The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-21
MUST NOT STRAY.
Public Officials Held to Straight
and Narrow Path.
May Be Ousted for Drunkenness
or Gambling.
BREWSTER BILL OUT
Reported FavOrably by the SEN
ate Committee
Makes It Easy to Get Rid of
Derelict Officials.
BREWSTER BILL is OUT

Senator S. NJ Brewster's custer bill
was reported favorably by the senate
committee Of the whole late Friday af-
ternoon and will probably pass the up
per house without serious amendment.
1t was one of the first important meas
ures disposed of in the senate. In the
course of the afternoons session, five
bills were reported for passage.
The Brewster bill which provides for the
ousting of any public official who shall
willfully misconduct himself while in
Office who shall become intoxicated, gam
BILE or neglect the duties of his office,
escaped serious amendments, although
for half hour it looked as though the
senate would provide for habitual in
toxication instead of the individual IL
lustrated drunk as provided by the or
iginal act.
Under the terms of the bill custer
proceedings may be brought by either
the county attorney or attorney general.
Only members of the supreme bench.
district judges and legislators are ex-
empt from the penalty Of the act. The
bill of the Troy member provides that
an official cited for misconduct must
be given a hearing in the courts at
the earliest possible date. 1t provides
for appeals to the supreme court with
in 60 days from the date of the deciS-
ion from the lower court: and provides
that the court may name a successor
in the office while the case is pending.
Even the supreme court, under this act,
will be compelled to give precedence to
custer hearings; and the higher court
may sustain or reverse the decision Of
a lower court, but cannot remand the
case for rehearing.
The bill further provides that no per-
son shall be excused from testify1ng be-
fore the attorney general, his assist
ants, the county attorney, or any court
CT proper jurisdiction on the ground that
his testimony may incrimindte him; but
no person shall be prosecuted on ac-
count of any transaction or thing con-
cerning which he may be compelled to
testify, nor shall such testimony be used
against him for any crime or misde-
meanor under the laws of this state.
1t is generally conceded that the Brew
ster bill is one of the strongest meas
ures ever offered as a law in Kansas.
1t governs the conduct of public Off
cials from township road overseer to
governor, but provides for a hearing at
the earliest date.
Three bills offered by Senator Stew
art of Sedgwick county were reported
for passage by the committee of the
whole.
The first measure by Stewart pro-
vides a penalty for any person VINO
shall throw paper, trash, hay or riff
raff in any street or alley of any city
of the first, second or third class. The
original bill provides penalty only in
cities Of the first class, but was amend
ed to cover the towns in the short
grass districts. Senator Carey also
urged the striking out of the word
"riffraff'' as he said 1t might be con-
str11ed in his district to mean legisla-
tive members. The bill provides a
fine of from SIS to 500 for each viola
ton.
Another Stewart measure fixes an
insnection tax of rs cents ton on all
manufactured food StuffS including
cottonseed meal, cottonseed cake and
like products. Inspection stamps, un-
der the terms of the bill, must be pur-
chased from the director of the state
experiment station and shall be affixed
to all articles named in the bill. which
are offered for sale in Kansas.
statute governing the building of
sidewalks in cities of the first class.
A bill introduced by Senator Quincy
Of Salina was recommended for pas
sage by the committee. 1t amends the
present law governing the appointment
and duties of county assessors. The
bill provides that at the time of the
appointment by the county assessor or
deputy assessors he shall also appoint
in each assessment district outside of
cities, two taxpayers not OF the same
political faith, who, with the deputy
assessor, shall constitute a board of
review.
w. M. Glenn, senator from Greeley
county, presided at the Friday after
noon session of the senate committee
of the whole.
At 4:3o the senate adjourned until
4 o'clock Monday afternoon. A num-
Der of the members returned to their
homes last night.
Senator Porter of Crawford county
and Senator Potter of Marion county
occupy seats at the same desk Ow-
| ing to the similarity Of names, bills
| introduced by the two senators have
member Friday Senator Potter asked
r. J. Hopkins, president of the sem
ate, to change the name of his seat
mate.
badly tangled" said the Marion coun-
| ty member. s'but of late I have beer
| reused from my early morning slum-
bers to answer telephone calls intend
ed for the gentleman from Crawford
county"
Charles H. Hull, manager of the
Kansas Voting Machine company, ex-
hibited one of the new company's ma
chimes Friday afternoon before the
! members of the elections committee
Mayor ]. B. Billiard. ]. n. Dolley, state
| bank commissioner, the members OF
the supreme bench, and several in
terested members from the two
branches of the legislature. attended
| the demonstration, which was held il
/ the rooms of the elections committee
1 Senator Clad Hamilton Friday af-
| ternoon introduced a bill calling fol
an appropriation to compensate Henry
! GRADER for injuries received while in
discharge of his duties at the Boys
Industrial school. Young Graber was