The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-02-22
THIS is THE LIMIT
Now Proposed to Have New Wa
terwOrks Election.
Purpose Would Be to Approve
New Law.
NODDED INTO SHAPE.
Bill Is Gradually Being Made
Satisfactory.
Powers of Commission Are Being
Strengthened.
FOLDED INTO SHAPE.

possession of the Topeka waterworlxs
in due and legal form, it must hold an
election, and vote to accept the provis-
ions of the law which the house of rep
resentatives is likely to pass relating
to the manner of control of city water
works. This is the principal change
made in the municipal ownership bill
which the house recommended for pass
age in committee of the whole at the
night session Tuesday.
1t is likely that the city will arrange
to vote upon this proposition in con-
nection with the coming city election.
This is the bill which has been draft
ed especially for the benefit of Topeka.
1t is a compromise between the bill
giving the control of the plant directly
into the hands of the city council and
the bill placing the whole responsible
ty on the board of water commission
ers.
One important change which was
made in the bill was the elimination of
cities of the third class from it's prOvis-
ions. The third class cities did not
want to get in, and so the bill was fixed
to apply only to cities of the first and
second classes
member of the board of water commits
sioners from accepting any other politi-
cal office was stricken out.
In regard to the fixing of rates, the
what strengthened. The bill as origi-
nally drawn provided that upon recon-
mendation of the board, the mayor and
council should fix rates such as they
might deem proper, reasonable, and
just The committee of the whole cut
out the discretionary power vested in
the council and said that it should fix
such rates as the board might recon-
mend.
The following are the principal pro-
visions of the bill:
Cities of the first class can have a
board of not more than three or less
than five members.
The board be given power to rec
.ommend" to the city council, but 1t
cannot act on its own responsibility.
In regard to extensions OF the mains,
which is likely to prove one OF the foot
balls to be kicked about by political in
f1uence, the bill makes strict provisions,
which are not sufficient to accomplish
their purpose so long as the board is
left in the control of the city council
The bill provides that all the revenue
derived from the operation of. the plant
shall be placed in the city treasury, in
a separate fund and shall not be paid
out except for the purpose of operating,
renewing or extending the plant from
which said fund was derived and the
payment of the salaries of the employees;
and at any time that there may be a
surplus of such fund it shall be quar-
terly placed in a sinking fund, winch
shall only be used for the purpose of
redeeming bonds that may have been
issued for the purpose of acquiring the
plant.
Killed ALBANIAN Bill.
Geo. Allaman's bill prohibiting the
marriage of whites, negroes and Chi
nese, made considerable disturbance in
the committee of the whole last night,
and was finally adversely reported on
Mr.. Allamans motion to report the bill
favorably the vote stood "a for and 80
against The house then passed a mo-
ton to report the bill adversely, and. an
effort of Dr. ALBANIAN to revive his Dill
on the floor of the house failed.
Adams of Sedgwick tried to nave run
with ALBANIAN, and moved to include in
the provisions of the bill the Irish, Ger
mans, English and Bohemians-
Glasscock of Wyandotte suggested
that Democrats also be lnciudeo;
This made P w. Goebel of Miami
mad. and he said the amendments were
an insult Goebel is not only German,
but he is a Democrat. Adams SAID ne
was Joking and withdrew his amend
ments.
ALBANIAN made a spirited defense of
his bill, but the house seemed to think
such law was an unnecessary luxury
Take OF Your Hat.
The flag dissertation bill was recon-
mended for passage last nlght- Inns
bill is a dame-daughter-o1-
tn e-American-revolu measure, ana
is intended to prohibit people using
the flag as part or parcel OF any ao-
vertisement. Some faddist back east
has imagined that the flag is liable TO
be "desecrated" Isn't it awful?
Mr. Adams got up and made a long,
twenty minute speech IN taVor OF ms
bill w. Y. Morgan arose TO question
of personal privilege ana asked upon
which side of the question Mr.. Adams
II am talking for the BILL replied
.'Then why don't you go ahead and
make motion that 1t be 1aVoraDiy
reported ~ said Morgan
Mr.. Adams did so. and the bill was
recommended without opposition
Two bills were killed in the com
mittee of the whole. One was Cow
ans bin relating to the liability of coal
miners in case of accident. The other
was a senate bill relating to fraternal
insurance orders.
Adams bill relating to the mort
gaging of real estate by the guardians
of insane persons or habitual drunk
ards was recommended for passage.
Another Conference Committee.
Conference committees are getting
thick nowadays Speaker Stubbs was
called upon Tuesday to appoint an
other to try to fix up the good roads
bill which the senate tore TO pieces
The committee is Brown OF Brown |
Mead and Thompson
Mr.. Plummer last night introduced |
a bill limiting the number of employees
in each branch of the legislature to |
81, and providing that the chief clerk
of the house and secretary of the SEN
ate shall receive Sc a day for their
services. The bill was read second
time and referred to the committee
of the whole
The house will pass the negotiable !
bill Thursday night. 1t is
q very long bill, and is to be passed
so that Kansas laws will be uniform
with the laws of twenty-seven other
states.
Severe on Burglars.
Senator Waggener's burglar bill was
talrer1 m and nassed Tuesday afternoon |