The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-20

ment presented as new bill by the
| judiciary committee.
The assessment and txation bills on
| third reading took up the early part
of the session of the senate Hr1day
afternoon The committee Dill nxlng
the maximum rate Of tax levy in coun-
| ties. cities, school districts and other
| taxing districts being the first measure
considered
/ Senator Hunman's amendment to
section II was adopted, providing that
in counties having population OF
$4,000 or more. the limitation of the
chapter shall not prevent raising an
amount for current expenses OF the
lawfully raised upon the assessed
valuation for the year 1907.
AS the bill left the committee OF the
whole section II provided that in
rate of levy for general fund snail be
mills. Senator Carey offered an
amendment which was adopted re-
amendment offered by Senator Porter
was adopted to this section increasing
the maximum rate from 1 mill TO 5 u
mills for water fund to discharge ex-
fsting legal obligations for water sup
piled to the city.
An important amendment relative
to rates of levy for school purposes in
cities OF the first and second class. was
submitted by Senator Huffman as a
substitute for sections q and D. This
amendment fixed the rate of levy on
a sliding scale based on the property
valuation per pupil.
Several senators opposed the Huff
man proposition on the ground that
it would permit too high levy in their
districts, and the author Of the amend
ment thereuPon withdrew it.
The bill was finally agreed to and
passed by the senate as amended
The attempt to have the absolute
prohibitOry bill recalled from the
house occurred at this point in the
proceedings and after the proposition
was defeated the senate went into
Myers in the chair to consider s B.
No. 53S relating TO insurance and
regulating premium rates which had
been made a special order This bill
was amended in several unimportant
details and recommended for passage.
other bills recommended for passage
in committee Of the whole We're the
S. B. No. pa, by Hamilton. author
fzing the use of voting machines in
S. B. No. 4o7. by Ganse; relating to
sessions of probate courts.
s. B. No. 81, by Cambern; relating to
release Of record of oil. gas and other
mineral leases
all ehattel mortgages
S. B. No. ESQ. by Stewart; relating to
the public schools OF Wichita
s B. No. 372, by committee on state
affairs; removing the fee for issuing
reaufsition papers by the governor
s B No 11S by Lower: comforting
right of eminent domain on boards or
education in cities Of the first and sec
s. B. No. 41O. by committee on tenn
perance and hygiene; making the third
conviction for violating prohibttory
No 470 nv conrni++ee on ways
and means; appropriating money for
salaries and actual expenses of mem
oers of various state boards
s. B. No. ass. by ways and means
committee; making appropriation for
conveying prisoners to the penitentiary
for years 1910 and 1911
S. B. No. 469, by ways and means
committee; relating to the transfer OF
certain moneys in the state treasury
to the general revenue fund
s. B. No q. by judiciary committees;
declaring what shall be evidence in
cases where the original records OF
roads and highways are destroyed.
8. b No. 501, by committee on edu-
cation; to provide for normal training
in certain high schools and academies,
and TO provide for state aid to high
schools giving such normal training.
This is one of the most important Of
the educational bills introduced at the
present session
The committee of the whole arose at
5:45 p m
On motion of Senator Ganse, s. B.
No. So, a volume covering 213 printed
pages amending the code OF civil proeeo
dure, was made special order for 1880
D. m. The senate at 6 o'clock adjourn
ed until that time.
One of the most amusing incidents
OF the session occurred during the
consideration of 5. B. No. 40, making
the frequent offender against the pro-
hibitOry laws a felon. To this bill
Senator Carey submitted an amend
ment subjectiug the "old-offender" to
the death penalty. The amendment
was as follows:
Sec. 3.-Any person who shall have
been three times convicted of any vto-
latfon of any OF the laws of the state
concerning intoxicating liquors and
who shall again sell intoxicating liquor
in violation Of law or shall thereafter
keep a place where Intoxicating liquors
are manufactured, sold, bartered or
given away in violation of law shall
be guilty of a capital crime and upon
conviction thereof shall be hanged on
the main street.
Sec An acts and parts of acts
in violation of section are hereby
violated"
Chairman Myers declared the
amendment out of order. Senator Car
ey appealed from the ruling and Presi-
dent Pro Tenn Porter was called to de-
eide the ruling.
The chairman was asked to state to
the president his ruling and Senator
Myers began:
''The senator from Neosho-''
'I object exclaimed Senator Cam
bern from Neosho, ST don't want this
charge saddIed upon me-
Il mean the senator from Reno"
corrected Senator Myers THE SEN
ator from Reno submitted frivolous
amendment and I ruled it out OF or
der.
''I submit that the death penalty is
not a frivolous matter" said Senator