The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-17
Fees of Attorney General Jack
son May Be Investigated.
Orr of AtchisOn Introduces Res
OlutiOn in the House.
WANTS A COMMITTEE.
Ascertain if Mr.. Jackson Really
Collected 100000.
Asserted None of the Money Was
Turned Over to State.

Orr of Atchison, leader of the
Democratic minority in the house, in
troduced a resolution late Monday
evening that Is sure to cause some stir
in political circles. After alleging that
the attorney general and his assistants
collected more than 100000 in fees
while enforcing the prohibitory law,
the resolution provides that a commit
tee of five members from the house
and five from the senate be appointed
| by the respective houses to investigate
the conduct of the affairs of the at
torney generals Office during the past
four years respecting the fees received
| by the attorney general and his as
sistants. 1t provides further that the
contingent fund of the attorney gen.
eral be investigated and the manner of
the distribution of the same; that the
committee have full authority to take
testimony, call witnesses, ETC., and that
it report to the house and senate the
result of its findings. The resolution
more particularly provides for an in
vestigation of the fees collected by the
attorney general while enforcing the
prohibitory law. The resolution is as
follows:
Whereas. Prior to the last primary
election and to the general election,
| held in this state, statements were
made, both in the public press and by
public speakers, that more than $780,
| OOU IdQ D60n COIlGCLSC DY LQ0 attorney
general and his assistants in this state,
from alleged violations of the prohib-
itory law during the then preceding
| four years, which large sum of money
had not been turned over to the state
/ or accounted for in any way, and
which statements, if true, show a scan
| dalous condition of public affairs,
which should be the subject of search
ing inquiry by the legislature;
! Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved by
n NJ q
of Kansas, the senate concurring, that
a committee of five from the house
and a committee Of five members from
the senate be appointed by the respec-
tive houses to investigate the conduct
of the affairs of the office of the at
torney general during the past four
years, respecting the fees and emolu-
/ ments received by that officer and his
assistants in the state of Kansas; also
that inquiry be made as to the amount
received by the Office of the attorney
| general as a contingent fund, and the
manner Of distribution of same. That
such committee have full power to
hear testimony either during the SeS-
sion of the legislature, or after its ad-
journment sine die, to compel the at
tendance of witnesses and enforce the
production of books, papers, docu-
ments and records, and to punish for
contempt for failure to obey its man
dates and orders, and shall have such
other authority as is usually conferred
upon such committees. It shall be
the duty of such joint committee to
report fully to the house and senate
the amount of all moneys collected by
the attorney general or his assistants,
or the county attorneys of the state
of Kansas, for the past few years in
the enforcement or attempted enforce
ment of what is known as the "pro-
hibitory law and state accurately the
source from which such collections
were made, and the manne-, and pro-
portion of the distribution of the same
whether the amount so collected was
the result of a civil or a criminal ac-
ton, or paid without suit or complaint
to any officer of this state or of any
county in the state of Kansas"
Kelley of Shawnee has bill in the
house that provides that the offices OF
county attorney of the counties and at
torney general for the state and all as
sistants employed by these prosecutors
be paid a salary for their services and
be required to turn all fees collected
of any kind whatever over to the state
! or county.
The woman's suffrage resolution has
been introduced in the house by Block
= of Hamilton county and before long il
l will be in the limelight for final pas
goes to the scrap heap. The womer
will fight harder for it this session
than they did last, ard goodness knows
they fought hard enough before. They
are going to work earlier this time and
have an organization. Even at thi:
; time they have large lobby at worl
on the floor of both houses. The reso
luton calling for suffrage is in con-
current form, which requires a two
> t irds majority to pass. The ladie!
must be pretty confident to tackle tha
job but then they say they want t.
pass the law in such form that it will
not have to go to the governor an(
take chances with his veto in order t
become 4 law. They seem to hav
more confidence in the legislature thai
in the governor. The resolution TO
l equal suffrage reads as follows:
''Be it resolved, by the legislature O
: the state of Kansas, two-thirdS of tn
: members elected to each house thereC
concurring therein:
/ '"That the following proposition g
I amend the constitution of the state Q
/ Kansas. be hereby submitted to tn
: qualified electors of the state for the;
f approval or rejection. namely:
] sSection 1. Equal Rights. The right
q of citizens of the state of Kansas T.
vote and hold office shall not be denie,
or abridged on account of sex. Bot
l male and female citizens of this stat
. shall equally enjoy all civil, politica
;. and religious rights and privileges.
''Sec. 2. This proposition shall b
| submitted to the electors of this stat
e at the next election for representative
O to the legislature in the year 1912 70
It their approval or rejection; those vot
l. ing in favor of this proposition sha
= have written or printed on thei
e ballots, For the suffrage amend
# mendment to the constitution
those voting against the PROPOSE
ton shall have written or printe
4 on their ballots. Against the suffrae
4 amendment to the constitution; sal
8 ballots shall be received and such vot
8 taken. counted. canvassed and return
n