The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-25

should nlL tnat ought to be settled at
the beginning Of the session. but there
ought to be a maximum limit
Vic9oa Murdoch has chartered three
Pullman sleepcrs to take his Sedgwick
county foofers to the Great Bend con-
there and the Wichita contingent will
occupy them during the convention
Andy Richards has chartered one Pull
man for the Sumner county crowd. The
battle cry of the Sedgwick county
rooters viii probably be, TO Victor be-
longs the spoils
CONGRESSMAN Curtis is opposed to any
member of the Kansas congressional
delegati0n seeking to go as a delegate
to the Republican national convention
net year, believing that these honors
should go to the rank and file of the
party Mr.. Curtis is also in favor of an
early convention. so that Kansas can
lead off in declaring for Roosevelt
Henry Allen and H. E. Richter are
now firm friends, notwithstanding their
estrangement during the late senatorial
campaign During the heat of the SEN
atO8 lal contest one night in the cope
land lobby Allen and Richter became
involved in a dispute over their favorite
candidates. Allen was for Stanley ana
Richter for Curtis. Each made slight
ing remarks about the others candl-
date. They started in fun, but soon
to keep them apart. Both were angry
and insisted that the other must apol-
ogize-
Tuesday afternoon both men were in
Governo. Bailey's office laughing and
chatting with one another, when
newspaper man broke in with the
query
Which one of you fellows ever apol-
Ogized to the Other?"
Both looked somewhat foolish anu
neither replied for a moment.
What do YOU suppose he's driving
at2" finally said Richter to Allen. mo-
tioning at the seeker for knowledge.
Haven't the slightest idea, SAID
Allen
It's q shame to bring up ancient his
tory in that way next observed Richter.
Since Harry has called ii to mind
viii explain it. - said Alien to the re-
porter The day after our late un-
pleasantness' we met in corridor.
Henry said Harry. we have been two
Of the darndest fools I know Of only
he didn't say darndest. Shake said 1.
and we shook"
State Labor Commissioner Lee John
son was for many years Populist.
Last fall he announced himself a
Roosevelt Republican" The recent
legislature raised his salary $500 a year.
One of the men who left a favora BILE
impression behind him among those who
watched the proceedings of the legisla-
ture was Representative Barnd of Ness
county He is the member who came to
Topeka incognito. paying his railroad
fare instead OF coming on a pass. and
trying TO find out the truth about the
senatorial candidates before their fence
riders tried TO line him Up. He asked
for no place on a committee and he had
little to say during the first part of the
session but he developed into a strong
member before the session closed Now
that he has got home and thought it
over, Mr.. Barnd writes as follows con-
Cerning the work of the legislature.
"A Just verdict as to the good or evil
of the recent session of the Kansas leg
islature probably cannot be rendered
until the results of its enactments have
passed the scrutiny Of both the people
and the courts and have been tested by
actual application. To one who assisted
in the work of the winter the conclusion
almost inyoIuntarily forces itself that
the state would have been better off had
the law making machinery never been
set UP in oDera ton. True. a number of
laws were passed that Will prove of last
ing benefit to the people, and some
possibly a much greater numbeT-Will
have little effect either for good or evil
while a few found their way to the
statute book that are absolutely vicious.
utterly indefensible, and which will
work to the det1iment of the public in
many ways
These things possibly may be said of
any legislative body. and the good may
largely overba lance the bad in this case,
but that is no real excuse that such
conditions exist at this or any other
time The closing week of the session
was little different from any other save
i'm the fact that business was pressed
more closely. and the tension was high
er. Absolutely the worst features Of
the closing hours was the unblushing
manner in which the gratis were forced
through house and senate, the miscel-
laneous appropriation bill containing
enough of that sort of thing to have ut
terIy condemned it before any self re-
specting body in the world Then there
was that other graft esta blishing the
Price raid claims commission, just for
the purpose of furnishing a snap for
some one who had been useful in put
ting through Jobs of some kind. Posi-
bly, the enacting of a law Wiping out of
existence the damnable slot machines
may in manner compensate for sins
of omission and commission and prove
the salvation of the law makers of 1903
The majority Will be held responsible by
the people for the failure to pass some
kind of a tax law-either that submitted
bv the tax commission. which cost the
state about seven thousand dollars, or
should have been redistricted congress
sionally. and there was no excuse for the
failure in that direction, save that a
measure would not be tolerated, the
only purpose of which was to enable a
few men to crafty their malice and
vent their spleen, and that class in turn
prevented the enactment of a just ap-
portiOnment-"
MEAT TRUST FORMED.