Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1899-02-18

The special session Of the legis-
lature passed IS bills, the worth 81
which will be determined as time
goes on and brings them into
question in the courts. The meas.
ure demanded by the Populists, the
railroad law, was the most import,
ant but there are other bills, per
tqining to insurance 6 corporations
which will treble the amount OF
revenues received into the state
treasury annually from such sources
The following list Of laws were
passed:
An act to authorize treasurers OF
clt'es of the third class to COM
promise deliquent road taxes.
An act creating the court of
visitation for the control of rail
roads
An act providing for the taxation
of insurance and guaranty compa-
nies 4 per cent of the gross pre-
miums of foreign companies and
per cent OF the gross premiums of
American companies.
An act repeating the metropoli-
tan police law.
An act requiring township
treasurers to make annual state
ments 10 township boards.
An act creating a state society of
labor and industry, whose sec.
shall be state labor commissioner.
An act creating the State Assoc
lation of Miners, whose secretary
shall be the state mine inspector.
An act authorizing mutual
companies to insure against loss
by hail.
An act providing for the organ
lzation and roguiatin of fraternal
beneficiary societies
An act reducing telegraph tolls
and placing telegraph companies
under the control of the court of
visitation
An act ameeding the school
book law.
An act repeating the old rail
road commissioner law.
An act placing express compa~
nies under the control of the
court of visitation,
An act reducing the fees of the
state printer
An act providing for the election
Of state superintendent OF lnsur-
ance IN 1900.
An act for the correction of evils
Of the Australian election law
The bill provides that only one
local ticket may be placed under
the same party appellation-
It Is evident that these laws hurt
the corporations, railroad, tele
graph, express, and insurance com
panies and they have had their
'ubserviant tool, Attorney General
declare the session lille
gal on the ground that there was
40 extraordinary y occasion, yet two
years ago be advised Gov Morrell
hat he could call an extra session
Is ONLY HE could decide when
he Extraordinary was necessary,
but now he decides Gov. Leedy
1ad no right to decide, and so has
made himself the laughing stock 6
Or ought disgrace on the Republ1-
ian party. It makes tho party re
'pousihle for trying to kill off these
avs before they have been tried
Or had hearing in court.
And the other State officers ev-
dentlV take no stock IN his de-
:ision as they are going on with
heir work according to the law
Is passed.
1t was taken to the District
Court and Judge Hazen, the Rep
lblican judge of Shawnee County
decided IN every case the session
vas legal; and then Goddard car
ned it to the Supreme Court. ii
Poor fellow!
And this week the Supreme
'ourt, e repubs and 1 pop) ananl
aouslv decided that the session
VAS. LEGAL, that the Governor
nd he only could decide when thel
Extraordinary time came; that tie
erm OF Legislator begins on the
nd Tuesday in January. and not
he dav elected as Goddard claim
d. And Goddard and his pet |
orporatiOns get a black eye.