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

corps will be disciplined and trained
aust as soldiers are.
The temperance element OF the state
had its wants fully satisfied in the en-
actment of three laws which strength
en- the Murray law and will enable the
officers to enforce constitutional pro-
hibition II they or their constituents
want it enforced. The laws enacted
this session were the Hnrrel nuisance
bill, the county attorney bill, and the
Bowman bill, giving the prosecuting
witness the right to employ counsel
to assist the county attorney in the
prosecution Of the case.
The maintenance of schools in the
sparesly settled districts of the west
has always been big burden to the
limited number Of taxpayers of that
section. This legislature came to their
relief by enacting law providing for
the wholesale consolidation of school
districts in sparsely settled communi-
ties and giving the authorities tho
power to provide transportation for
pupils to and from school.
In the future the Mother Bickerdike
home at Ellsworth will be maintained
by the state. 1t has been private in
stitution in the past. However, the
state will now take care of the aged
mothers and wives of soldiers the
same as 1t does of the soldiers them
selves.
A couple Of measures were passed
which will result in the more prompt
payment Of taxes. The principal one
gives a county the right to foreclose
on property after having bid it in for
three years in succession for taxes and
sell it, giving an absolute title. The
other gives county the right to rent
property taken in on tax sale. These
laws will lead people to pay their tax
es. If they don't they will lose the use
OF 1t and also the title to it after
three years.
Kansas will never again be disgraced
with prize fights. Gov. Stanley got
through stringent bill against that
brutal sport and in order to shut up
every loop-hole the bill makes it q
crime to engage in boxing match.
Several bills were passed of direct
benefit to the laboring classes Hoag's
bill relating to foreclosure on purchase
money liens will enable homeseekers
to borrow money and build homes.
Under the old mortgage law this could
not be done. Laboring men can now
get homes built and pay for them on
monthly payments. Another bill that
brings them welcome relief is the one
which prefers the wages of employees
of corporations, partnerships and in
dividuals in case of insolvency. If
firm goes to the wall now the wages
of its employees must be paid before
any other claim. The bill to REQUIRE
merchants to provide seats in their
stores for their employees is the third
bill of benefit to employees, especially
women clerks.
The sugar beet bounty law which
gives a farmer 81 a ton on all sugar
heets raised by him which carries 19
per cent sugar is certain to de-
velop the sugar industry of western
Kansas.
Tramps will have hard sledging in
the state after this. Or rather they
will have hard time riding, for a
bill was passed making it crime to
steal ride on railroad train, and
clothing the trainmen with authority
to make arrests for the violation OF
the act.
In the past counties issued bonds
to aid railroads and in return got
stock in the roads which they could
not sell. They had to meet the bonds
all right but could not sell their
stock. They were generally frozen out
Of that through the reorganization"
scheme. After this they can dispose
of their stock and apply the proceeds
to the payment of the bonds for bill
authorizing that to be done was
passed.
An Industry which was given dead
lv blow by the Legislature was that of
train robbery. Under law passed
train robbery is made a crime punish
able by life Imprisonment in the PEN
itentiary.
Farmers can now join mutual hail
insurance concerns without fear of be-
ing gold bricked," for the reason that
a stringent law governing the organi-
cation and operation of hail insurance
concerns was enacted. II
Big oil concerns can no longer waste
natural gas in the gas and oil belts.
In the past if the oil companies in
boring for oil struck gas they would
let it all escape and then resume their
boring for oil. The legislature en-
acted law prohibiting the waste Of
natural gas and fixing heavy penalty {
for its violation.
Big estates or In fact estates Of any
size will not escape taxation In the future
as bill was passed requiring probate {
judges to list the property of all estates
for taxation.
Merchants In the various towns of the i
state will be protected from faklrs
through the new law against 'peddlers."
The Carpenter bill providing for the de-
portation Of nonresident insane paupers
will save the state at least 100000 year.
Kansas has been the dumping ground Of 3,
other states for years. 1t will play that {