The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-24
SENATE SQUABBLE.
FTrenlen's Tournament Is the Subject
of Controversy.

The first contest in the senate was
over the bill introduced by Senator
Peck to set aside a percentage Of the
Two per cent annual tax paid by the
ire insurance companies doing business
IN h state to be used in promoting a
state tournament for the volunteer
dremen.
The bill came I'D for discussion in
the committee OF the whole this morn
ing and \ senators lined up for and
against the bill pretty much according
TO the population Of their home towns.
nat Miller opposed the bill and
called attention to the fact that at a
tournament he remembered there was
a big piacard which said, "Firemen's
headquarters n inside was a saloon.
He thought such tournaments hould
not be encouraged.
These tournaments are simply
.blowouts' and picnics," said Senator
Noftzger. ''They are not wanted by
hi hremen in the eight counties I rep
resent."
You can't have any kind of a meet
ing where there will not be some such
headquarters, said Senator Young
who championed Senator Peck's bill.
Even at the agricultural meetings
there are such places. I do no know
what tournament the senator from
Harper refers to in speaking of the
'hremen's headquarters'@"
n Noftzger interrupted the sen
ator to say, Il mad no such reference"
said Noftzger. THE senator from
Usage made the remark. I don know
but the headquarters is the best part
of the tournaments"
n Peck's bill provides that five
per cent of the fire insurance tax be
paid annually by the superintendent OF
insurance to the treasurer of the kan
Sas State Firemen'S association to be
used in paying prizes at the yearly
tournaments. The bill was drawn by
Senator Peck at the request OF the
president and secretary of the State
Firemen's association.
When Senator Noftzger referred to
the tournaments as picnics Senator Peck
said: Let the volunteer hremen have
at least two days picnic each year.. The
annual tax from the fire insurance COM
panies mounts to $4,000 a year, or
thereabouts, and why not let some OF
the small volunteer departments receive
encouragement from this fund"
Senators Peck and Young spoke in
favor of the bill and Senate Brewer re-
ferred to a letter he had received from
the officers of the hremen's association
asking him to support the bill. Senators
Getty, Belts, Stewart, Miller and Noftz-
ger opposed the bill.
The committee of the whole referred
the bill back to the senate subject to
amendment and debate
Senator Chapman's bill providing for
a complete record of all acts concerning
real estate to be recorded by the regis
ter of deeds was recommended by the
senate committee of the whole for pass
age and will undoubtedly pass the SEN
ate.
Senator Chapman's bill will make it
possible to discover the exact standing
of real estate. The bill provides, in sub
stance, that when the title of a piece
of real estate is in any way affected by
DEGREES or judgments in district courts,
probate courts, the clerk of the u OF
the judge of the court shall send a copy
of the decree to the register of deeds
and name the parties whose interests
are affected and that the register of
ments on his records. The judges and
clerks and the register Of deeds are to
receive the same fees for recording such
proceedings as are allowed for similar
the costs of the case.
Senator Ouincy's bill to provide the
front foot rule in taxing the cost of
paving in cities of the second n third
class instead of the apportionment ac-
cording to the assessed valuation of pro-
perty brought forth considerable oppo-
sition from Senator Smith, from Frank
lin. Senator Smith thought such a rule
unjust to the property owners and the
bill went over for further consideration.
Senator Waggener offered a resolution
that the attorney general be called upon
to pass on the eOnstitutionality or d
state oil refinery, as suggested IN Gov
ernor Hoch's message, and report to the
senate. The resolution went over I'M
der the rules.
The senate received a message from
Governor Hoch, through his private sec
rotary, State Printer-elect T. A. Nc
hat he had approved the senate
appropriation bill of 81 1000 for the MAIN
tenance of the executive mansion for
the remainder of the fiscal year ending