The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-03-25
BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

| BY A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.
jefferson City. Mo-, March 24.-Three dis
T., tinct measures passed by the Democratic
| General Assembly, which has just adj
journed, have disarmed Republicans of all
chance to cavil over issues which they es-
! sayed to raise during the last campaign.
| Republicans said that the plank agains,
lobbyists was as insincere as their own
Open alliance with them was notorious. on
| setting this is the. passage of Representa-
! tive divers joint and concurrent resolu-
ton submitting TO the people a constitution
al amendment providing that all State Off
Gals shall receive free transportation over
railroads which may accept franchises from
| the State. The resolution was passed
through both branches while William FL.
| Phelps. the representative of the railroads
| and with whom the Republicans worked
| during the last campaign, was closeted with
the House Investigating Committee.
Democrats prepared and pushed through
| both branches of the General Assembly cleo
ton laws which do away with the present
so-called Nesbit law. Delegations of Demo-
| crats came from st. Louis to ask for Its
passage. Senators Kinealy, Dickinson and
McNatt. all Democrats. succeeded in get
| ting it through the Senate. Senator Mc1n-
doe of Joplin. champion of election laws
! for the minority, supported the measure
| and every Republican who was present
voted for It.
| In the House. Representatives Oliver,
| Davidson, Atkinson and Whitecotton, all
| Democrats. worked to get 1t through. Both
| we'll speaking for the Republicans. pledged
| their support. and showed their good faith
| by being one of the minority party which
| unanimously supported the measure.
FREE TEXT BOOKS.
Senator Rubey and Representative Akin
| son, both Democrats. introduced duplicate
proposed constitutional amendments. pro-
viding for tax of cents to pay for free
! text books. This measure was also advo-
Gated by Superintendent of Public Schools
Darlington, who was attacked by his Re
publican opponent in the last campaign on
this same issue for alleged opposition to
free text books. Democrats of both
branches voted for this amendment and can
now go before the people on this issue and
ask support.
Peculiarly enough. the Republicans were
compelled. for the sake of consistency, to
vote for each Of the foregoing measures
Their statements during the last campaign
forced them to take the good bills which
the Democrats had prepared.
Other measures were passed by the DEM
ocratic Assembly which will make good
campaign material. Senator Dickinson sue
ceeded In getting through blu permitting
cities of the third class TO regulate by ordi-
nance the prices which telephone companies
may charge privilege which has not ,,e been
much to cities which are asking for relief
from monopolizing companies
Senator bradley of st. Francois. Demo-
GRAFT. introduced and had passed law max
ing eight hours days work IN smelling Melting
mine owners to pay their employees every
fifteen days and railroad companies every
quired by this bill to pay their men within
ten days after the end of the work Is per
formed, All three of these measures are In
the interests Of the laboring man. Go.
INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM.
The Democratic platform contained
plank indorsing the initiative and referen,
DUN. Democrats in caucus adopted and
passed through the assembly PROPOSED pro ,s;s
Question to the people. All Of the labor or
CARNATIONS worked for this measure and