The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1911-01-21


gan sending their pet measures to the
desk. More than one hundred bills
have been introduced to date. Many
OF the bills introduced were upon sub
jects recommended by Governor Had
ley in his message, but the majority
of them were drafted by Democrats
without consulting the governor.
The Contest Proceedings.
From Friday until Wednesday little
or nothing was accomplished by the
members. The Democrats went into
caucus Monday for the purpose OF
reaching an agreement regarding the
contested offices, railroad and ware
house commissioner ard superintend
ent of public schools. The caucuses
held Monday, Tuesday and Wednes-
day developed nothing and it was be
lieYed that the Democratic members
were hopelessly divided regarding the
disposition of the contest cases. The
question as to whether the Legislature
had any authority to make an inyesti-
cation was doubted by the lawyer
members and many Of them were out
spoken against the proposition. Frank
H. Farris Of Crawford county was Of
the opinion that the legislature had no
right to investigate and that he was
opposed to tying up the Legislature
with it. The suggestion Of the attor-
ney general that an investigation could
be made without getting into the bal
lot boxes did little to bring about the
solution of the problem. The differ
ence of opinion among the judges of
the supreme court, the attorney gen
eral and the leading lawyers Of the
legislature, threatening to tie-up the
legislative wheels indefinitely, we're
the impelIing causes that finally
brought about a settlement on Wed
nesday afternoon. The Democrats
were hesitant in prolonging an in
v~estigation with doubtful authority,
and therefore, by a vote Of IS to 20,
the Democrats determined to give the
offices to the Republicans despite the
charges of fraud made by the Demo
cratic contestants. The members of
the house were busy in poking fun at
Representative Burgin Of Gentry
county and his scheme to organize
a matrimonial bureau for the purpose
Of seeing the bachelor members Of the
legislature happily married, when the
doorkeeper announced the approach Of
the senate. The chairman Of the COM
mittee TO which the contest matter
had been referred presented his report
and it was unanimously adopted. Then
the speaker announced the returns,
which seated the Republican members,
and the joint session was dissolved
amid the cheers Of the Republican
members when the members Of The
senate had left the house TIE intro
duction of bills was bseHn ana the
legislative Wheels went INTO action IN
earnest.
phelps Hits at Missouri Pa
Colonel William III Phelps eratwhlie
defender Of the rights q tie railfo as
made good his threat to introduce
some legislation detrimental to the
railroads, and was one Of the first
Introduce a bill His bill IS to equal
lie passenger rates on the railroads,
and Is a novel but effective way in
which to meet the objections OF the
federal courts in the premises His
I'LL provides that a railroad cannot
charge a higher rate per mile between
any two points on It's line than be-
tween any other points. A passenger
who has been charged more between
all stations may recover IA a. SUE
three times the nmDaut Of overeharEe