The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-11


learned senators out of place and
most unfair as regards himself per-
sonally. He did not seek the place
he now holds as game warden of the
state. He was drafted for the job by
the governor because of his talents
and fitness for such q place. He has
worked harder and spent longer hours
on this job for the same pay that he
received for his work on the univer-
sity faculty. He has accomplished
and drawn the plans to accomplish
/ much more. He wants the office taken
out of politics and the salary increas-
ed. Then with this guarantee he is
! willing to go ahead and devote his
! talents and genius for the good of
what ought to become a great state
| industry. The professor feels that
| he does not need to beg for this per-
mission to teach the state how to
make better ponds and raise more
fish. He has a steady job at the uni
versity at good salary. He will give
up his place at the fish hatchery and
go back to the university work If the
| legislature wants to swat the governor
over his head.
| The intination that the professor does
not thoroughly understand fish, their
/ habits, condition and all things per-
/ tanning to them. is refuted by the re-
ports recently issued by the professor
| from the state printing plant on FISH
\ and fishermen. He has received letters
Of commentator from all over the
| country in regard to these most valu-
| able reports. The professor is willing
| to debate the fish question with any
man in the state before any fish soci-
ely in t1e country and, as he expresses
the case himself: eff 1 am ignorant of
the question, they will have fine
chance to see me display that ignor-
the university. the state will be the
chief loser, not the professor.
In the debate over the bill by Davis
of Bourbon to place a state tax OF 81
per head on all the dogs, a Senator Vest
mars best friend and most noble com
panton. The dog was denounced as
useless cur and a sheep-killing creature
that was a menace to the prosperity OF
the farmer. Friends arose to defend the
dogs from these calumnieS, 1t is true,
but they did not move the house to
any extent by their oratory. The bill
was passed. It was estimated that
there are 100000 dogs in the state. The
tax, it was argued, would do away with
the 100000 worthless dogs and there
would yet remain 10000 good dogs and
the state would also be $4,000 ahead.
The bill was finally amended before
passage to exclude from the tax dogs
in the cities that are taxed by ordin-
ance
Davis of Ottawa, introduced an
amendment to the bill to exempt one
dog for each farmer, but the amend
ment was killed. Davis remarked af-
ter the session, 1.-THE farmers of the
state will rear up on their hind legs
and roar if they have to pay tax
on the one dog that every farmer keeps
on his place and which is worth to that
farm his weight in silver coin. The
towns are full of worthless ours that
are always liable to bite children, but
it is not so the farms as rule.
The farm dog is a valuable animal and
not dangerous to any person or thing
No measure passed by this legislature
will cause such a protest from the aV-
erage farmer as this measure.
The constitutional amendments had
been set for special orders Friday
night in the house, but the illness and
absence of some of the lawyer MEM
bers forced postponement of the con-
sideration of these resolutions until
next Wednesday morning. But the
night session was not without interest.
est
For instance, Cones of Meade got his
first bill through the house. 1t gave
cities of the third class the right to
regulate billiard and pool halls by pc
tition of one-third of the property own
ers. There was some objection to the
bill, but Davis of Kiowa, nefghbor
of the man from Meade, got into the
through the house.
Williams of Logan, the preacher
member, got his bill providing for
health certificates for prospective
brides and groomS through the house
at the night session The measure
provides severe penalty for the con-
tracing parties or the official that
grants the license or the preacher that
performs the ceremony in cases where
the provisions of this law are not com
piled with.
Attorney General John Dawson ap-
peared before the house last night by
request and explained the object of a
couple of measures. One of these was
a bill that provides for the forfeiture
of the charters of dormant corpora
tions and for their reinstatement I'M
der certain conditions. Secretary of
State Sessions regards this as most |
important bill. The other was bill
giving the board of school fund COM
missioners the right to settle by COM
promise the states judgment against
Day county, Oklahoma. Many years
ago the custodian of the agricultural
college fund bought certain Day coun-
ty bonds in the sum OF $500 fool
ish investment, as that county was
Godforsa ken spot in the sand hills far
from a railroad. The debt was never
paid and Day county was consolidated
with Ellis county Now comes
proposition to settle this debt by COM
promise, which is to say for the prin
cipa1 and let the interest slide. Daw
son carried his point in the matter of
both bills. The Scotchman has a
smooth tongue and a lucid style of
explanation.
The house will likely be in session
all day today, cleaning up bills on
third reading and grinding on unim-
portant bills under general orders.
The railroad committee made re-
port on the two-cent passenger fare
bill adversely. The committee was of
the opinion that it was good idea
to let we'll enough alone. The state
has enjoyed the two-cent fare for sew
eral years without trouble or expense,
and the committee thought it would