Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1905-01-14

a commission to tax ferrets" for
turning up property secreted from
taxation. In several counties ferrets
have recently been employed TO find
property hidden from taxation This,
of course. is very distasteful TO the
tax dodgers, and they have threaten
ed IN several Instances TO enjoin the
county board from paying commission
TO the ferret In order to get a rul-
ing on the question a county board
which has thus been threatened,
wrote the attorney general and he has
replied that the board has a legal
right 10 pay the ferret
Ninth Kansas Pythians. = The an
nual convention of the Knights of
Pythias for the Ninth district of Kan
sas met at Salina- Among those pres
ent were Grand Chancellor George NJ
Culver. Concordia; Vice Grand Chan
cellor Charles n. Miller. Minneapolis;
Past Grand Chancellor S. o. Mellow
ell. Minneapolis: Brigadier General
Uniform Rank, J. IL. Lyon, Leaven-
worth, and District Deputy Grand
Chancellor F. A Wilcox
To Succeed Churchill. - With the
knowledge of the death of Jonn H
Churchill of Dodge City, the Kansas
state board of agriculture took action
TO select a new president. The new
president will be j. w. Robson, a
wealthy pioneer stockman OF Butler
county, now first vice-president and
lately elected a member of the board
of railroad commissioners. He will
be elected at the meeting next
week.
Fight Gas company.-At Independ
ence mass meeting was called by
the mayor TO formulate a plan to Sc
cure municipal ownership of gas wells
and establish a city plant. The legis
lature will be asked to pass a bill au-
thorizing the city TO issue bonds to
the amount of $25O,000 TO buy the
present plant OF the Kansas Natural
Gas Company or to establish one in
competition.
Gambling Houses Closed. At
Wichita in accordance with 4 recent
order issued by Chief of Police Burt,
not one of the eleven gambling houses
formerly operating in Wichita opened
its doors This order following so
closely upon the closing up of the ten
derloin district is attributed to the
coming of the grand jury which has
been summoned 10 begin its work
next week.
Prison Guard Attacked.-J. II. Wall,
a guard at the state prison at Ian
sing. reports. that he was seized by an
unknown man as he stepped out of
his gate and was compelled to strug-
gle for his life. The attacker, finding
himself unable. to overcome the guard,
took to flight 1t is thought he is
some eX-convict who has a grudge
against the guard.
Wants to Be Consul. - James H.
Topeka, wants a job as consul some
where. He isn't particular where.
He wouldn't object 10 going to some
European country, but if he can't land
4 place there he will take one in
Africa. His friends are trying TO line
up the Kansas delegation in congress
for him.
Teach Commercial Science. The
Newton high school board has decid-
ed to incorporate commercial bran
ches in the course of study. Miss
Eva Beckley has been added to the
faculty to teach the new studies. H.
Z. Gender. the Wichita representative
of the Remington Typewriter com
pany. sold the school an equipment of
typewriters.
To Seurc Right-of-way. Hugh P.
Brawley. representative Of the Kan
sas Natural Gas Company, was at OF
tawa to apply for a right of way
across the county highways The
county commissioners granted the APP
plication. The contractors will begin
excavation for laying the pipe on
January 10.
Struck BY Live Wire.-On January
; while Ex-Governor w. Z. Stanley
was drivin. past in front OF the Man
haitian hotel, at Wichita, live wire
fell and struck him on the shoulder
He did not receive any of the current.
AS the wire glanced off from him it
fell on the horse. The shock knock
ed the horse down. Its injury was
slight.
Wants to Be Inspector. = Grant
Howell, of Topeka, is candidate for
state grain inspector. He believes he
has a good show to win. He buys
grain for a Topeka milling firm.
Moisture Is Needed. = The dry
weather continues and in many parts
of the state moisture is badly needed
TO improve wheat conditions. In some
of the western counties wet SHOWS
have fallen and this cereal is not SUI
fering. but generally we are needing
rain or snow.
Killed BY Blast. - At Fort Scott
Frank Franklin was instantly killed
and +. Wilhorson badly injured by
the explosion Of 4 blast. They were
at work in II sewer and accidentally
discharged a blast that they suppos-
ed had been shot.
Needing Moisture. Pratt county
farmers have had no rain since last
summer. and while the prospects for