The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-07-18
Proposed Kansas Constitutional
Amendment Gives More.
Makes Allowance $500 Instead
of $l5O.
CHANGE IN ELECTIONS.
Would Elect County Officers
Only Every Two Years.
Will Be Submitted at Election
This Fall.

The voters of Kansas will be called on
to vote upon two constitutional amend
ments at the coming fall election. One
is of minor importa1ce except to MEM
bers of the legislature, but the other
is one of considerable Importance in
that it is part of the plan for the elini-
nation of part of our numerous cleo
tions.
This amendment provides for holding
township elections every two years in
stead of every year, and 1t makes the
term of all township officers two years
This is to bring all elections, county,
state and township on one day SO as to
obviate the expense of holding extra
elections. It will also allow the legis-
lature to extend the terms of county
commissioners to six years instead OF
three, SO that one will be elected every
two years instead of one each year.
The other amendment provides that
members of the legislature shall be paid
$500 for attending a regular session, and
S. day for not exceeding 80 days for a
special session, and mileage at the rate
of three cents a mile each way In at
tending any session.
1t is argued that under the present
provision it is impossible to get the best
men to become members of the leglsla-
ture because they cannot afford it. At
present members of the legislature are
allowed only So day for 80 days. They
are also allowed ten cents mile one
way. This gives the members m the
western part of the state better pay
than those in the eastern.
The regular pay of a n ember cannot
exceed $3.50 for "a session. If he lives
near Topeka his mileage amounts to
little. Out of that $3.50 he must pay
mis- campaign expenses and the cost OF
living during the legislature. But these
are not the largest items of his ex-
pense. He must neglect his personal
business in many instances if he prop
erly attends to the interests Of his con-
stituents, and this often entails a con-
siderable loss.
If a member of the legislature is hon.
est he generally comes out at the end
of the session with considerable less
| money than at the beginning, and the
honor is sometimes a doubtful one. For
| this reason it is argued that the legis-
lature is frequently filled with grafters
whose chief aim is to make money out
of their votes. 1t is claimed that If
men beFs were paid more good men
would be more anxious to be elected to
| the legislature
| The law requires that all proposed
amendments to the constitution must
| be published in each county in the sta te
| for 13 weeks before election. The clerks
| in the office of the secretary of state
| are today mailing to various newspap-
! ers copies, of the legislative resolutions
providing for the submission of the
amendments. One is senate concurrent
resolution No. and is as follows:
| Section l. The following proposition
| to amend the constitution of the state
| of Kansas is hereby submitted to the
F; qualified electors of the state for their
! approval or rejection, to wit: The con-
| StitutiOn of the state of Kansas is here
| by amended by striking out the whole
| of section of article and sections
and 4 of article of said constitution.
and inserting in lieu of said sections the
| following, which shall constitute Sec
| ton 2 of article of the constitution:
| Sec. 2. General elections and township
| elections shall be held biennially on the
! Tuesday succeeding the first Monday in
| November in the years bearing even
| numbers. All county and township Off
| GERS shall hold their offices for a term
| of two years and until their successors
] are qualified; provided, one county COM
| missioner shall be elected from each of
| three districts, numbered l, and 3, by
| the voters of the district, and the legis-
| lature shall fix the time of election and
| the term of office of such commission
| ers; such election to be at general
| election, and no term of Office to exceed
| six years. All officers whose successors
would, under the law as it existed at
| the time of their election, be elected in
| an odd-numbered year shall hold office
| for an additional year and until their
| successors are qualified. No person
shall hold the office of sheriff or coun-
| ty treasurer for more than two cOnsecu-
| tive terms.
| Sec. 2. This proposition shall be SUBJ
| mitted to the electors of this state at
! the general election of representatives
| in the year 1902 for their approval or re-
| lection. The amendment hereby pro-
posed shall be designated on the official
ballot by the following title: 1.-The bien-
! NAL election amendment to the con-
| stiution," and shall be voted for or
against as now provided by law under
| such title
| The other was house concurrent resolu-
ton No q, and is follows:
| Section 1. The following proposition
| to amend the constitution of the state of
| Kansas is hereby submitted to the quail
fed electors of the state for their approval
2 be amended to read as follows: Sec
3. Members of the legislature shall re-
| ceive as compensa ton for their services
1 the sum of five hundred dollars for reg
ular session, and five dollars per day for
any special session, and three cents for
each mile Travelled by the usual route in
| going to and returning from the place
of meeting; but such compensation shall
not in the aggregate exceed the of
one hundred and fifty dollars for any spe-
| cial session.
'-Sec. 2 This proposition shall be SUBJ
mitted to the electors of this state at the
general election of representatives to the
legislature in the year A. d. 1902, for their
| hereby proposed shall be designated on
| the official ballot by the following title:
| The amendment to the constitution re
lating to the compensation of members
of the legislature and shall be voted for
or against as provided by law under such
title
The King is Greatly Benefited.