The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-04
Legislature Prepares a New
Constitutional Amendment.
Would Make Pay of Members
$500 for Session.
LENGTHENS THE TIME.
Duration Would Pe 60 Instead
of so Days.
Pay for Special Sessions Fixed
at $IOO Each.

oJ the SMALLEST or cOnSClLuIlOndl
ma1orities the senate late Wednesday
afternoon adopted the resolution to
submit to the people proposed amend
ment to the constitution of the state
increasing the pay of members of the
state legislature.
The resolution was originally intro
dueed by Senator Glenn, but the
judiciary committees of the senate and
house Jointly prepared q substitute
which was reported by the judiciary
committee. The substitute resolution
provided that members of the state
legislature shall receive $500 each for
his services as representative or SEN
Rtor for each regular session of the
legislature and cents a mile each way
from his home to Topeka. Also each
legislator shall receive 800 for his ser
vices in each special session of the leg
1slature. AF
Senator Hamilton offered an amend
n1ent which was adopted by a vote of
1s to Z. providing that the regular ses-
sion of the legislature shall be not less
than sixty days duration.
The senate rejected an amendment
by Senator Hamilton that the special
sessions shall be of not less than 20
days duration.
On roll call on final adoption of the
resolution it was found that 81 sena-
tors had voted for the resolution and
II against it. To adopt an amend
ment to the constitution a two-thirds
majority or q votes is required in
the senate. A call of the senate was
demanded and the sergeant-at-arms1
was sent out to bring in the absentees.
Upon a second roll it was found that 26
senators voted for the resolution and
II against it. 1---
One more vote was required to pass
the resolution and the sergeant-at-
arms was again sent out to bring in
Senators Overf1eld and Hastrup. The
former senator presently came into the
senate chamber and voted aye and the
resolution was adopted.
The present compensation of the
members is So a day for fifty days and
fifteen cents a mile each way.
The aggregate amount paid under the
present law for salaries of legislators
at regular sessions is $24,750 Under
the proposed amendment the aggregate
salaries will amount to $50, 500 for a
regular session, or an increase of ST.
$50 in the amount paid for salaries.
The allowance for mileage; however, is
reduced in the proposed amendment
from 15 cents mile each way to
three cents a mile.
At present legislators are paid for
not more than so days; under the pro-
posed amendment the length of the
regular session is extended to sixty
days T. - s1se
At present the pay of legislators in
special sessions is So day. for not
more than thirty days. Under the
proposed amendment legislators will
receive $100 for their services in spec
1al sessions regardless of the number
of days consumed, whether three days
or three months.
On motion of Senator Cambern the
senate concurred in the house amend
ments to H. B. No. 904, amending the
present banking laws.
The senate went into committee of
the whole and the entire afternoon
was devoted to considering bills un-
der general orders.
Among the bills recommended for
passage by the senate in committee of
the whole were the following:
H. B. No. g; allowing certain school
districts to issue bonds to pay out
standing warrants.
S. B. No. 595, by Porter; empower
ing subordinate lodges of fraternal or
derS to purchase and own real estate
and stock in a corporation.
5. B. No 507, by Quincy, prohibit
ing business colleges from sending
over the state representatives to sell
scholarships without first obtaining
permission from state superintendent.
S. B. No. 460, by Hodges; author
9zing the governor to execute a deed
s. B. No. 55S, by Stewart, provid-
ing for clearing and spFinkling streets
in cities of the first class.
s. B. No. 643, by Stanley; prohibit
ing the selling of stock and offering Of
special inducements in selling life in
surance policies. -s--- SO
S. B. No. 641. by stavely; amend
s.B. No. sss, by stavely; prohibit
ing misrepresentation by agents in
S. B. No. 645, by Committee on
Penal Institutions; allowing the chap
lain Of the state penitentiary $50
month as superintendent of the
penitentiary night school.
S. B. No. 346, by Hodges: requir-
ing railroad companies to guard frogs,
switches and guard rails for the pro-
lection of employees.
H. B. No. 31S. by Allen; empower
ing police judges in cities of the first
and second class to parole prisoners
convicted of violation of city ordi-
nances.
S B. No. 49, by Glenn; authorizing
county commissioners TO have artesian
wells drilled at a cost not to ex-
ceed $4,000.
s B. No. sS6, by Stahnard; relating
to cattle brought into the state.
H. B. No. 324. by Wood; fixing the
terms of the district court of the
Twelfth judicial district.
S. B. No. 351, by Travis; requiring
state factory inspector to investigate
accidents in factories, mills and other
Industrial establishments when at
tended by loss of life.
The following bills were recon-
mended for passage subject to
amendment and debate.
S. B. No. 381, by Robertson; relating
to the law of warehouse receipts.
S. r. NO. 536, by Stewart; requir-
ing the superintendent of insurance to
pay certain premium money to city
fremen and city hremen's relief and
Kansas Firemen's association.
s. B. No. 479, by Milton; to prevent
q married man from assigning his
wages without obtaining his wife's
consent.
S. B. No. 345, by Milton; relating to
district courts and courts of com
mon pleas in counties of more than