The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1903-03-14

years, we're discussed on the floor OF
the senate last week and tue poor little
committee consolidated freight rate bill
by Bradley of St. Francois was knock
I'd on the head and a substitute pre-
rented placing the whole freight rate
matter 10 the hands OF the railway aud
warehouse commissioners. This was
only one step IN the process by which
railroad legislation is completely block
ed and we miss cur guess II any kind
of railroad legislation passes during
the session. The Jim Crow bill has
served its turn and is relegated to the
rear, although 1t may be smoked out
before the week closes.
The freight rate bill in the house and
the passenger rate bill we're engrossed
Monday, the author, Mr.. Williams,
having been subject to some caustic
cristioism for making no move 10 6ehalf
Of the bills. In this connection we note
that the st. Louls.Giobe Democrat at
temps to lay the blame for non-action
Of house railroad committee on dem
ocrats, all of which is very funny to
anyone who has ever attempted a rail
road committee meeting.
The contribution of the republican
policy will force Speaker Whitecotton
to refuse to recognize republican
speakers on any proposition and sail
through Legislation with the republi-
caus out of the question.
The report Of Senator Martins Turf
investigating committee places the big
daily newspapers in a bad light as it
shows that they knew the character OF
the companies for whom thew we're
advertising, knew them to be swindlers
and held the companies up for several
times regular rates. The swindlers
testified that they would have been un-
able to continue 10 business but fro the
advertising in city papers.
The question of lobby influence.
Doodle legislation, railroad pas es, etc.
consumed bearly five hours this week.
Murphy Of St. Louis wanted to investi-
gate Doodle lnsinuations made by Rev.
Brooks who closed up the saloons.
Dawson touched a tender spot when he
wanted to include railroad Doodle and
passes in the Investigation and as
Murphy is on the railroad committee
there was a large hustle on his part to
head off any substitute and O'Fallen
OF Holt came to his rescue with an
amendment to the substitute calling for
Investigation of state Officers and state
employees in connection with the pass
question. The debate was fast and
fnrious and was only stopped by a call
for previous question when the whole
matter was defeated Some of the dem.
ocrauic members spoke to the state
officers about it aud secretary Cook
was heard to urge a group of democrats
that he courted and would be pleased
to have an investigation 40 far as he
was concerned and thought if the re.
publicans seriously proposed an in
vestigation the democrats should let
them investigate.
The St. Louis election law bill
seems to be making headway slowly
and the changes are that there will be
nothing done about changes in the
Nesbit law. The republicans do not
seem to seriously desire changes as
they have taken no action
any of the election bills they have in.
trodnced. Their bills were introduced
the first of the session and they could
have had them before al the house
at any time since the first ten days if
they had been in earnest.
The mothers Of the state have
brought a lot of pressure to bear on
this Legislature which the cigarette
people ale having a hard time to coun-
teract but they are doing 1t, neverthe-
less. The program now is to have the
senate pass an anti-clgarette bill and
the house pass one and neither pass
the others bill-in this manner everv
legislator can go home and prove he
voted for the anti-clgarette law.
The number of local interest bills is
something astonishing. The calendars
both senate and house are loaded
down with bills which in their final
analysis are of little or no public in
terest an will uselessly cucumber the
statutes if passed. The legislature last
week made elegant progress, passed an
unusual number of bills and the pro-
spects are they will adjourn on time.