means committee killed the bill pro-
viding for a governors mansion PalenSki
presented a bill for tax banks to create
fund to reimburse victims of failed banks;
Smith, of Brown providing for separate schools
for white and colored children in first and Sec
ond-claSS cities.
IN the senate on the 10th Young introduced a
bill for municipal ownership of waterworks,
gas or electric plants. telephones and street
railways. Senators Jumper and Morrow were
appointed the senate committee to meet
committee from the Missouri legislature at
Kansas City to consult regarding stock yards
legislation The house committee is JaQuinS,
Ravenscraft and Johnson, Of Nemaha. Among
the bills passed were: By Lewelling, to COM
pei street railways to vestibule their cars: by
Cooke, to encourage the construction of ponds
for irrigation purposes The bill fixing max
imum rate of taxation for current expenses OF
counties was killed. Among the bills intro
duced were the following To appropriate $780,
600 for an addition to the Topeka insane asy-
lum; to regulate the manufacture and
sale Of liquor. The sesate in committee
of the whole, reported for pas
sage the ELECTROMAGNETIC bill Among the
house bills introduced were: To increase the
membership OF the state university regents
from five to eight; to appropriate $4,000 for
an insane asylum at Wellington The house
committee on agriculture reported favorably
for an appropriation Of S15, 900 for a state fair
and the appointment of state fair commission
ers Trueblood's bill for change in the terms
of public officers reported fayOrably. The
house voted to make the reSubmiSSion reSolu-
tion and the initiative and referendum resolu-
ton special order for Tuesday, the 10TH
THE senate passed these bills on the 18th:
To remove political disabilities of ex-confeder-
ate soldiers; to compel the trimming of the
hedge fences to authorize graduates of the
law department of the state university to be
admitted to the practice OF law; to control
building and loan associations and put them
under the control of the bank commissioner; to
prevent the sale of oleomargarine in Kansas;
amending the law in reference to the registra-
ton OF pharmacists by increasing the fee to 81;
authorizing counties to sell by judicial sale
property bought in by it for four years at tax
sale The senate by vote of %
to 10, adopted resolution favoring
the initiative and referendum. The senate and
house each adopted a bill aboliShing Judge
Vandivert's judicial district; also the bill COM
polling street railways to vestfbu1e their cars.
Among the bills introduced were: To exempt
everybody from riding on passes except rail-
road officials and employees and to place the
Kansas City stock yards under control of the
board of railroad commissioners. The house.
by vote of 81 to %, passed the bill to abolish
the metropolitan police commission, and to
duce the fees of the state printer % per cent.
By resolution of the house Speaker Street ap-
pointed committee to investigate charges of
corruption made by Representative Keefer
against Representative Cubbison.
THE senate committee on judicial apportion-
ment introduced its bill for state senatorial ap-
portionment on the 18th. The senate in COM
mittee of the whole recommended for passage
Harris delinquent tax bill. The Sheldon anti
usury bill came up for passage: but was laid
over, retaining its place on the calendar. The
special committee appointed to examine Gar
field university at Wichita, reported that the
buildings and grounds were the best in the
state for state normal school. ReSer pre-
sented a bill making grave robbery INSIDE
meanor. The bill to exempt from taxa
ton was killed. Hart presented a bill from cit
liens Of Doniphan county asking for legislation
to cuatail the influence of Cyrus Leland in that
county The house killed the Cubbison bill
to hold city and county elections in the fall;
also Young'S bill reducing the fees of printers
on legal notices. Ury's bill to consolidate nine
western counties killed in com mittee.
Bills were introduced to elevate the department
of convicts and to prohibit hypnotism.