Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-02-26
mo MORE BILLS
THIS session
but There Already Has Been Over
l,6O0 Introduced.
MANY TO GET THE RATCHET

VI u1lAc III
Doth Houses ceased at six O'Clock
tuesday evening. This is a lit
Tie bit earlier than they generally
cut off this introduction Of bills
out there are SO many of them
now that will never see daylight,
that It was thought useless to
take any more time on new bills.
The number introduced by both
houses totals 1fO3, of which ga
are Senate Bills and .959 House
Bills. A great majority of bills
are killed in various committees.
The Committee that has the most
work, Ways and Means and Judi
iary, kill about sixty per cent OF
the bills that are referred to
them. This still leaves a large
number to be acted upon by the
Committee of the Whole.
F.. The two contests in the Sen
ate have been settled. In the
case of Getty VS.. Milton, Milton,
the Democrat, retains his seat.
In the case of Caldwell VS.. Moore
Caldwell, the Republican, is seat
ed. This latter case might be
written up with the title. The
Story Of the Indellble Lead Pen
cli,HSs, .On.the face of the returns,
Mr.. Moore had a majority Of
22.' The contestants agreed TO
submit to a recount Of ballots
and when they had counted the
thirteen hundred and some ballot
in that district, there were 1876
ballots upon which the attorneys
could not agree. This still left
Mr.. Moore majority OF IA votes
but when they came to go over
the, objeeted-to ballots, and com
'Rale them to the strict letter
of the law, it was found that
ballot after ballot cast for Moore
in Bell ~ which is a railroad
town, had been marked with an
indelible lead pencil. There was
no denying the intent Of the vot-
er for to vote for Mr.. Moore
sthat as his ballot wasmarked wit
indslble lead pencil when moth
ing but black should be used,
and when they finally got
through, Caldwell had Z majority
The bill to raise the salary OF
Secretary Coburn, $25OO to So
OOO'has been passed by the Senat
and will doubtless receive favor
The various good roads laws
have passed the House. The fIrs
able action in the House.
one for action was one creating
the office of County Engineer OF
Highways, The bill as original
ly drawn, contained the compul-
sorry provision for the appoint
ment by the County Commission
ers of County Engineer in all
counties having a population Of
more than ten thousand. This
matter was thoroughly thrashed
out. When the bill passed had
been amended so as to raise the
minimum population to twenty
Thousand. Counties under that
minimum may have road engln'
eer if the County Commission
ers deem it wise but there is no
compulsion. The bill provides
for the placing of the construc-
ton of Kansas roads in the
hands. of experts and raises near
" -four million dollars per year
for that purpose. This money is
roisad nv a noll tax of three dol
lars on each male citizen between
twenty-one and fifty-five years
of age and a levy Of a tax of one
mill on sllthe property in the
State. This levy is made by the
townships themselves. The town
ship board is made Commission
ers of roads and highways in
their respective townships and
they have to appoint a road over
seer for each road district in the
township who shall serve for a
term of two years. The said
Commissioners have control and
general supervision Of all roads
and highways in their respective
townships. For the purpose OF
carrying out the provisions OF
the law. the commissioners OF
=
each township shall recommend
to the county commissioners 4, q
wv of not more than one mill
90 all the property in such town
ship and seventy-five per cent
Of all moneys collected from the
taxable property in each road
~ K = q =