The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-03
new ROAD LAW.
Obsolete Measures Are Repealed
by Cp-tO- Date Bill.
Road Drags Must Be Used Under
Severe Penalty.
DODGE CITY HOME.
Has Bad Half Hour But Gets
o. X in Senate.
New Normal Schools Still Have
Chance.
DODGE CITY HOME.

a Cnance.
The senate Thursday afternoon prac-
tically rewrote the states road and
highways laws and repealed a lot of
laws dating as far back as 1869. This
new bill is a fitting companion piece to
the state engineering bill, which was
passed at the morning session and is
expected to put the road laws in better
shape than ever. The bill was passed
in the house some time ago and has
some strong features. 1t makes polltaX
collecu5le in cash. raises township
road levies to three mills, and provides
penalties for failure to make use of
the road drag law. TOWNSHIP officers
who neglect the provisions of the road
drag act, are punishable hereafter by
a. $25 fine.
There is also a very plain provision
for the use of materials-gravel, sand,
clay, gypsum. The owner of the land
where such material is obtained is al
lowed reasonable compensation for
the same; but he cannot hold up the
roadman. These road men are grant
ed the privilege to go into the fields and
take this material upon payment of a
reaSonab bic sum. In some sections, eS-
pecially in western Kansas, there has
been considerable trouble because land
owners refused to release materials de-
sired for use in road work.
Under the terms of the new bill,
township officers are made boards of
highway commissioners and strong di-
rectionS are given them as to procedure.
For instance, the time and manner of
meetings is fixed, the duties preScrib-
ed; and the way they shall act is out
lined in a manner that will hardly be
misconstrued. In fact there is no very
easy way to get around the plain pro-
visions and instructions to township
officers; many of whom have been ex-
ceedingly derelict in the mast. Provis
ion is made that the township trus-
tee may let contract for work He is
not compelled to take the residents
along the road in question, as provided
under the old law; and which brought
out many Indifferent and unqualified
men.
vided. They must be 40 to so feet I'M
der the new act; and the intent
throughout is to establish a uniform
system. Provision for signboards is
made and every precaution made for in
telligent and comprehensive road inn
provement. distractions of roads, or
failure to make Improvement, high
hedges, obnoxious weeds, drainage and
a long list of smaller details are pro-
vided for in the 81 page document
With the passage and enforcement of
the bill, the state will be placed in the
front rank with some of the best road
laws ever enacted.
For thirty minutes Thursday after
noon, the board of control of the Sol
diers home at Fort Dodge was in bad
standing with the senate and there
was a general indication that the Sa-
lima Plumbing company would lose
$4,000 claim against the state through
the home. Trouble started when a
committee bill calling for an appro-
priation of $5,896.31 and $176,8S in
crest fer the reimbursement of the
Salina firm was presented to the upper
house. The bill was for work on
light, heat, water and power plant at
the Soldiers home, for which the
1909 legislature set aside funds.
The bill aroused considerable suspi-
cion and Senator Reed moved to
dictated that he favored general in
vestigation of the management of the
home and a peek at the expense ac-
count of the board of control. 1t was
stated that while it was true that the
1909 legislature had set aside certain
funds for this work, that the board of
control had made too many contracts
and that the money necessary to pay
the Salina firm had been spent for
purposes of which no one seemed to
have an understanding. Quincy, how
ever, urged that while the board
might be at fault, the Salina firm was
acting in good faith and did the work
believing that there was sufficient
Then, when the work was completed,
the board of control made due apollo
giles and begged that the plumbing
company wait until the next sitting
of the legislature for it's pay.
While the bill was under discussion,
there were a number of declarations
by members to the effect that the
board of control in charge of the af-
fairs of the home had made a mess
of the business management of the in
stitution. Reference was made to an
inability to explain definitely Just how
funds were appropriated. There were
any number of free and open hearted
confessions that the board was COM
posed of good fellows. but that they
had been very unfortunate in making
ends meet.
Several weeks ago DR.. Chase of
1924 Harrison street, Topeka pre-
ferred charges against the members
of the board of control, alleging mis-
management. The members of the
board appeared before the joint ways
and means committee and declared
that Chase had crouch and made his
charges through spite. No action was
taken in regard to the matter.
After the plumbing bill had been
under discussion thirty minutes, the
senate passed the bill. Immediately
after the bill was passed, the senate
went into executive session to consider