The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-23

county, Ensel R. Clark, Rice county.
Judge enson says in speaking OF
the work Of his committee: II sup
pose we have been doing about our
share of the killing, but most of the
bills which we have killed have been
of interest chiefly to lawyers. The
younger generation of awyers is in
favor Of having a good many changes
made in the established practice of
the courts, and a good many bills
changing the practice have been ad-
versely reported by this committee.
We old lawyers think that the practice
is something which should remain as
unchanged as possible, even though it
might be improved by certain changes.
Many of the other bills upon which
we have reported adversely are harm
less enough. we simply held that they
were unnecessary. We do not believe
in encouraging surplus legislation
1t was the judiciary COMMITTEES
which reported adversely on the bill
to prohibit Switching and "ambu-
terms The "snitch" or Ambulance
chaser is the lawyer who gets out
ana works up damage suits and axes
his pay in a contingent fee. When
in regard to committees
action on this bill, Judge Benson said:
W. thought that the bill was too
much IN the nature Of a joke; it
seemed to be rather intenlSd to create
a laugh by the introduction of the
terms Switching and ambulance chas-
ms ] dom know but what some sort
or a bill on this subject might be
drafted which would be a very good
thing for the legal profession"
J.. w. Ron of Kendall. the man who
was hurt while working on the state
house, and to whom a former legis-
lature allowed $1,000. will be unable
to get any further help from the pres
ent legislature. He has been trying
to get the legislature to give him per-
mission to bring a suit for damages
against the state, but on SATURDAY.. the
ways and means committee reported
adversely on his eques r. W
Creech. chairman of the committee
made his first speech during the ses-
sion in regard to the Rolf matter. He
said that as the state had already al
lowed Mr.. ROf $1,000 for his inirrfas
he did not hin any further obliga-
ton TO help Mr.. Rolf was on the state.
In speaking OF this case, the Rankin
Investigator avs
Our county citizen. J. w Roef of
Kendall. is in Topeka, -eavor TO
secure an additional appropriation for
the severe INJURIES he received some
years ago in a fall from the state
house He was an employe OF the state
at the time, Mr.. ROf has been unable
to do much since that unfortunate ac-
cldent, in the way of manual labor, and
those who are familiar with the case.
viii be glad to see him get further as
sistance from the state. That he is
alive and able to get around after his
wonderful escape from death, IS quite
-~AI~- HA~SA
One of the bills in the house which is
a little out of the ordinary is one auth
orizing the county commissioners of
Clay county to pay to Alonzo Drexel an
annual pension for life of $240.
The case of Alonzo Drexel is roman
tic. He was one Of the original set
tiers Of Clay Center He was at one
time worth $4,000. One of his charac-
teristics was his ~liberality. He gave
the city OF ella Center a park, and did
much for the upbuilding of the town
and county He invested all his money
in q grist mill. A flood washed out
his dam, causing great loss. He rebuilt
the dam. Again it was washed out,
and Drexel was ruined. Rather than
have the unfortunate man go TO the
poor house, the county commissioners
have been allowing him a small sum
each month. The commissioners want
the legislature to legally authorize
such expenditure Of the public money.
Drexel IS now a man rs years of age.
He is feeble and unable to work, but
has no family
Representative Joe uoldren tore
away from his duties as q statesman
up at Topeka the other a long
enough to go down and pay his moth
~er-in-laW q visit at Spring HILL He
and his brother started out to take a
rabbit hunt. They We're walking
along, when the brother undertook to
shoot q rabbit. Instead of hitting the
rabbit the hot distributed themselves
over the honorable person of the gem
tleman from Montgomery, fattening
themselves out on his bronzed cheek
and produced small red spots on his
Chin. None of them broke the skin,
but they stung like small blazes, and
mad the judge mad. It is a wonder
that he did not meet with serious in
jury.-Coffeyville Recorder.
The Kansas City, Kan, people are
planning to give somebody a water
franchise. and they propose to have a
special bill introduced to enable them
to escape the provisions of h pres
ent city charter act which gives most
everything to the corporations The
features of the bill for which Kanass
City viii ask are as follows:
1. Company securing franchise required
to furnish free from fire hydrants water
necessary for flushing sewers and cutters
and other reasonable public use, except
for fire protection.
. Where the pumping station mains or
any part of the water plant is located be-
yond the limits of the city. the same shall
be constructed to be within the corporate
limits for the purpose of taxation.
J. Company required to pay to the city
on the first days Of January and July OF
each year 10 per cent of its net earnings
over and above 3 per cent net on the in
Vestment, after deductins the reasonable !