The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-29
LEGISLATIVE S1DELIGHTS

Fourteen of. the so days of the legisla-
tive session have already passed and
the legislature has not yet got down to
business.
All the local bills for vaeating lots
and townsites win be punched by the
senate judiciary local committee and
will then probably be railroaded
through.
It is almost time for the legislature to
be dropping off a few of its employees.
Those whose political claims on their re
spectfve representatives are lightest can
be spared first.
The fus;onists will also consider the
tax bill in caucus. They held their first
ton and discuss what they will attempt
to do with the bill.
Congressman Charles F. Scott reach
ed Topeka yesterday just in time to
congratulate SenatOr-elect Long on his
election. Mr. Scott came to attend the
banquet of the Kansas Day club of
which he has always been an enthusi-
astic member.
Representative Barnd's bill regarding
claims against the state makes it oblig-
atOry for such claims to first run the
gauntlet of district court and be made
in the folm Of a Judgment against the
state Than it shall be the duty of the
legislature to make an appropriation to
pay the judgment. At present there IS
opens the way for grafters to get bills
through the legislature which have not
been properly scrutinized
There is said to be a story back of
Representative Kirkpatrick's fight on
the large number OF house employees
yesterday. Two years ago it is said
Wilson county man got on the house
III rT~-,
draw his pay at the end of the session.
This made a good many people in Will
son county who have to work hard for
what they earn mad and Kirkpatrick
promised to do something towards lop-
ping off the useless employees on the
pay rolls.
Representative Linton has a bill to re-
peal the corrupt practice" feature of
the election law. This prohibits the Civ
ing of cigars, liquors, money or any
thing of value by candidates to influence
votes for them. OF course. very few
actually give money. and a large num-
Der do not give liquors. but the candl-
date who does not give away cigars il
few and far between. so that the law
1 is really farce. Mr.. Linton thinks Il
ought to be enforced or wiped off the
statute books
The lawyers of the judiciary. commit
/ tee have put their foot down on Repre-
/ sentative Canes DltiS INTENDED 10 ma Ike
! divorces harder to procure -Four years
/ ago a lawyer member of the house tried
! to get q bill through making divorce in
4 Kansas a very easy matter He frank
/ ly explained that a great many people
! go to South Dakota solely for the pur-
pose of getting divorced, thereby giving
very profitable employment to many
/ lawyers, and he wanted Kansas to es-
tablish a lot of divorce mills in this
state to help out the lawyers.
For advertising purposes for the state
the ways and means committee of the
senate thinks that $4,000 viii be
| enough In other words, that is tbs
total amount which is likely to be ap-
proDriated for the Louisiana Purchase
exposition in St Louis next year. Two
/ years a. 90 the legislature authorized an
! appropriation OF $4,000 for an exhibit
There is now another appropriation bill
calling for $3.50, 900 before the senate
When referred back by the ways and
means committee it will be cut down to
100000.
About the only hope Of Topeka get
ting the benefit Of an appropriation for
a state fair Will be that the other towns
/ in Kansas which want it will not be
able to agree on a bill so framed as to
shut this town out. Senator Vincent
from Hutchinson. has introduced bill
into the senate for the creation of ;
state fair association with seven direct
ors, six of whom shall be appointed by
the governor The seventh shall be
the secretary of the board Of agri-
culture. The board of agriculture
the State Dairymen's association. this
Improved Live Stock Breeders associa-
ton, the State Horticultural society and
the state at large viii contribute six
Under the provisions for the location Of
the fair this city's chances are about
as numerous as those Of the ephemera
hens teeth.
The state fair bill introduced into bOtf
: houses yesterday is the one under which
Hutchinson hopes to secure a state fair
It places the location Of the fair in tbs
hands of q commission to be appointed
by the governor, and also places ths
running Of the fair in the hands o
seven directors to he apaointad by tbs