The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-09
LONGEST ON RECORD.
Senate Threshes Out Bill Covering "a
Pages.

The senate committee of the whole
Wednesday afternoon threshed out the
longest bill yet introduced, and one
of the most important measures of the
session, and recommended it for pas
sage by the senate.
This bill of "a pages and SO sections,
which required a continuous perform
ance on the part of two reading clerks
of more than two hours to read, was
introduced early in the session by SEN
ator Getty, from Kansas City, Kan.
The object of the bill is set forth in
the title as follows:
''In relation to natural watercourses,
providing for the protection, control,
deepening, widening, removing Cd
StructionS from, changing, regulating,
establishing and maintaining the chan
nels Thereof; the construction, mainten-
ance and repair of IeveeS along the
same to prevent overflow and the rails
ing or elevation of railroad tracks and
public highways that interfere with
the construction and regulation of
drains and other works conducive to
the public health, convenience and well
fare in districts subject to overflow;
and to these ends providing for and
authorizing the organizat ton of pub
lie corporations to be known as drain
age districts, and describing the du-
ties and defining the powers of such
public corporations.
The lobbyists of the railroads and of
the Kansas City packing houses have
made a strenuous fight on tn bill
During the discussion of the bill Sen
ator Getty who has before shown that
he was utterly fearless of the railroad
lobby, took occasion to tell the senate
that the railroad and packing house
lobbyists have fought the bill but that
they consented to its passage If cer-
tain amendments We're made Senator
Getty questioned whether the consent
of the lobbyists was necessary before
the senate could pass a bill.
THE railroads and packing houses
oppose the bill because it invests in a
board of directors for drainage dis
tricts and such directors have the pow
er to regulate the height of bridges
and levees and railroad grades, etc,
which in any way affect the district in
time of flood.
'aThe lobbyist of Swift & Co., Ar
mOurs and the Electric Light company
told me that he would withdraw all OPP
position if I would amend the bill as
he Wishes" said Senator Getty. I hold
in my hand paper, which [ picked up
in the writing room of the Copeland
which says, Watch Getty; XII Dram
age bill by amendments. Now you
know as much as 1 do what that means
but you also know that some amend
ments have been offered here, which IL
adopted viii defeat the purpose of this
bill"
The senate committee of the whole
recommended the bill for passage.
The senate Wednesday adopted the
following resolution, offered by Senator
Simons, which provides for another
constitutional amendment:
BE it resolved by the legislature of
the state of Kansas, two-thirds of
the members elected to each house
concurring therein:
Section 1. The following PROPOSE
ton to amend the constitution of the
state of Kansas is hereby submitted to
the qualified electors of the state for
their approval or rejection: That sec
ton of article be amended so as to
read as follows:
"Sec. 2. There shall be a probate
court in each county, which shall be |
court of record, and have such pro- |
bate jurisdiction and care of estates |
of deceased persons, minors, and per-
sons of unsound mind, as may be pre- |
Scribed by law and snail nave JurlS- |
diction in cases of habeas corpus. This |
court shall consist of one judge, who |
shall be elected by the qualified voters
of the county, and hold his office two /
years. He shall hold court at such /
times and receive for compensation |
such fees or salary as may be pre- I
scribed by law. The legislature may
provide for the appointment or selec- |
ton of a probate judge pro tenn. when /
the probate judge is unavoidably abb !
sent or otherwise unable or disquali- |
fed to sit in any case
'Sec. 8. This proposition snail be
Submitted to the electors of the state /
at the general election of representa- |
tives in the year 1906 for their APP I
proval or rejection The amendment
hereby proposed Shau pc oes.Stiateo
on the official ballot by the following !
title: The probate judge amendment
TO the constitution and shall be voted I
for or against as provided by law
under such title"
Some time ago Senator Waggener in,
troduced a resolution, which was ADOPTED
bv The senate, calling for the printing and
of the report of Chancellor /
Strong of the State university. The report /
was distributed among the senators yes
terdav but was not comprehensive enough |
to suit the senator from Atch1son, and ne !
introduced another resolution that Chan-
ceIlor Strong be required to make a more I
detailed report to the senate covering the /
wear 1904 and giving the number of stu
dents. employees and their pay, expenses,
ETC. of the university.
The senate Wednesday afternoon con-
CURED in the house amendments to the
senate bill providing for me establishment |
of state printing plant
Wednesday afternoon the senate took up
Senator Dumont Smiths bill making oil
nine lines common carriers and placing
them under the Jurisdiction Of the board