Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1905-03-01
LEGISLATIVE OBSERVATIONS.

Senator Waggener has introduced a |
bill which has passed the senate and |
which will. in all probability. pass the
house. 1t will keep the gamblers from
operating in the state il 1t is enforced;
at least it will give the county attorn-
eys the power to get evidence which
they have heretofore been unable to
get. Thisibill would work very well
in the cities OF the first class In the
state where gambling rooms are run.
1t provides: mo person shall be in
capacitated or excused from testifying
touching any offense committed by an
other against any of the provisions of
the act relating to gambling, to which
this is afnendatory, by reason Of having
participated in any. prohibited games,
or played at or with any gambling de-
vice prohibited by the laws of the state
of Kansas, but no person shall be pun
ished or prosecuted or punished on &C.
count OF any transaction, matter or
thing concerning witch he may be so
required to testify or produce evidence,
provided that nothing in this act shall
be construed to exempt such person
from prosecution and punishment for
perjury in so testifying." Under the
present law those caught in gambling
houses refuse to testify On the ground
that they may iEcrimina,e themselves.
And to think that democratic sena-
tor was the one 20 introduce the bill!
*x*
Gov. Hoch and Speaker Stubs have
both been lodging the band wagon for
the last few weeks. In speaking Of the
oil refinery recently Mr.. Stubbs said:
II have fought the bill against the oil
producers for four weeks, but I find
that the sentiment of the people is for
the bill, and have quit" Mr.. Stubbs
and the Governor evidently know when
the band wagon has passed over them.
~
The people around the state house all
comment on the fact that the strong
est lobby is that Of the railroads. The
railroads are trying to kill the bill
which the shippers want, and if they
do not succeed in killing it in the com.
mittee 1t is so full of holes that 1t will |
not hurt the railroads in the least. |
This Is good republican legislature.
*x*
Ii may be noticed that the bill pro.
yiding that the state treasurer shall de.
posit the funds of the state in ten diff.
terent banks. and that the state shall
get the interest on the deposits. has
not become law. State Treasurer
Kelly is In the lobby all the time the
legislature is In session working against
the bill. If the bill Should pass, the
state treasurer would get but the pal
try salary which the state pays, and the
bonus would be cut off.
~
Most of the democrats in the legisla.
ture are in favor OF the railroad bill
which was recommended by the ship
pers, but they are willing to accept any
bill which will help the shippers and
merchants. 1t was the democrats who
first brought up the question of railroad
rates.
~
The railroads were giving out passes
while the railroad rate bill
was under discussion. It kept the pag-
es OF the senate and house busy running
to the railroad offices for transporta.
ton which was requested by the mem.
bers.
~
It's the belief of quite number of
men who have watched the railroad
lobby for the past few days. that
they are helping on the oil refinery bill.
and such kindred legislation, so as to
keep the legislature from passing a
good, strong railroad law. They be-
lieye the refinery bill is unconstitution.
al, and that it is good policy to keep mn
the agitation and throw dust in the
eyes of the members and the people.
and take their attention away from the
important question OF railroad control
for there is no question but what if the
railroads. are controlled by appropriate
legislation, IL will quickly remedy the
evils under which the oil men are labor
ing, and will aid every industry in the
state now controlled by trusts.