The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-02-28
LETTER FROM THE P II
Proceedings OF the Legislature, Political
Gossip. Men and Measures.
Jen.rsoa On, Feb. IS. l90s.

Jefferson Cliy, teo. -, 1898.
The bill establishing the binding
swine factory at the PenItentary was
passed by the house Monday with only
Eve votes against it, three OF which
same from the cities. The Governors
special message on the subject of APP
preparations was construed as a con-
tinuation of his opposition to that bill
and a report is circulated that he will
vote it on the ground that the state
revenue will not admit of the expend-
ture. The feeling IN the house was
very pronounced regarding the matter.
The zevely Insurance statement
publication bill which came up in the
senate Monday encountered unexpected
obstacles and was taken out BY is
author for the purpose Of amendment.
Employees of the insurance depart
nent of the state, who are drawing
salary for doing the states work, have
0een industriously lobbying for the big
assurance companies against the bill
and one of them was on the floor of
.he senate during the debate posting
certain parties regarding points he de-
aired made. These same employees OF
the state insurance department have
been before committee lobbying on
bills calculated to benefit the big COM
panies, notably the bill repeating the
valued policy law numbers of legisla-
tors and others feel that If the state IS
20 pay the salaries of the employees of
This department they have no business
being employed as lobbyists of insur-
Ance companies or any other corpora
lions.
The bill reducing freight charges on
car load lots, which is to come up IN
che senate on Tuesday, will be one Of
important pieces of legislative work of
the session. This is the same bill that
was held up by the railroad committee
an the senate two years age. The
senate has shown q disposition tc con-
slider all measures fairly and aftel full
consideration this matter will be Justly
disposed OF.
The school text book question which
has been indicated as one of the lead
ing subjects of legislative action this
session gets in worse shape as the days
roll by. The school text book com
mittee is ~deadlocked and one faction
not only refuses to report bills favor.
ably or ~unfavorably but they refuse to
report text book bills at all. Differences
exist between democrats who seem un-
able to get together on the question.
What are known as the administration
democrats on Saturday had adopted a
resolution authorizing the committee
on rules to make provision for the
speaker to appoint four additional
members Of the text book committee 10
order to break the committee deadlock
out the committee on rules to-day did
not recommend the change in the
tules and it is questioned whether they
viii or not. The relief is now that the
text book committee Will report the
bills without recommendation and the
matter will be fought out on the floor
The republicans wish to stop all text
book Legislation and are making plan
to go into the next campaign on a
-'Free text book issue. The admin
astration wants a text book commission
of four to be named by the governor
with the superintendent of education as
a member and they want to have the
power to formulate a uniform set of
books for the state snd make contracts
as to price. The ''Free text bookn
question is disposed OF by allowing the
districts to tax themselves and W the
books. A number OF democrats agree
as to the commission and book uni.
formity but object to the governors
-'Free text book scheme, c~ontendlng
that the logical way to get at the ques-
tion is to give the people a chance to
decide the matter by voting on a Con-
stliutional Amendment, levYing a fiat
rate Of tax for that purpose all over
ahe state.
The initiative and referendum, one
of the planks Of the democratic plat