The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-08
Massachusetts Ballot Law i'm
Grave Danger.
Senate and House Can't Agree
on One Section.
MAY CALL A CONFERENCE
Kansas to Investigate Union
Pacific Bond Issue.
Upper House AdjOurns Until
Monday Afternoon.

From the present outlook, the
Massachusetts ballot law is going to
cause trouble in the legislature
Senator Carney of Cloud county, au-
thor of the law, has served notice that
by no means will the senate concur in
the house amendment to the measure
giving persons who cannot read or
write, the right to vote.
The notice of his rebellion on the
changes approved by the house calls
for a conference between the two
bodies before the administration bill
can become a law and another cam
paign plank nailed down. 1t is known
that the house is bitterly opposed to
the senate ruling prohibiting illiterate
persons from voting. 1t will take a
stormy conference to bring about an
agreement on the ballot law that the
governor recommended in his message
to the legislature and in his in
augural address.
The senate Massachusetts ballot law
sent to the house provided that no
person who could neither read or
write was eligible to vote. 1t is con-
tended taht one of the big advantages
to the Massachusetts, ballot is the as
surance that a better class of voting
may be registered in Kansas. The
house didn't agree to this version of
the law. 1t cut out the read and
write" clause and gave any American
citizen the right to vote.
The Democrats in both branches of
ahe legislature are ANXIOUS to carry
out the ideas of the governor on the
Massachusetts ballot law. The confer
ence will iron out the diffculties-if
one side or the other will release a
hold on the illiterate clause.
Senator Millions paving bill calling
for a certain brand of material for
the construction, was rushing onward
TO advanced reading a few minutes
before adjournment last evening.
when Bailie Waggener jumped to his
feet declaring he had found a weak
place in the bill-one that would favor
certain companies and one that would
cause discrimination. The senate
agreed with him and the bill was stop
ped and held over until a thorough
study of the contents could be made.
Kansas wants to know what tho
Union Pacific has done with the 300 =
100000 in bonds issued in May 1901. The
public utilities commission, through a
senate resolution fathered by Harry
Mcmillan. of Ottawa. has been in
structed to investigate the Union Pa
clflc bond issue and confer with the
utilities boards and railroad commits
sioners of other states in an effort TO
determine the relationship between the
Union Pacific and the Southern Pacific
and to take action in protecting tba
people of the states through which the
Z. p. runs.
The resolution follows:
Whereas. on the first day of Nav
1901, the Union Pacific Railroad Con-
pany issued it's bonds in the sum of
$10OO00,0O0 for the purpose of meeting
present and future financial require.
ments of the company" and,
whereas, the said company invested
part of the proceeds of the sale of said
bonds in the stock of the Southern Pa
cific Railway Company, which said
transaction - been by the supreme
court of the United States held to he
illegal and contrary to the anti-tr1st
laws, and,
Whereas, the action of the said Union
Pacific Railroad Company in Issuing
said bonds and in disposing of the pro-
ceedS of the sale thereof is of ma
feriaI interest to the people of this
state, and of the other states into
which the said Union Pacific Railroad
passes,
Therefore be it Resolved by the SEN
ate of the state of Kansas, the house
OF representatives concurring therein.
Section l. That the public utilities
commission in and for the state of
Kansas be instructed to investigate the
issuance of said bonds, the sale there
OF, and the disposition or proposed dis
position of the proceeds of such sale
and take such action as il the judg-
1nent of said utilities commission may
% deemed proper for the protection of
the interests of the people of this state.
Section 2 The said utilities commits
sion is hereby authorized and en-
powered to invite the cooperation and
assistance and to act in conjunction
with the boards of railway commits
sioners or public utilities of other
states through whose territories the
said Union Pacific passes.
Senator Mahin of Smith county has
submitted a plan to please the women
of Kansas in solving the jury problem.
NIahin in a bill offered to the senate,
gives a woman a chance to file her
name with the county clerk in case
she does not wish to serve as juror
or Juress.
A bill, which it is said may cause
CONSERVATION again among the Wichi-
ia newspapers and cause them to dig
up their arguments to the effect that
Governor Hodges is dictated to by the
Santa F'e railroad, was introduced in
the senate late Friday afternoon by
Carney of Cloud county. This meas
ure gives the attorney general the
power of the attorney of the public
utilities board, abolishing the latter
office. In other words it does away
with the position given to Judge A. E.
Helm of Wichita.
AS a support to the Emerson Carey
bill creating a state efficiency COM
mission. Senator Davis of Bourbon
county sent in resolution to the sem
point a committee to investigate the
state offices and recommend methods
of economy to the state. Senator Car
ey's bill provides for the appointment
of a permanent board to apply eff
cheney methods to the states business
operations.
The senate adjourned Friday even
ing until 4 O'Clock Monday afternoon.
Been A Big WEEK,