The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-24
QUIT ON MARCH 5
Senate Adopts Resolution for
Early Adjournment.
Will Cease Consideration of
Bills on March 1.
FOR GOOD ROADS.
A dmiuiSfra fiau piII Roooivoe, n
Administration Bill Receives @.
X. of Upper House.
Only Requires Signature of
Governor to Become a Law.

current resolution providing that the
1909 session of the state legislature
adjourn at p. M. Friday, March s.
At the conclusion of the passing OF
bills on third reading the Stewart res
olution was taken up by the senate
In addition to fixing the time for fina
adjournment, the original resolution
provided that consideration of their
own bills by the senate and house, ex-
cepting appropriation bills, cease at II
p. M, Saturday, February 81; also that
consideration of all bills and messages
from either house cease at p. m
"Wednesday, March 8.
An amendment was offered by Sena-
tor Stavely changing the time for ces-
sation OF the consideration of bills to
p. m, Monday. March l. This amend
ment was adopted by IA to IL after
which the resolution as amended was
passed without dissenting vote.
After an interesting discussion the
senate finally passed the good roads
bill, known as H. B. No. 751 by the
committee on roads and highways. The
bill was amended in several details but
as passed it is not materially differ
ent from the original bill.
One of the changes was in reducing
the age limit of persons subject to road
tax. from 50 to so years. The provision
permitting persons to work out their
tax in lieu of paying it in cash, was
eliminated and a provision was in
serted requiring estimates Of cost of
work to be made by the county engi-
neer of highways, before any work is
undertaken.
The good roads bill was brought up
for consideration subject to amend
tor Brady. This bill provides that in
counties of more than 10000 inhabit-
ants the county commissioners shall
appoint a county engineer of highways
and bridges, which shall have super
vision over the roads.
Senator Brady offered an amendment
to section 2, which was adopted, pro-
Vidtng that the county engineer shall
portance and the amount of travel
over them and these roads shall be kept
in condition in accordance with their
Importance.
by Senator Hodges, was adopted. pro-
viding that before any work on the
roads is undertaken, the county engi-
neer shall furnish the commissioners
of the cost of the work and the con-
tract price shall in no case exceed the
estimate.
Senator Anderson offered an amend
ment reducing the age limit of men
liable to pay a road tax from So to |
80 years Senator Murphy wanted the |
limit placed at As years and Senator
Leidy of Butler county slppOrted the
natured badinage was INDUCED in by |
senators on the age question and SEN |
ator Robertson asked Senator Leidy |
how old he is.
Il submit" replied Senator I,eidv
that to ask the senator from Marshall |
(BroWn) the senator from GreeIeyi
(Glenn) or myself. how old we are is
Each of the three senators men
toned are unmarried and the other
conceded that the bachelor
senators should not be required to go
on record as to their ages
The Murphy substitute was defeated
and the Anderson amendment fixing
the age limit at 80 years, was adopted
by Is to 10. -
A rather heated controversy deveIon-
ed between Senators Hodges and Teidv
In the discussion of an amendment of
fered by the former that the provision
IN section .. permitting persons to work
out road tax in lieu of paying the tax
In cash, be stricken out
Senator Hodges declared that the
provision to which he objected is the
present law and that the practice per-
mitted under it has not been con
ducive to good road building
To this statement Senator I,eidv
took exceptions and among other things
Tt is a curious fact that whenever
anything relating to the farmers comes
up here, the lawyers, the doctors. the
newspaper men. the insurance agents.
lumbermen and the merchants, know
IL about it and proceed to tell the SEN
ate what to do
Continuing Senator Leidy charged
that the down-trodden farmer is al
ways getting the worst of it, and he
grew eloquent and oratorical in plead
ing the farmers cause.
At this point Senator Carey made
the point of order that this is the sec
ond time the senator from Butler has
plucked the feathers from the eagles
tail" The point was not sustained
In replying to the charge of unfair
ness on the part of business and pro-
feesional men toward the farmers
Senator Hodges declared that such as
sertions as had been made by Senator
Leidy were ''the veriest rot and pIav
ing to the galleries" He insisted that
it is reasonable to suppose that towns
people or farmers who may only per
out of each year cannot perform as
efficient service as experienced road
builders, who make that work their
business. Senator Hodges quoted from |
the speech of Mr.. Page, the govern
ment good roads expert. who said thai
work on roads performed by a citizen
because of statutory provision in work
Ing out his road tax has not been
proved efficient. Such work is gen
orally performed grudgingly and with
out purpose of making better roads
but rather with the idea of simply dis
charging the obligation on the tax
books.
Senator Leidy. in replying to Senator
Hodges speech, drew the inference that
the latter had cast reflections upon the
brains possessed by the farmers With
some degree of asperity the two sena-
tors clashed on this point Senator
Hodges insisted that no such inference
could properly and fairly be drawn
from his remarks He declared that
he did not intimate that the farmers do
not possess sufficient brains but that
their work on the roads had not been
efficient Senator Leidy retorted that