The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-17
COST MORE To WE'D
Legislature Would Double the
Fees.
And Then Must Have Health
Certificate.
IT is A REAL CONSPIRACY
To Discourage BridegrOOms,
This Cost of Living.
Friend of Horticultural So
ciety Protests.

Walking hand in hand with the high
cost of living craze, is the proposed
legislation which will make matrimony
more expensive in Kansas. Bills now
under consideration in Kansas may
mean a real hardship to hundreds of
young people, who will face a 100 per
cent increase in the cost of matrimony.
1t is already quite certain that the cost
of wedding in Kansas Will increase
after the legislature adjourns. If bills
now pending are passed, 1t VIII cost
at least twice as much to marry after
the lawmakers go home as 1t viii now
AS soon as the legislators pack their
grips and leave, a brand new law will
go into effect which will permit the
probate judges to charge a total OF
$3.50 for a marriage license and a
wedding-divided $3.50 for license and
SO for a wedding. That is an advance
of so cents over the old price.
But there is another, bill pending
which compels each person who pro-
poses to we'd to secure a health certifi-
cate. Now health certificates are 81
each. 1t requires two for a marriage,
which means that the young and
ardent lover must put away "a more
before he can lead his blushing bride
to the altar.
Figuring on just a plain, simple and
very modest little wedding, there will
he a cash outlay of $3.50 for the same
job that was performed in the olden
days for So. OF course the bills haven't
passed yet. But if they do, there will
be a few days of bargain counter prices
on matrimonial contracts and up will
go the price of marriage licenses until
they are on comfortable standing
with the price of pork chops, beef
steak, flour and eggs.
As many of the young couples which
marry in Kansas are not in the very
best financial conditions, an increase
in marriage prices of practically 1 90
per cent will be a severe shock In
many instances it will mean the
elimination of a little honeymoon, the
sacrifice of some household necessity,
cheaper wedding toys or economy in
some of the ways that only the fever
ish young bride can think Of
But there is one relief. These pro-
posed new laws won't go into effect
for nearly month yet. And while
they are pending the Kansas probate
judges are expecting rushing bust
ness. In fact, it is expected that many
of the Easter and June weddings can
be consistently advanced on the cal
endar in view of the new oppression
with which innocent matrimony is now
threatened
Many wives of the Kansas Iegisla tors
are attending the session this winter
Perhaps never before in the history of
Kansas legislatures have so many of
the wives of members been in attend
ance during the session or have dis
played such keen interest in the pro-
ceedings.
Since Kansas women have been
granted the right of suffrage, they
have followed the work of the state
law makers with much interest. So it
was probably quite natural that many
of the wives of members came to To-
peka and will remain until the close of
the session. But in former years these
women have devoted much of their time
to social duties. This year It is diff
ferent. There has not been an import
ant debate under discussion this. win
ter that has been overlooked by the
women On their calendar they have
marked with care every important bill.
They know the date of every approach
ing fight. And it is quite certain that
they will be present for every battle
during the session.
1t is because they are now voters
that the women have shown such I'M
usual interest in legislative affairs.
They are learning the plan and general
scheme of law making and incidentally
picking up some of the fine points of
the Kansas political game
we are interested in the work of
our husbands said Mrs. A NJ Keene. |
wife of Representative A. NJ. Keene of
Scott. "And now that the women of
Kansas are permitted to vote and to |
hold office we are studying the uues-
lions of interest to the people of the
state"
and to members of the state legisIa- |
ture, William II. Barnes. of Howard, |
declares that the legislature would |
make a grave mistake if it attempted
to consolidate the horticultural society
and the board of agriculture and warns
the law makers against such legisla ton
Under their present conditions Barnes
declares. the two departments have been
of great value to the state and it
would work hardship not only on the |
.
as well If the legislature tried TO COM
bine their work.
Barnes was secretary of the horti- |
cultural society from 1895 to 1907 and is |
widely known among western h2rticul- |
turists. In his letter. made public |
today. Barnes wrote to the governor
and legislative members as follows:
The horticulturists of Kansas arc |
among the best. most moral religious |
clean. cultured and patriotic citizens and |
are not beaten in these respects bv any |
other class. They are also very patiert |
but if you injure the society 1 am sure |
economy. Without detra citing one iota |
from the laurels OF the agricultural So |
ciety. which is twin to the horticultural |
society, 1 would say. that but for the
costly experiments. and free expression |
exhibition and discussion of these gen.
erous men. our state today would lack at |
least one-third of it's present population:
and that third the more advanced and !
enlightenment more than the intense cuiti-
walton of trees, fruits, flowers. vegetables |
and kindred hneS2 These clean, moral |
state loving men come together once
each year and bring all their boarded |
knowledge, original, experimental and |
practical; and invite the public without |
, union CARD admission fee, to come
and see, and hear. and get wisdom with
out money and without price" They hide |
behind no patents, or copyrights their |
studious results offered free guides |
to others. Nothing finer or better ever |
f,, tot and he
politician clothed in silk and filled With |
pride does not realize the blessings he is |