The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1901-04-12
Last Legislature Enacted
Needed Legislation.
LAWS FOR ALL CLASSES
Killed Fusion and Paid Up
a Lot of POpulistiC
Debts.
A RADICAL RAILROAD LAW
Needed Legislation for Miners and FOL
the Strengthening OF the Prohib-
itory Law-Cattlemen Given
Desired Protection.

in Kansas has completed its work, adj
.iourned, and received such general
communication and so little criticism
ms that of 1901. It's record stands out
in bolder contrast by reason of the
fact that the members chosen by the
dominant party which had control in
( 9th its branches by decided ajori-
Mes, 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
We're made, when considered from Il
businesslike standpoint, and from the
best interests and the growing needs
and demands of the state, demonstrate
that il 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
most sweeping measure-their most
important request--a free employment
agency law that will have its ramiti
cations in every county and city OF
Importance in the state. They did
not profess their own Righteousness
or fairness, yet, replaced the outra-
gsous Legislative gerrymander enacted
by the populists in 1897 with 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 charitable
institutions of the state above the
control of party politics, yet, the,
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 to 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 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
vi, legitimate obligations like the
Quantrell raid claims which the popu-
, lists had deferred from year to year.
They were made almost without eX-
.ception for commendable purposes, for
purposes which have met the approval
of the people of the state.
For many years there has been
demand for revision of the tax laws
of the state. No previous Legislature
had the courage to grapple with the
problem. 1t could not be done in Il
5O-days' session. The present legisla-
-turc provided for the appointment of
commission of five, two from the
senate and three from the house, who
win meet and prepare measures for
complete revision of all the taxation
1iaws of the state, the results of their
labor to be submitted to the next
legislature.
Probably one of the most important,
and without question the most popu-
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
w, and at the same time submitted
to the people an amendment to the
constitution which will be voted upon
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 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
rotes and for years there has been
growing sentiment that the dickeis
and bargains and trades that were
made from year TO year by one party |
with another, under the guise of fu-
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 their tick '