The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-05-17
NO MORE GRASSHOPPERS
Insects, as Wen as Laws Aimed at
Tribe Are Obsolete.

Thirty-three years ago the Kansas
legislature passed an emergency law
TO provide means of defense against
the grasshoppers. BY the terms of
this law the county commissioners
were given powers to call out every
able bodied citizen to oppose the COM
mon enemies of his state. Just as the
governor or president are given power
under the constitution to call out
troops in case of war. TIE danger was
serious then and its course marked
tragedy on nearly every farm. Now
the grasshoppers form theme for the
jokesmith and the writer of comedies.
That old law of 1877 had been car
ried along in the general statutes
through all the years. 1t had been
dead letter for a long time, but it was
still in full force and effect so far as
the law books were concerned. When
the Kansan of today reads that law
he can hardly take it seriously.
Now comes one DasSler of Leav-
enworth and in compiling the statutes
of 1909 in conjunction with the attor-
ney general and secretary Of state and
proceeds to forget all about the old
grasshopper law. This man Dassler. in
committing his crime. refers to it as
follows:
"Grasshoppers-C 11s and
120 of the laws of 1877 are at this
time of no practical application and
therefore not again printed. Reference
to these chapters in the preceding edi-
t1OIl u the 6GIlcId l STATUTES dAS as 1O4-
lows etc.
In the old session laws Of 1877 three
pages are devoted to the determination
of grasshoppers of which the follow
ing language is part: THAT the
township trustees of the different
townships and the MAYORS OF cities
which are not included in any town
ship are hereby authorized and it is
made their duty when so requested in
writing by fifteen of the legal voters of
i, ID r,ff or1o n
the road overseers of the different road
districts to warn out all able bodied
male persons between the ages of IL
and 65 years for the purpose of de-
stroying locust or migratory grasshop-
pers.
ANY person over 10 years of age
warned out may pay the road overseer
the sum of 81 per day for the time so
warned out; and in case any person
shall fail to perform labor under this
act or paying the sum of 81 when so
warned out, he shall be adjudged gull
ty of a misdemeanor and on convic-
ton shall be fined the sum of SO for
each day so failing or refusing; and
pended by the road overseer in the de-
struction of grasShoppers in their re-
Spective districts.
The law then goes on to provide for
the cooperation Of the counties in any
senatorial district for fight on the
grasshoppers. The chairman of the
different boards of county commission
ers may get together to devise the best
means to stop the plague. These coun-
ty commissioners work with the road
overseers for the destruction of the
grasshopperS, just as they now work
for improvement of the roads, and the
road overseer has direct charge of the
work. He was instructed under this
old law to call the citizens together for
the purpose of driving and burning
hU
grasshoppers in his district" The
road overseer was required to keep a
list of all those who performed this
labor and certify up the number of
days work performed by each man to
the board Of county commissioners 1t
was unlawful for two or more sena-
torial districts to cooperate together
under the provisions Of this act.