Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-04-20
Last Legislature Enacted
Needed Legislation.
LAWS FOR ALL CLASSES
Killed Fusion and Paid UD
a Lot of POpulistic
Debts.
A RADICAL RAILROAD LAW.


in Kansas has completed its work. adj
journed, and received such general
commentator and so little criticism
as that of 1901. Its record stands out
in holder contrast by reason of the
fact that the members chosen by the
dominant party which had control in
both its branches by decided ma jori-
ties, were chosen, assembled and did
the work of the session without any
great number of promises or loud
protestations of the great wise and
good things that they were going to
do for the plain common people. They
did not proclaim economy from the
house tops, yet the appropriations that
were made, when considered from IA
businesslike standpoint, and from the
best interests and the growing needs
and demands of the state, demonst ia tie
that it was an economical body. They
did not declare against corporations
, nor the money power, yet, they placed
upon the statute books the most radi-
cal railroad law that was ever enacted
by any state, and gave to the laborers
a most sweeping measure-their most
important request-a free employme Mt
agency law that will have its ramiti-
cations in every county and city of
Importance in the state. They did
lIot PIOItSS InclE own righteousness
or fairness. yet, replaced the outra-
geous Legislative gerrymander enacted
by the populists in 1897 with a re-
apportionment that is absolutely fair
and was so recognized even by the
opposition members. They did not
parade from public places that they
were the only party that could be de
pended upon to elevate the charita BILE
institutions of the state above the
control of party politics. yet. they
passed civil service measure for the
control of the charitable institutions
that will, in the future, make merit
the sole criterion for the employment
of those who are o care for the states
unfOrtunates. They did not condemn
McNall and his road agents merely
to secure votes, but enacted a law
which will prevent any insurance COM
missioner in the future ever follow
ing in his footsteps. 1t was purely a
business session. 1t was session
about which there was not a breath
of scandal nor a charge of corruption.
The lobbyist was conspicuous by his
absence.
The appropriations were large but
they were made to build new buildings
for our higher educational institu-
tions, to make better the facilities for
caring for the states unfortunates in
the different charitable institutions;
to show Kansas off as she deserves to
he seen by the world at the st. Louis
exposition; to build an executive man
sion for the states chief executive;
to pay for returning the brave Kan
sas soldiers from California on their
return from the Philippines; to square
mp legitimate obligations like the
l.,
lists had deferred from year to year.
They were made almost without eN-
ception for commendable purposes, for
purposes which have met the approval
of the people of the state.
For many years there has been a
demand for revision of the tax laws
of the state. No previous leyislat ure
had the courage to grapple with the
problem. 1t could not be done in n
50-days' session. The present legisla-
ture provided for the appointment of
a commission of five, two from the
senate and three from the house, who
will meet and prepare measures for
complete revision of all the taxation
laws of the state, the results of their
labor to be submitted to the next
legislature.
Probably one of the most important,
lar with all the people. of all the bills
passed was that known as the bien-
NAL election law which leads the way
to having only BIENNIAL elections in
the state. The people are tired of
every year politics, and while annual
township elections are provided for
by the constitution, this legislature
provided that all county elections in
the future shall be held only biennial
ly, and at the same time submits ed
to the people an amendment to the
next year. and which, if carried, will
do away with annual township cleo
tionS and thus enable the voters of
the state to have elections only every
other year. This will result in a great
saving to the people.
OF scarcely less Importance was the
general revision of the Australian bal
lot law in the measure known as the
anti-fuison bill. The people of Kan
sas have opposed the purchase of
Totes aud for years there has been a
and bargains and trades that were
made from year to year by one party
with another, under the guise of f,I-
sion, was even more demoralizing and
corrupting than the actual and open
purchase of votes. This measure cor
reefs this evil and in the future polit-
ical parties in Kansas must stand for
principle and place men on thei: tick