Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-04-11

states, and who have been residents
there for a period Of six months or
more, shall be entitled to vote the
same as other residents Of Leaven.
worth county.
The law passed instituting civil serv-
ice in the charitable institutions of
the state is sweeping measure, and
in the future merit and not political
pull will govern in the selection of
those who are to take care of, oversee
and nurse the states unfortunates.
A measure Of special Importance
was passed applying to counties hav-
ing three representative districts
which will prevent disgraceful gerry
wandering in the commissioner dis
tricts in the future, the bill providing
that the commissioner districts shall
conform with the legislative districts
in such counties.
A measure which prohibits nepotism
in opr public schools will meet a
responsive chord throughout the
state. Hereafter no director or mem
Der of school board can be a party
to the employment Of one Of his near
relatives to a place in the schools.
Largely as personal compliment to
Gov. Stanley, who, in his four years
incumbency Of the governors Office
will have saved over the allowances
that have been annually made and
used by his predecessors, $4,000; the
legislature appropriated that amount
for the purchase and equipment of an
executive mansion. This will be a
lasting monument to the chief exec
utive's economy, yet it is creditable
act that should have been done years
ago.
Heretofore, counties have had to
collect taxes for sinking fund to
provide for the caring Of Indebtedness
that would mature years in the future,
which fund they have been unable,
under the law, to invest. A law was
passed which permits them to invest
such sinking fund in interest bearing
bonds, and thus, If they cannot take
up their own indebtedness they are
enabled to get securities that will
draw an equal rate Of interest with
their outstanding indebtedness.
Kansas cattlemen Jared well at the
hands OF the legislature. Many meas
ures Of Importance to them were en-
acted into law-more than the past
five sessions have given them. First
of Importance probably is the Fitzpat-
rick bill relating to quarantine regu1a-
tons. Under it the work of the live
stock sanitary board is reduced to a
science. The board is able to throw
every safeguard around the state to
prevent the introduction of Texas fe-
yer and other contagious diseases. The
inspectors are paid direct from the
state treasury just as other state en-
ployes are. This will eliminate all
the trouble that has been experienced
in the past in devising schemes to
raise money to pay the inspectors.
In the interest of the western Kansas
stockmen the Legislature appropriated
$1,000 to be used in procuring a rem
edv for the destruction of prairie dogs
which do pastures so much damage in
the short grass country.
The bills providing for cattle brand
to require butchers to keep
a record of marks and brands on cat
tie which they slaughter, and to pro.
hibit the driving of stock over a GER
tain distance without written per-
mission from the owner, are all in
tended to protect cattlemen from
thieves These three measures COM
bined make it almost impossible for a
thief to get out of the state with sto-
len cattle.
Two measures were passed which |
Will protect the genuine cattlemen and
cattle paper holders from any more
Grant Gillett deals. One makes it Il
Denitentiary offense to release chat
tel mortgage by fraud and the other
makes it felony to dispose of mort
gagged cattle with intent to defraud.
Another law passed which touches
he cattlemen in a tender spot is the
)ne relating to the listing of cattle
'or taxation. If a stockman can pro-
luce receipts to show that the cattle
nave been taxed in some other state
" territory that year, then they must
>e exempted from taxation in this
state. Heretofore cattle have been
'anght twice for taxation the same
year once in the state or territory
rom which they originated and again
II Kansas.
The coal miners of Kansas were Civ.
N three laws-all they asked for. One
the old law so as to prohibit
iricksters and schemers from packing
heir state convention. Another re-
luires operators to furnish a better
'ystem of supplying air to the mines,
md the third gives the state mine in
ipector additional duties and author
yes him to name three deputies, one
or each coal district in the state. The
miners, therefore, are well pleased at
he treatment they received.
Two laws touching upon the health
VI the state were enacted. The first
yives the state board of health abso-
ute power to enforce all quaran-
Inc regulations. The other creates
.t,t. l,o,,1 80 rafrs - y, +,o,, ,,l 80 |