The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-17
TO COST $4,000
The Expense Of the Leg islature
Figured Out
By John w. BreidenthaI-S
eraI Laws Proposed
TO BRING MORE MONEY
Into the State Treasury The
Railroad Bill
To Be Given Right of Way First
of All.

The Populists are devising ways and
means TO spike the claims Of the Re
publicans that the special session Of the
legislature viii cost more than it is
worth, by preparing laws which will
bring revenue into the state treasury
The principal one OF these will be the
insurance law, which It is claimed VIII
bring in $4,000 annually by taxing the
gross premiums of insurance companies
doing business in Kansas.
John ". BreidenthaI says that the
special session Will not cost to exceed
S25,00O and proba bly, not $50 OOO.
The average expense Of 4 legislature
is about s., 800 per day said Mr.. Breid-
entha1- IF this session spends that
much and stays here till the last minute
that they are in Office they will spend
less than SIS, ,00O.'
Another measure which will be pass
ed TO bring in revenue is a corporation
law, making the charter fee proportion
ate TO the capital stock OF the company
Incorporating. It is claimed that this
law will bring in an additional $40. 600
per year. The POpuIists claim that these
two laws alone viii turn five times as
much cash into the state treasury ev-
cry year as the special session will cost,
to say nothing Of the indirect savings
which they claim they will bring to the
people OF the state by other legislation
The railroad bill VIII. Of course, be
the principal thing which Governor
Leedy will dwell upon IN his messa ge.
The governor left for his home in Law
renee last evening. but before he left 1t
is stated that he requested Ed Hackney
of Sumner county, CIem Fairchild Of
kingman county, and General r G.
Bradshaw of Topeka. to outline q. bill
which he might follow in his message.
Mr. Hackney really came to Topeka to
boom Wellington as a place for a third
insane asylum He and A A. Richards
learned from Governor-elect Stanley a
few days ago that one of the recon-.
mendatiOns Of the new administration
would be the building of an additional
asylum, and they have come to Topeka
to leg" for it. He was the author OF
an amendment to the senate railroad
Pill two years ago, which was finally
defeated after a bitter fight
Gen BRADSHAW. who lives out in Pot
win, was q railroad man for many
years, and it is supposed that his ad-
vice viii be vaIua bic in formulating a
railroad bill He was auditor of the St
Joseph & Grand Island when it was
first built.and latter was travelling aud
itOr of the Missouri Pacific
No bill will be adopted by the POp11-
list caucus without having to run the
gauntlet OF dozens of amendments. but
it is claimed that all of the fighting
VIII take place IN the caucus before the
bill is presented to the legislature.
One question Of Importance which the
POpu1sts are pOndering over is, shall
they keep the same committees as thew
had IN the last session. The senate will
undOu btedIy do 50, not only during the
special session, but through the regu-
lar as well, because they do not wish
to let the Republican Lieutenant COVER
nor, Harry Richter, have anything to
do with the committees
The members Of the house argue that
there viii be no time for the appoint
ment of new committees, but at the
same time, w T. Brown. Of Pratt is
chairman Of the railroad committee and
he is known to be out of harmony with
the administration on the question OF
railroad legislation In fact he was
not asked to pledge himself to the eau
Gus measure. IF the old committees are
retained Brown viii have to promise to
abide by the recommendations Of the
caucus or he may be ousted from the
craftsmanship of the railroad commit
tee.
It will be the policy Of the railroads,
so it is stated, not to oppose railroad
legislation of some sort. but to endeav-
or to have it as mild as possible In or
der to do this they viii eudeavOr to
have the P0pulist leaders caution mod
Grafton and warn the legislature not to
make q law which viii not stand the
test Of the courts