Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-01

eau ttS ilOteSl against Inc passage Ol
this bill:"
enato Andrews' Protest.
Senator Andrews then read his protest.
as follows:
Whereas, There is now pending in this
senate an act entitled An act creating the
court of visitation. declaring the jurisGic-
uoh and power; and providing for proceed
IheS and procedure therein and.
Whereas, said act is. in my Judgment.
uhwdrranted and uncalled for by the con-
didons existing in this state. and.
! whereas, ] believe it Will be vicious and
Gsstructiye in its operation. in that it
places those owning; controlling and oper-
hllng one OF the business enterprises of the
state, before The law in the attitude or
criminals. with no rights OF property which
the law is bound to respect: denies the sa-
cred right to trial BY jury and reverses the
Lme-honored presumption. upon which is
law, to-wft; that the accused Is innocent
until proven guilty, and proceeds on the
assumption that the accused is guilty until
proven innocent: and confers upon the
court ana solution provided for therein,
unusual; dangerous and inquisitorial pow
Whereas. said act was drafted in star
chamber and debated in secret caucus. all
knowledge OF the provisions and scope of
sald act withheld from the public. and.
whereas. the vast business enterprises and
interests affected by the provisions of said
act nave been denied time, opportunity and
right TO BE heard in regard thereto, and,
whereas. that large, intelligent and desir-
able portion of our citizens who depend
Tor the necessaries and comforts of life
upon the employment furnished them by
the railroads of this state. and whose in
terests Eay be adversely affected, have
also been denied the right, lime and op-
portunity Of being heard.
therefore, l do most earnestly protest
against this said act and against its pas
sage by this senate"
No Emergency, Says Farrelly.
When Senator Anderson's name was
called he arose as if he intended TO ex-
plain his vote. He rolled up his sleeves
deliberately, slowly removed his cuffs,
stroked his long sidewhiskers and then said
in measured tones. Il vote no."
We were called together in special ses-
sion as if this were al emergency" said
Senator Farrelly. 1T is evident. however.
that no emergency exists. for this bill. as
It IS, drawn up, is not to take effect for
nearly three months from this date. In
the meantime, another legislature will have
met, transacted its business and adjourn-
ed; | am by no means satisfied with this
bill. but, in the hope that it may be pro-
ductive of some good, l will vote for it,"
Senator Lamb both explained his vote
and filed a protest against the adoption OF
the bill. His protest is as follows:
For looSeness in construction. difficulty
in interpretation and uncertainty in mean
pushed through this senate under the most
vicious gag rule that was ever adopted
by any body, stands. without a parallel in
| ne HlStOry Ol ltSlSidtIOU III NdlsdS. IL
is only equaled in this respect by the
actions of the party that stands sponsor
for it in this legislature"
Veto of the Harris Bill.
1.-TWO years ago this legislature. in ac-
cordance with the provisions of the consti-
tuition. passed a fair. just and equitable
railroad bill. That bill bore the name of
the honcred gentleman who the majority
then in power elected to the high and hon
orable office of United States senator. and
1t received the vote of every senator on the
floor. 1t went to the governor, and. to the
| surprise of all classes of people in this
state except the venal and corrupt lobby
that infested the joints of this city. hung
around the cloak rooms and committee
rooms of the state house, or piled their vile
and villainous work even on the floor or
this chamber. he vetoed the bill. He then
sought and obtained the nomination of his
party for reelection on this record. This
record was reviewed by the people of the
state during the last campaign and passed
overwhelming majority. they said 10 the
Populist party of Kansas, as did
to the Long parliament, Get you gone;
notwithstanding this verdict of the PEG,
| pie of this state. the governor has convened
this special session Of this legislature in
and in violation of the letter and spirit of
the constitution of this state. This venal
and corrupt act on the part of the governor
has only been equaled in the history of
this state by the wicked and revolutionary
acts of this senate, in denying the right 10
the people to know how members vote on
important measures. refusing the right OF
free speech and fair debate on this floor.
and classifying the records of this senate and
refusing TO correct them when gross errors
and misstatementS were pointed out.
Boyle Bill a Lobby Measure.
For these reasons 1 do not think the
present legislature a proper body to legis-
late for the people of Kansas and protest
against the action of this senate in passing
house bill No. !. 1 further protest against
its passage because il creates a long list OF
new and useless offices at high salaries TO
be paid for by an already oVertaXed people.
This bill was conceived in the brain of a
corrupt lobby which infected the members
of this body and the governor of this state
before the assembling of this Legislature
and was born in the wicked and tyrannical
caucus. which has been condemned by the
liberty loving people of this and every other
state in the Union.
1T has been passed through this senate
by the votes of members who have been
Glsfranchised by the power OF King eau
Gus; who came here with smothered con
science, smarting under the party lash,
having meekly bowed their heads and per-
mitted the caucus collar TO be suaged about
their necks.
Many of the provisions of the law are
unconstitutional: and this law Is TO be fol
repeal the present laws passed for the pro-
lection of the people against corporate
greed, thus leaving the people of this state
without any protection whatever from the
great octopus that has frightened the Pop
ulist party for the past ten years. For these
reasons j protest against the enactment OF
this law
Senator Matthew'S Protest.
Senator Matthews asked to have this pro
I test pIapp6 nm flo