The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-16
BARS THE LOOPH0LE.
Senate Proposes to Make 1t Lively for
Gamblers.

Gamblers.
The senate this morning passed Sen
ator Waggener's bill, which if it be-
| comes a law, will bar the one loophole
| through which gamblers have escaped
! prosecution under the gambling law.
! Senator Waggener's bill provides that:
| mo person shall be incapacitated or
excused from testifying touching any
onense committed by another against
any of the provisions OF the act relating
to gambling, to which this is amen
/ datory, by. reason Of having participated
in any prohibited games, or played at
or with any gambling device prohibited
| by the laws of the state of Kansas, but
no person shall be prosecuted or pun
1shed on account of any transaction
matter or thing concerning which he
may be SO required to testify or pro-
duee evidence; provided, that nothing
in this act shall be construed to exempt
such person from prosecution and pun
ishment for perjury in so testifying.''
Under the present law those caught in
gambling houses refuse to testify on
the ground that they may incriminate
themselves.
For about the fourth time the sen
ate took up Representative Brandon's
house concurrent resolution making
February s the last day in the house
and senate for the introduction of any
bills except bills by the ways and
ii
moved to put the resolution over until
February rs for consideration The
senate voted for this delay.
Then the senate took up the house
concurrent resolution asking for a
joint committee to investigate the
house and senate pay rolls.
The senate also adopted Representa-
tive Brady's house resolution to the
Kansas delegation in congress request
ing them to support legislation for the
suppression of the Standard Oil.
The senate then went into committee
of the whole and considered Repre-
sentative Barnes house bill providing
for county high schools in counties
where there are no high schools.
representative Barnes was invited to
explain the bill to the senate. Repre-
sentative Barnes bill provides that:
In every county in the state of
Kansas in which one or more school
districts or cities of less than 10000
inhabitants shall have maintained
high schools with courses of inStruc-
ton admitting those who complete the
same to the freshman class of the
college of liberal arts and sciences of
the University of Kansas, the county
commissioners shall levy a tax each
year of not less than One-fourth of a
mill nor more than three mills on the
dollar of the assessed valuation of the
taxable property within such counties
for the purpose of creating a general
high school fund"
This BILL" said Senator Griffin, sis
to help counties where the people viii
not vote for a county high school I'M
less it is on a trade or deal between
sections on the high school and a
court house or something of that
Sort
Senator Fitzpatrick opposed the bill
and said that there had been more
trouble in his district over high
schools than on any political
question. He did not wish the ques-
. = s.-T-t
schools in my district which we sup
port in our own way said F'itz-
patrick, land I do not wish any fur
Their burdens placed upon my people"
Senator Fitzpatrick wished the COM
mittee of the whole to recOmmen END
that the enacting clause be stricken
out. Quite q contest was stirred up
over the bill.
The principal fight was made on the
section providing that:
This act shall not be in force in
any county until its provisions are
adopted therein by a majority vote of
majority of the electors who voted for
county superintendent at the last gen |
eral election shall petition the county
commissioners requesting the adoption |
of this law, then no election will be
necessary, and the provisions of this
act shall apply in such county from
the time such result is ascertained- II
the proposition fails to carry at the
next general election, it may be resub- |
mitted in each county or part of coun- |
ty in the state to which this law may
apply. upon petition to the board of
county commissioners by 25 per cent
of the taxpayers at any general cleo !
ton hereafter.
The senators who think their coun- |
ties should have high schools favored |
this section as the means for secur- |
ing the schools but those who do not |
wish additional taxes for schools |
fought the bill.
The committee of the whole refused |
to adopt F'itzpatrick's amendment to |
strike out the enacting clause.