The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-17

of the duty on hides. unless it is ac-
companied by a removal of the duty
on shoes. Representative Madison
will be relied upon to protect the in
terests of the cattlemen in regard to
the tariff on hides"
Notwithstanding the stories which
been sent out from Washington for the
past week assuring the country that
the fight for a new order of affairs in
the house of representatives has ceased
reports also find their way before the
public. A dispatch from Washington
another meeting of the insurgents
which was held that evening protest
ing against the house rules and the
power delegated to the speaker.
Kansas was well represented at this
meeting and the names of Representa-
tives Scott, Murdoch, Campbell, An
thony and Madison lead the list of
those present. In fact. Kansas was
any two states in the union.
c. A. Spencer, a young attorney OF
Oakley, who has given much attention
to the troubles in western Kansas
caused by incompetent county survey
ors, has an original idea for the COM
ing legislature. In the western coun-
ties of small population the pay for
county surveyors is too small and the
work too light to attract capable civil
engineers. Mr.. Spencer suggests as a
remedy that the system of county sur
veyors be abolished and a state survey
or as in Nebraska, or district survey
ors over a number of counties be sub
stituted Good affiliations as to
schooling am practical experience
could be required.
Arthur Cranston, representative from
Parsons, is likely to be an authority on
direct legislation in the next house. He
has given the subject considerable study
generally and on a recent stay in Eur
ope for several months, paid particu-
lar attention to this matter while in
Switzerland He thinks that by rea-
son of the recent progress of the meas
ure and its adoption by constitutional
amendment in eight states of the Union
in the past ten years, Kansas will nat
urally come soon to give the subject
close attention. Someone will probably
introduce a resolution this winter to
submit the matter to Kansas voters in
1910. The states that now have this re-
form as part of their organic law, with
the year when adopted by the people,
are: South Dakota 1898. Utah 1900, Ore
gon 1902, Nevada 1904, Montana 1906,
Oklahoma 1907, Maine. September, 1908,
and Missouri, November. 1908 Oregon
has made the largest active use of the
measure in adopting new laws, but in
other states it has q deterrent inf1u-
ence in discouraging legislators from
enacting bad laws. In some states the
measure is self-executing and as soon
as adopted, the people have power. In
others, there is need for legislation af-
ter adoption of the amendment, before
the people can express themselves. The
latter form is bad. Some states per-
NIT per cent of the people to petit
ton for and thus Initiate laws, others
require per cent. Some states give
the power of direct legislation to cities
and local communities. as well as to
the state at large. Although the meas
ure has been assailed as too democrat
ic and in contraventiOn of the federal
constitution, every supreme court that
has yet passed on the question has up
held the measure. AS our supreme court
has rigidly limited the passage of spec
ial acts, under a very proper interpre-
tation of the constitution, and as the
various sections of the state differ
widely in their needs, a proper consti-
tutional amendment securing direct leg
islation, or the initiative and referen-
dunn to counties, cities and communi-
ties, would enable the people to adopt
the provisions of general laws as their
needs might require and their situation
iuStify."