The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-28

nearly fit conditions and possibly a
measure looking to redistricting the
legislature and senate OF the state.
"At this time there seems to be a
state that no large amount of radical
legislation is needed, in which feeling
I entirely coincide.
'It is possible can render the state
better service in helping prevent a lot
of unwise legislation than by any
measure I can introduce. At any rate
I shall try. as usual. to : earn my
salary
William Donaldson, member r-elect of
the legislature from Chautauqua coun-
ty, has had published in the home pa
pers request that his constituents
write him and set forth their views on
proposed legislation. He has received
a large number of replies and has had
them tabulated for reference. He
sent his people on important 1egisla-
tion. Donaldson was elected by only
thirteen votes.
The proposed amendment to in
crease the pay of members Of the state
legislature was defeated at the last
elected by 10000 votes The vote
stood 49, against and 1884 for
the amendment. It is strange that
progressive and prosperous state like
Kansas should refuse to pay its legfs-
lative members q reasonable compen-
sation for their time and work. The
state appears in a bad light in this
matter. Such parsimony is not con-
sistent with the states record. The
present pay of a member of the legfs-
lature is not sufficient to cover the ex-
pense of the trip to Topeka and the
cost of living here. Then the mem
bers, where they are men of business
and affairs, suffer pecuniary loss in
their business through their absence.
The present pay is not sufficient in
ducement to the best men of county
to make the race for this most impor-
tant office. Better pay means better
men, and that means a benefit to the
state.
Senator Charles Curtis. before 1eav-
ing for Washington, gave out the fol-
lowing interview regarding the short
session Of the next congress:
''It is impossible to tell what will be
done at this short session." said the
senator, "but strenuous efforts will be
made by President Taft and his friends
in both the senate and the house to
enact the legislation that President
Taft thought should have been attend
ed to during the last session.
''The haste will be due largely to the
fact that there will be Democratic op-
position to the administration in the
lower house in the session of 1911. If
the insurgents act with the national
administration the Repu blicans during
the coming session will have a ma
jority. And it looks like the Republi-
cans were going to get together and
help the president
During the coming session strenuous
efforts will be made to continue the
policy outlined by President Taft This
policy resulted in congress approprtat-
ing % million dollars less for the pres
ent year than for last year. Reports
F,-- IL i
| ments indicate that even a greater saw
| ing may be made during the coming
session. The net saving made a splen-
| did showing but believe an even bet
| ter showing will be made during the
| coming session.
MY measure requiring corporations
| doing an interstate business to secure
| permits from the government >and
| placing them under the supervision OF
| a federal department, will be taken uI
| during the coming session. I will
| make a few changes in it that have
| been suggested for constitutional rea-
sons and will follow the plan followed
| in previous sessions"
Senator Curtis said he hoped to see
some pension legislation enacted dur
| ing the short session, not only for old
soldiers, but for soldiers widows.
| 'I will continue my efforts to have
| government test the underf1ow of the
/ Arkansas river in southwestern Kan
/
make an effort to have the artesiar
flow discovered in Morton county in
vestigated. The bill covering the Deer
field project passed the senate and /:
pending in the house. AS soon as pos
sible I will have a conference will
| Congressman E. H Madison of tina
| district and see what arrangements we
can make for getting 1t through th'
house. They have a splendid under
flow in the southwestern part of th'
state, sufficient to irrigate all that sec
ton of the country. I believe it can b'
done successfully and believe the gov
ernm lent should help"
at found during the state cam
j paign," continued Senator Curtis. "tha
people all over the state are complain
ing about the delays in the settlement
of claims against the railroads TO
over-charges on freight and other mat
ters of a similar nature. They do no
complains about the amounts the
finally receive, but the delay. It ap
pears to me that the legislature coul
lcreata q small court at a very mod