The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-19
COuncilmen Taylor Miller Wants
the Railroads Regulated.
Suggests That County Mass
Meetings Be Held.
INSTRUCT MEMBERS.
Thinks by This Means Enough
Votes Could Be Secured.
Dickinson County Contest Beard
Decides Ballot Law Point.

TAYLOR Miller a member of the city
council of Salina, wants to have the
railroads regulated again the coming
winter He suggests in a public letter
that the county commissioners of each
county call their local business men to-
gether and select from one to five repre-
sentatives to state convention to ba
held at Salina some time before the
meeting of the legislature, and that
their expenses be paid out of the coun-
ty funds. Then he would have this
state convention decide what is wanted
in the way Of railroad legislation. After
that he would have a public meeting
held in each county seat and says to
invite your state senators and repre-
sentatives to- be present and then and
there instruct them to vote for this
measure, and see that they do it" Mr..
Miller assures the public in his open
letter that this is the only feasible plan
by which the people can secure railroad
legislation
Miller has been wanting the people of
Saline county to send him to the legis-
lature for several years. He got the
Populist nomination one year, but was
defeated at the polls.
A contest board out in Dickinson
county has decided that ballots marked
with an X after the words No Nomina-
ton shall be counted. The decision is
made in case in which Bert Ramsey,
| fusion candidate for township clerk in
Lincoln township contests the election
of Fred Baker, Republican. The deci-
sion gave the election to the fusionist.
Now will the supreme court take this
as a precedent to be followed?
Representative o. G. Ballard. of Leav-
enWorth county, viii introduce a bill IN
the coming session of the legislature
providing for the building of macadam
roads by penitentiary convicts. This bill
has been frequently introduced before.
but it has never become a law. The
principal objection to it has been the
danger of convicts escaping while at
work on the roads. Other states use
their convicts in this manner. however,
and there is no reason why Kansas
should not do so also. 1t removes them
! from competing with free labor of any
kind and aceompiishes something Of
| lasting good to the state. Every man
hates to work the roads and there viii
be no objection on the part of people
in general to letting the work out to
convicts.
| George w. Duncan, of Arkansas City,
is another candidate for sergeant-aL-
arms of the house. Candida tes for this
1 place have become so numerous that
census of them will have to be taken
in order to find out who they all are.
Harry Mcmillan state senator from
the Ottawa-Salina district. disapproves
| or senator CdlQWeUS S Scneme Tor the Iu-
sionists to take hand in the election
of a Republican United States senator
and state printer. He proposes to stand
! by Senator Harris.
Representative E. R. Watkins. Of
Reno county, will push a bill in tha
| coming session to allow settlers in west
ern Kansas to take W more than Il
quarter section of school land. He wants
to let them take I'D a whole section. as
he saws a family cannot make a living
on a single quarter section when they
first settle on it.
1t is reported that Sena tor r. 3. Ward,
of Republic county, would like to be
warden of the state nenitentiary.
There will be a strong effort to pass
more stringent game laws the coming
winter. One of the provisions viii prob
ably be to prohibit the slaughter of
quail and prairie chickens for three or
four years. Another provision will D-
to prohibit outsiders from coming into
Kansas and killing off game.