The Grenada sentinel., 1903-06-27
legislature Of KANSAS.
The Lawmaking Body Of the Sum
flower State Assembled In
Special Session.
4 BRIEF MESSAGE FROM GOV. BAILEY.
The legislature Urged to Promptly
Enact q Measure to Enable the
Flood Suffering Counties to Re-
place Bridxes-A Charity Bill .
Strong PrOba ablDlty.


Topeka, Kas., June 24.-The special
session of the legislature called by
Gov. VIM. j. Bailey to enact a food
relief measure convened Wednesday
afternoon, enough members having
arrived to insure a working quorum
in both houses. The principal sub
ject of contention will be whether
general relief bill or local bills shall
he passed. There seems no doubt
about the ''enabling bridge act' law
being made legal quickly. 1t also is
considered certain, from expressions
of advance members here, that q
charity bill Of some nature will be
passed. The best authorities differed
as to the legality of such action, but
as one well-known legislator re-
marked, after viewing the ruins in
North Topeka: ''The crisis seems 20
great and the need so pressing that
relief will undoubtedly be granted
and the courts can settle the legality
of such action later"
! There is some difference of opinion
| also over the question of organizing
the legislature. The ma ajority think,
! however, that the old organization
will stand. The legislators were
| shown over North Topeka's ruins by
the Commercial club before conven-
ing.
Gov. Bailey in his message sent in
to the Legislature, says:
| Gov. BRiley's Message.
"The floods which have recently
swept over a portion of our fair state
have created conditions unusual and
extraordinary. The valley Of the
! kaw and it's tributaries which but a
short time ago gave promise of rich
harvests, have been devastated by the
angry waters, villages and cities have
been inundated, homes have been OBJ
liberated and the property loss to the
citizens of our state is so vast that
at this time it's amount is but a con-
lecture. Bridges that spanned our
rivers that are absolutely necessary
for the everyday transaction of busi-
ness have. in many cases, been swept
away and others made impossible.
making necessary ;be expenditure of
large amounts of money before the
avenues of commerce can be opened.
Especially is this true in Wyandotte
county. where the immense business
between Kansas City, Kas., and Kan
sas City. Mo-, is suspended until the
river can again be bridged. While
the conditions are perhaps the most
acute in Wyandotte comfy. yet the
l same situation obtain in several of
the other counties. In some of the coun-
. ties, those charged with the reSronsi-
. bility of repairing these great losses
2 find themselves helpless under the
law to meet these unusual and extra
ordinary conditions, and it is for the
+. purpose of giving such enabling leg
islation as is necessary to meet these
emergencies. caused by the recent
flood, that 1 have exercised the pow
err vested in me by the constitution of
our state to convene the legislature
in extra session.
II regret very much that the ex-
+ igencies of the hour have impelled
ME to this action at this unusually
!, busy season of the year, but the leg
u islation, giving the counties so desir'
= ing the authority to use their credit
s. to raise the money to repair their
losses can be passed In a few hours
and I trust the great calamity that
, has come to us will not be utilized in
. an attempt to pass general legisla
. tion. -.'-..
'Assuring you of my highest per
sonal regard, and with the earnest
hope and belief that your acts dur
>. ing the present special session may
prove beneficial to the whole people
. whose interests you have in charge
- I pledge you my hearty cooperation