The Topeka state journal., 1909-01-28
That Law Be Amend
ed at Once.
CITIES TO VOTE SOON
Wichita VIII Decide About New
Plan on Feb. 2.
New Bill Providing for PubIiea-
tiOn of Campaign Expenses.

message from the governor, urg-
ing the enactment of the bill providing
for a commission form of government
for certain cities. and a bill providing
for the publication of campaign ex-
penses, were two important matters
that came before the senate Wednes-
day afternoon Both these matters
were presented at the very close of the
sessiou-in fact. Senator Quincy's mo-
der to permit the reading Of the mes
sage, and the introduction of Senator
OverheId's bill followed
The special message from the gov
ernor was as follows:
ITO the Legislature:
"A number of cities in Kansas are
considering the adoption OF the COM
mission form Of government this
spring The city of Wichita. holds an
election on February 2nd to determine
this matter 1t is of great Importance
TO many cities in Kansas that the
amendments to our present law, which
have already been recommended to the
legislature, be enacted into law at as
early a date as possible
recommend that this measure,
winch appears as senate bill No. 30S in
the senate and house bill No 45S in tbs
mousse, be made a special order and con-
sidered on its merits not later than
thursday, January 18th. to the end
that the proposed amendments may
have ample time for discussion and
consideration before both houses and
Whatever amendments are deemed ad-
V1sable may be made in time for the
electors of cities to take such amend
ments into consideration before voting
on the adoption Of this system of gov
ernment."
Senator OverfieId's bill for the pub
1catIon of campaign expenses. it is uu-
derstOod, embodfeS the ideas of the ad-
m1nIsrratfou along that line.
The bill provides that every candi-
dare Tor office, within thirty days fol-
lowing the declaration Of the canvass
ing board. must file an itemized state
ment of his campaign expenses pro-
v1d1ng he has received ten per cent of
the aggregate vote cast IN the case
Of candidates for state Offices mem
bers Of the legislature representing
more than one county. district judge
ship in districts containing more than
one county, and members of the na-
tIonaI congress. the statement of ex-
penses must be fled with the secretary
Of state Candidates for county offices
including members of the legislature
having only one county in their district
and candidates for district Judge whose
district is confined TO one county. must
NE their statements with the county
clerks Candidates for city offices are
required 10 file their expense state
meuts with the city clerks.
All state and congressional chairrueu
or managers Of the campaign for each
political party are required to file with
the secretary of state not more than
so days after the general election. an
ftemfzed statement showing all the re-
ceIpts from every source, received dur
ing the campaign and also all disburse-
ments and the purposes for which the
money was expended County and city
chairmen of campaign committees are
required to file similar statements
with county and city clerks, respec-
lively.
The secretary of state must publish
in the official state paper. within ten
days after the fling, the statement of
state and congressional committee
city campaign managers must be pub
Hshed in the official county and city
papers. respectively
Any person who makes a false state
ment of expenses will be deemed guilty
of felouiOus perjury and subject to a
fine Of from $50 to $1,000 and fmprisou-
meut in the penitentiary for from to
3 years A similar penalty is prescribed
for the secretary of state, county clerks |
and city clerks who fail to publish
within the specified time, the state
ments fled with them
In committee of the whole
Wednesday afternoon the senate con-
sfdered and recommended for pas
sage Senator Stewards bill relative TO
child labor, and the bill substituted
BY the JUDICIARY committee Tor senate
bill No 19, concerning the filing of
claims against estates in probate |
court
After considerable debate the COM
ufttee of the whole also recon-
meuded for passage Senator Rrady's |
act amending the law relating &c the
preservation of the purity of water
supply in the state This bill pro-
board authority to order cessation of
municipality shall supply water to the
public without a written permit from
the state board of health Objection
was raised to the provision in the act
which gives the secretary Of the
board of health or the engineer Of the
board, authority TO order cessation of
the pollution of the water or dis
position Of the sewerage as might be
the case in some instances.
Senator Hamilton argued that he
did not believe 50 much power should
be vested in one or two men He