The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-01-06
IN SPECIAL SESSION.
Kansas LsEIslature COnEsnes at the Call OF
Gov. Lssdy 20 Act On the Rail-
road Question


By strictly party vote Of 20 70 50 the house
on the 2eth passed the bin regulating the
freight and passenger rates Of kansas railroads
and providing for the settlement Of strikes
The house also passed bill appropriaring 81. .
600 for expenses OF members Of the iegis, ature
70 date Among the new bills introduced Were-
To increase the number Of state university
students 70 seven; TO dissolve certain depopu-
lated school districts; providing for the tntic-
ton Of the death penalty In frst-degree murder
cases and requiring the governor to sign all
death warrants to perpetuate the present state
textbook commission; 70 prohibit the re-
moVal Of members OF state boards except
from Kansas who contest the payment OF
claims in the federal cOurt--s.In the senate the
railroad bill was introduced BY Senator King
Other measures included the following: Giving
counties the right to own their own telephone
systems to tax insurance companies not or
gained under Kansas laws two per cent on
gross premiums collected in kansas; 20 pre-
vent the removal from once Of any appOlntee
Of the governor after confirmation BY the SEN
ate unless BY impeachment OF after trial and
conviction in the district court
The railroad bill was read for the second
time In the senate on the S0th and further con
sideration postponed until the 31st An emer-
gency was declared and the house bill appro-
priating $4,000 for legislative expenses was
passed without opposition The joint resolu-
tiOns providing for the election Of state printer
BY the people, and for increasing the legislative
sessions TO 100 DAYS At IS q dav salary for each
man were recommended for passage In the
house q partisan debate was started when
Representative Mccarthy trep). Of Jefferson
county, called for the report Of the bribery in
vestigating committee The motion calling
for a report wCs finally tabled Bills were in
trOdUced in the house increasing the power
and the jurisdiction Of the railroad courts
creating state insurance system preventing
the granting Of franchises to street railway
companies without q vote Of the people,
and giving city councils the power TO
condemn public utilities and assume
their management and control in the
interest OF the cities The following bills
we're reported Tor passage: The McNall bill re-
curing every foreign insurance company do
ing business in Kansas 70 pay annually a state
tax Of two per cent on all premiums collected;
for state insurance OF school property: prohibit
ing the sale Of prison coal on the market; re-
ducing passenger rates to 25k cents a mile for
adults and - cents for children; for insurance
against loss by hailstOrms The latter bill
provides that so or more people who own OF
are financially interested in at least 1000 acres
Of grain may mutually insure each other against
loss BY hail The feature requiring 1000 acres
OF land was stricken out
THE railroad bill which the house had passed
on the 18th was passed by the senate on the
31st by a vote Of % ayes to 13 noes The fu-
siOnists- except Senator thinner. Of Wyan-
dOtte, voted sOlidly for the bill and the repub-
Iicans voted against It Populist Senator's
Hanna. LeWeIliDg and Fsrrelly voted for the
bill under protest Senator Lamb introduced
. resolution protesting against the seating OF
COngressm au-eIect Roberts. OF Utah and IL
was adopted without opposition. The bill
making a reduction Of % per cent in the fees
OF state printer was reported favorably- The
following bills were recommended for passage:
Creating state society Of minersi providing
for state uniformity Of textbooks; raising the
salaries OF legislators from g 70 3 per day
The house rules, as agreed upon By the populist
caucus, were adopted the republicans
voting solidly against them Brown. OF Pratt,
introduced a bill prohibiting the issuing Of
railroad passes 20 any person Among the
bills reported faTOrably were: Requiring rail-
roads 20 give stock shippers passes OF stand
responsible for the injury Of stock In ship
ments; reducing telegraph rates. restricting
the output OF penitentlary coal: requiring all
cbattel mortgage transactions to be recorded;
abOlishing the state board OF railroad COM
missioners A protest from the Kansas state
Teachers association against state uniformity
Of high school textbooks was received The
resuJmission resolution was referred back
The bill 70 let county printing 70 the lowest
bidder and the bill % elect cou mtg printers Dy
q vote Of the people we're reported adversely.
THE senate on the % killed the bill increas-
ing the regents Of the state university from six
20 seven. Senator Hanna presented q bill Tor
the election OF state Insurance superintendent;
Hanna's bill increasing the pay Of state sena-
tors from 3 70 - a day was killed The bill
creating court Of common pleas for CherO-
kee and Crawford counties passed the senate
The bill prohibiting the issuing Of passes %
anyone except railroad employees, and for the
reduction Of passenger rates to two cents a
mile were reported favorably The bill TO
abolish the state board Of pardous
was defeated lacking eight votes Of
a majority The bill giving counties
along the Arkansas river the right % raise
money 70 fight the Colorado irrigation COM
panies was defeated Among the bills passed
BY the house were the following Taxing for
eign Insurance. companies four per cent on all
premiums received on business in Kansas.
prohibiting counties. townships and cities from
voting bonds in aid OF railroads. act author
fzinR 50 or more farmers 20 organize mutual
insurance company against the destruction Of
property b. hail; an act repeating ali laws
creating and governing the present state board
Of railroad commissioners