The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-01
SNEAKS THROUGH
Wichita's Bill for Separate
Schools Passes Senate.
InnocentIy Masked Behind L.
brary Provision.
WAS NO DISCUSSION.
Senator Waggener Only One to
Vote i'm Opposition.
Coal Rate Bill Is Passed in
Senate.

While the senate was mapping, Sem
ator Stewards bill allowing the sepa-
ration of the races in the Wichita
public schools was passed. Nobody
knew what was being voted on until
Senator Waggener arose and said:
LAS this is the bill providing for
separate race schools in Wichita l
vote no."
The senators who were opposed to
this plan couldn't believe it, but the
vote was allowed to stand
In all outward respects the bill was
innocent of any poison" 1t was en-
titled: Concerning the public schools
in cities of the first class, and provid-
ing a free library therein" The free
library proposition was the blind be-
hind which the gun was placed Inc
real purpose of the bill appeared in
this paragraph: 1.-THE board of educa-
ton shall have power to organize
maintain, regulate and CLASSIFY me
schools of such city, and to exercise
the powers conferred by the general
laws of the state in relation thereto.
and shall have power to define ana nA
boundaries for children in their atten-
dance upon the schools.
Wichita is working under a special
act which forbids separate schools.
The Stewart bill makes the general
laws of the state, which do permit
separate schools, apply to the ooard
of education of Wichita.
Nick ChiIes was on hand few min
utes after the terrible news leaked out,
and it is expected that the Dill VIII
have some opposition in the house.
Coal Rate Bill Passed.
The senate bill making an Is per
cent cut in coal rates was put on final
passage and passed by vote of p to
12. There was no debate The roll
call was as follows:
For the bill-Benson. Brewer.
Chapman, Dolley, Fulton. Getty, Gill
bert, Hamme, HAYDEN, Hodges, Huff
Martin CT Wocdson. Miller. Quincy.
Robertson. Simons, Stannard, Stewart,
Tucker, Wilkerson.
Against the bill--Betts. Blaker.
Buschow, Caldwell, Conner. Fitzpat-
rick. Harrison. Haskell. Noftzger. Per
ter of Crawford. Porter of Montgom-
cry. Stillings. Waggener.
Absent-Carver. Griffin. Lower,
Smith, Young.
Final Vote on Mileage Book Bill
The final vote on the senate's mile
age book bill, reducing the rate on
transportation in 500 mile lots to >
afternoon. Nearly everybody climbed
into the band wagon, and the vote was
"a to 6. The six senators who voted
in the negative were Getty Hodges.
Young.
Senator Brewer the author of the
fiat 2-cent rate bill. voted for the bill,
and explained his vote. He said:
ct made my fight upon the floor of
the senate for fiat two cent passage
fare for everybody, but a ma jority of
this body has thought it wise to amend
my bill by making it a two cent mile
age proposition. 1t is my Judgment
that this is only delaying the original
measure, and the fat two cent rate is
sure to come within the near future
However. always believe that a half
loaf Is better than none. and 1 do not
desire to deny my people, or the peo-
pie of the state Of Kansas. the benefitr
which they will derive from this tive
cent mileage proposition. 1, there
fore. vote aye
Senator Getty also explained his
vote He said: This bill simply
makes an exception to the Scent fare
for the large buyer of transportation
do not believe in that sort of meas
ure, and vote no."
Senator Young's explanation was as
follows: The supreme court of the
United States having declared a law
like this one unconstitutional, and
that the bill itself is class legislation
in that ii provides that those who NAV
be able to buy a mileage book of 500
miles may ride for cents per mile
while those who are unable to buy
such mileage book must pay cents
/ vote no."
Senator Robertson fled his cxplana-
ton in the form of a protest. 1t said:
81 desire to enter my protest against
the passage of the substitute for senate
bill No. 9, as being the most outrage
ously discriminating measure ever at
tempted to be placed on the statute
1t is an insult to the common people
who do the work. pay the taxes and
who build up the state. who travel oc-
casionaIIy and for short distances, and
who too often have not the money in
hand to buy transportation at whole
sale.
'erhe people would have been con-
tent with a 21z cent rate for all as
showing a disposition on the part of
their servants here to do something in