The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1905-1910, 1910-02-18
Frankfort Political Gossip by The
Editor.

nature or the veto ak. The principal
one is the bill granting to the circuit
judges of the State 81. 200 per year adj
ditional to their regular salaries in re-
turn for serving as special judges in
other districts when the regular judge
is unable to preside. This brings the
salary of the circuit judges up to 81, 200
year. Whether the Governor will
veto the bill or not is not known, but
his disapproval will make little differ
ence, for the two Houses will pass it
over his veto. A a general thing the
officials who serve the Commonwealth
are very well paid, but the most vicious
"watch-dogs" Of the treasury had a
hard time to find arguments to raise
against this bill. The best lawyers in
the State have little trouble making
SO, 900 or more per year, and the cause
of justice demands that none but the
very best Of the profession be elected
circuit judges. There have been sever
al recent instances in the State where
circuit judges voluntarily laid down the
ermine to enter private prac tice, where
their pecuniary return was so much in
excess of the salaryiwhich has former
ly been paid this division of the bench.
The Knights of Columbus, a Catholic
organization, secured the passage by
both Houses of bill making October
12-Columbus day-a legal holiday.
There was no opposition anywhere to
this bill and it will. be readily approved
by the Governor.
COUNTY UNIT BILL A GoNER.
| Several bscksets have recently been
received by the advocates Of the Coun-
ty Unit Extension bill in the House. Its
friends have been trying to push it for
ward as a special order, but have been
unable to muster the necessary two
thirds vote to do so. The sentiment in
the House for extension Of the local op-
ton law uniformly to all counties of
the State, is considerably in the major
ity in the House. but is not nearly as
strong as hasibeen the sentiment for
the originate County. Unit bills in previ-
Gus Houses. A great many temper
ance representatives believe that the
present County Unit law is sufficient
for the present. They would vote all
day long against repeating the present
law, il it became necessary, but are in
no hurry to vote for further exten.
sion.
Representative George Waggoner, Of
, Henry county, the option leader in the
House, caused everyone to sit up and
, take notice when he shot in a State
wide prohibition bill last week. He nor
any of thetfriends of the prohibition
E movement have any hopes of getting il
4. passed. Many of the strongest tenn
( perence men in the State who are here,
: do not hesitate to say that it would be
3 foolish to vote State wide prohibition
in Kentucky before the Federal Inter
State commerce laws are repealed.
/ which permit theIshipment of liquor
from outside the State into local option
territory. They admit that the aboli.
tion of the liquor, business in Kentucky
under existing conditions would not on
ly fail to stop the supply of liquor in
the State, but would add a tremendous
burden of taxation upon the peo-
pie of the State to make up the loss of
taxes should the big distilleries be driv-
en- out.
The County Unit bill is certain TO be
passed by the House fore the session
is over, but its enemies seem to have
things so completely in hand that it
will get through too late for any fur
Their serious consideration by the SEN
ate. even if that body was inclined to
give it.
WOMEN LOSE THEIR FIGHT.
The suffragettes, !who have been in
Testing the capital since the session be-
gan, endeavoring to get the Legisla-
ture to pass law giving women the
right to vote for election of school
trustees. practically lost all hope when
the House Committee on Suffrage and
Elections decided to report adversely
on the bill. The ladies had felt that
things were coming their way when
they secured favorable report from
the gallant Senators. The members of
the lower House committee were less
chivalrous, however. for they turned
deaf ear to all entreaties and decided
against the bill. This means that the
House will kill it. Somebody said that
the only ones who want women to vote
are ''short- haired women and long hair
haired men," but the delegation from
the State Federation of Women's Clubs
had some very able and brilliant wo-
men working for their cause. and some
learned educators as well as the editors
of the two Lexington newspapers, the