People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-01-24
LEGISLATION AND LOBBlES .
Bills that are Introduced for the Pur-
pose OF Raising the Wind.

Bills that are Introduced Tor the Pur-
pose OF Raising the Wind.
Those who are in a position to know,
say that the lobbyists are turning
their eyes toward Topeka and will be
there his week. There are certain
bills, introduced at every session Of
the legislature, which have great
drawing powers. Some are intrOduC-
ed by men who want to see them en-.
acted lotto law; others by grafters
who are trying to raise the wind, ;"
as a well Known Kansan once put it.
The Oie0mqrgarine bill has unusual
drawing powers. This means has the
support of the creamery industry Of
the state, but Notwithstanding it's
very substantial backing, it is threat
ened by attack from Republicans 10
the house and POpulists in the senate
who lately have become convinced
that Kansas does not need legislation
along this line. Agents of the Kan
sas City olcOmargarine factories are al
ready in Topeka-in fact, they have
been there ever since the legislature
convened-and their activity is mar
velOus.
The bill for the suppression Of buck
ct shops is expected to bring a crowd
of knockers to Topeka. 1t is said that
the bucketrhOp prOprietorS held a
meeting in Kansas City one day last
week and raised fund to be used in
opposition 10 the bill. The Kansas
City, Mo, bucketshop men are assist
ing their Kansas brethren in the
fight, fearing that if the Kansas leg
islature should enact a law against
> that kind OF business, the Missouri
legislature might undertake to Go
likewise.
There are Two bills in The house, the
object of which is to require the in
surance commissioner to revoke the
license Of any insurance company
(which commences an action against a
citizen of Kansas in the federal court,
or which undertakes to transfer case
from the state court to the federal
court, The insurance companies
don't want that kind Of q law, and
their agents are making arrangements
to kill the bills. The insurance lobby
also will knock the bill requiring
them to pa} damages tn the amount
of 20 per cent Of auy Judgment, the
settlement If which is delayed.
The bill TO prohibit the sale Of
cigarettes to minors, comes up with
aireguIarity inKansas legislatures,
and is just 4S regularly left to die il
committee or on the calendar. Even
the yirtu0uS DinguS, to whose COM
mittee the cIgarettee bill 10 the extra
session was referred, permitted the
measure To expire without making a
single effort to resuscltate iC. TIE
tobacco men will be there to protect
their interests.
The lobbyists for the express CON-
panies, il is said, are not so severe
this winter as they have been in the
past. There is considerable prejudice
against the express companies be-
cause they c'mpelled the people to
pay the war tax, and the lobbyists
realize thattHere is difficulty in tie
way of overcoming this prejudice.
However, tuey are not willing to have
their rates cut, and will make streE.
uous efforts to defeat the bill.
There are several bills for the regu-
lation Of doctors. They are aimed at
the multitude of So called medical
colleges which grind out diplomas on
short notice. These institutions are
great mouey.makers, and of course
do not propose to have any Of their
sources of revenue destroyed if they
can help it. 1t is said that Kansas is
a great field for them, and they are
watching the proposed legislation
with unusual interest. 1t is said that
five colleges In Chicago will be repre-
sented 10 Topeka this week.