The Topeka state journal., 1908-01-17
Mr.. Stubbs Would Have Legis-
latfve Reference Library.
Organization to Be Left to State
Library Directors.
HELP OUTLA AWMAKERS
Would Include Record of All
Current Legislation.
Amendments of State Tax Laws
Are Proposed.

An appropriation Of $4,000 is car
ried in a bill introduced this morning
by w. R. Stubbs creating a legislative
reference library. 1t will be followed
by bill prohibiting the professional
lobby from interfering with the de-
iberations of the members of the
legislature.
This is the plan adopted in the
state Of Wisconsin, and is said to be
giving good satisfaction in that state
lows:
Section 1. Organization of a. leg
islative reference library is left to
the directors of the state library
section 2 provides that the direc-
tors Of the state library shall appoint
librarian and such clerical force as
is necessary.
Section 8 says: 1.-THE said legislative
reference library shall prepare and
have available for use explanatory
check lists and catalogues of the
current legislation of this and other
states, catalogue lists of the bills and
resolutions presented in either branch
OF the legislature, check lists of the
several public documents of the state
including all reports issued by the
various state departments. boards
and commissions. and dfgests of such
public laws of this and other states
as may be thus made available for
legislative use. 1t shall have standard
WORKS OF use and reference and cata-a
logue files Of such other printed
matter as may be required 1t shall
give the members of the legislature
such aid and assistance in the draft-
ing OF bills and resolutions as may be
asked. Said department shall also
investigate the manner in which laws
nave worked in other states that the
legislature and the committees and
members thereof shall have the full
est information upon the matters re-
latfng to their duties.'
Section authorizes the reference
ibrary to cooperate with all other
libraries supported by state funds to
meet the needs of the legislature.
| Sections and 6 relate to the pur-
chase of supplies for the reference
! library and the appropriation of 81 600
to pay the bills
Stone Adopts HasaxelPs Suggestion.
Representative Robert Stone of
Shawnee this morning introduced i'm
| the house a joint resolution asking
congress to call constitutional con-
vention for the purpose of fixing the
United States constitution to provide
for the election of United States sena-.
tors by direct vote. This is what
Oklahoma did, and what Governor,
Haskell asked Kansas to do When
thirty states join Oklahoma, congress
| is obliged to take the desired action.
Under the rules, a joint resolution
| takes the course of a regular bill. 1t
was read a second time and referred
to a committee.
Minor Changes in Tax Laws
Three bills making minor changes in
the tax commission law were intro
duced by the committee on assessment
and taxation. The bills were prepared
by the tax commission and are intend
ed to help in the enforcement of the
law. They also covered some minor
flaws in the law which the commission
has found.
Miller Reapportionment Bill Again. =
The reapportionment bill introduced
by Mr.. Miller of Haskell county year
ago was introduced again today by
Mr.. Miller. 1t takes one representa-
| tive each from Jefferson, Franklin and
Brown counties and gives a repre-
| sentative each to Haskell. Seward and
Greeley counties. These three coun-
ties are now Joined to other counties
for legislative purposes.
troduced bill providing for a re-
cording tax on mortgages and exempt
ing the mortgage from further taxa
| ton. 1t provides that the recording
tax shall be fifty cents on each 500.
Mortgages which have not paid the
recording tax are subject to taxation
like their personal property.
Hits the Spoilers a Jolt.
]. w. Kiff of Atchison has a bill in
tended to stop "gum-shoeing' for
jointists. 1t provides that fee of $25
shall be paid to attorney general or
cutions of jointists. That is all the fee
that is to be allowed. ALI the other
fees are to go to the county school
fund. 1t has been the practice to
have persons gather evidence and get
pay for the work from the fee the
attorney received. The bill is in
tended to stop this practice.
To Preserve Natural Gas.
Whenever the supply Of natural gas
| becomes low the companies that pipe
gas must not take any out Of the state
are the terms Of a bill introduced by
]. w. Holdren of Montgomery coun-
| ty. The bill was intro dtuced to pro-
tect Kansas users of natural gas and
heavy penalty is attached when a
company pipes gas outside the state
when its supply is not sufficient for
all of its Kansas customers or those in
Kansas who may want gas.
| No. 33. By Mr.. Kiff-An act relating
| to the sale of Intoxicating liquors. to
amend section 2476 of the general stat
utes of Kansas of 1901, relating to the
payment of costs in cases brought by
the assistant attorney general.
| No. 34 By Mr.. Kiff-An act to amend
section 1927 of the general laws of 1901.
No. 35. By Mr.. Kinnison-An act re-
| lating to terms of court in the Thirty
second judicial district, and repeating
all acts and parts of acts in conflict
| herewith.
No. s. BY Mr.. Gants-An act to auth
orize the board Of county commission
ers of Usage county to erect bridge
across the Marias des Cygnes river.
| No. 81. By Mr.. F1anigan-An act
| to refund $500 of bonds issued by it
1888.
nv1 %