Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1903-01-30
KANSAS LEGISLATURE.

The legislature met in joint session
last Tuesday and elected Geo. A clark
state printer. AS the noon horn bowed
the senators marched into Repre-
sentative hall and took their seats IN
front. After the roll was called and
quorum announced the lieutenant gov
ernor stated the object of the joint
session. Senator Allen presented the
name Of George A. Clark, the Repub-
lican caucus nominee, for printer. Bal
lard, of Leavenworth, placed Grant
Harrington's name before the session
as the nominee Of the minority.
The roll was called and as each
members name was called he arose
and cast his vote. The senators voted
first. 20 for Clark and 6 for Harring-
ton. The vote Of the house was:
Clark 81, Harrington 20. This gave
Clark total of 1913 and Harrington 80.
Clark was then declared elected. Bar
ker and Stubs, of Douglas, were alb
sent Senator Mcknight, from Clark's
own county, Geary, was also absent
He attended the caucus Monday night,
however, and voted to continue Clark
in office.
President Nicols. of the agricultural
college, is in Topeka looking after
legislation in the interests of the col
lege.
The various anti-horse thief leagues
of Kansas are sending in petitions ask
ing the legislature to make chicken
stealing a felony. 1t is now mis-
| deamor.
1t will take $4,000 to pay the postage
on Secretary Coburn's biennial report,
Just issued. A bill carrying an appro-
priation for that amount has been in
troduced in the senate.
Campbell, of Meade, has prepared
concurrent resolution. submitting to
the people for their approval, an
amendment to the constitution so as to
allow nine jurors to bring in verdict
in criminal case.
/ Senator Gabriel is after the patent
medicine concerns. He introduced a
bill that prohibits them from either
selling or advertising to sell their
medicines in Kansas unless they have
a license from the statel board OF
health.
Representative Finley, of Franklin,
has prepared his topper law and Will
put it into the hopper this week. This
bill provides for the incarceration OF
drunkards and inebriates in state
hospital 1t is a copy of the Iowa
law.
The resolution presented by Evans,
of Lyon, instructing the Kansas sena-
tors and urging the Kansas congress
men to vote for the Elkins bill giving
the interstate commerce commission
additional power, has passed the house
and was messaged to the senate.
Senator Wards resolution to investi-
gate the operations of the harvester
trust and ascertain If it is doing bust
ness in Kansas legally has passed the
house. All that now remains is for
the presiding officers of all the two
branches to name the committee.
Watkins, of Reno, put bill in the
hopper providing for the bonding OF
public officers in bond surety compa-
niles at public expense. He says this
will enable the public to recover losses
in case an officer goes wrong. Per-
sonal bonds are now given and In case
Of shortage they are usually found
worthless.
Perkins, of Leavenworth, has intro
/. duced bill in the house enabling
home cooperative companies to do
business in Kansas. He says the bill
was sent him from Kansas City and he
introduced it "by request" While the
measure doesn't mention home cos
operative concerns anywhere, its word
ing shows what the intentions OF Its
trainers were.
Senator Smith has introduced bill
giving the state school fund commits
sioners more discretion in the matter
of purchasing bonds for that fund.
Under the present law, the commission
ers are prohibited from purchasing mu-
nicipal, township or county bonds
where the total debt exceeds 10 per
cent of the assessed valuation. This
bars the commissioners from Juying
many desirable bonds. big portion
of the municipalities and townships
have more than a 10 per cent debt.
yet they are as good as gold and al
ways meet their obligations promptly.
AS a result of the present ban their
bonds do not go into the school fund.
where the interest money stays at
home, but go to bond houses in the
East. Smiths bill provides that where
the Indebtedness is over 10 per cent
and where the municipality, township
or county has not defaulted in the pay
ment of bonds or coupons within the
five years next preceding the school
fund commissioners shall use their own
discretion about purchasing their bonds