The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-17

to the eS sting conditions. and that
sufficient and efficient service must be
given at all times.
Furthermore. Senator Joseph says
that the materials in construction must
be specified. the people must be pro-
tected in and after the construction of
the service and that the entire work
be done accordance with the reguIa-
lions.
From first appearances. this is the
Dlii that Kansas municipalities have
been looking for, for many years.
Considering the action taken bv the
senate late Thursday afternoon in rati-
Tying the constitutional amendment
providing for the direct election of
United States senators, 1t appears that
the Kansas upper house will harbor no
III feeling in the form of votes against
approval of Judge Thompson for the
senatorship.
The senate by a unanimous vote ap-
proved the resolution of Senator Trout
man giving the Kansas vote in wash
ington favoring the amendment speci-
tying the election by the people of the
United States senator's
Not very consistently could the state
senate now vote to go against the
voters choice and send another man to
congress, other than Senator-elect
Thompson.
The Republican senaors are stealing
the thunder Of the Democrats by in
Producing bills that cover the planks of
the administration platform with a soft
thick carpet of Republican praise. AL
ready the repeal of the inheritance tax
law, the Massachusetts, form of ballot
the initiative and referendum and the
mortgage taxation plans have been
covered by the bills of the Republican
senators.
The Democrats will have to whip up
or the dear pee-pul of the state will be
throwing their hats in the air in honor
of the minority Republicans who went
meekly to the senate and took the re-
form reins in their own hands.
Not having enough lawyers to COM
plete their odds the Democrats in the
senate enlisted Senator Gray, of Os-
borne. as a member of the judiciary
committee. The Luray senator grad
uated from an Iowa college of law and
is qualified for state bar privileges, but
after looking over the Kansas soil and
stock. he decided that he would use
his law as a reserve fund-and de-
vote his working power to agriculture
and stock raising.
The senate adjourned this morning
uLtil 10 o'clock Monday morning. This
will give the committees time to catch
up with the work that has been I'M
loaded upon them and will also allow
the legislators a first weekend back
with admiring constituents.
Counties in Kansas may pay monthly
pensions to worthy crippled and blind
persons, If the bill introduced by Sem
ator w. p. Lambertson, of Brown, is
approved. The larger pensions may be
submitted to the voters-and the
smaller by the county commissioners.
The first bill in the senate to abolish
the county fee system was introduced
by Senator Jouett Shouse, of Edwards.
His act would place sheriffs on a sal
airy basis, paying them according to
the population.
receive a maximum salary of 81, 900 and
a minimum salary of 81, 900 annually.
When not under the maximum or mini
mum rule, the sheriffs will receive
$500 a year and SO additional for every
100 population in the county up to
10000. In counties with more than TO-
900 population the rate of increase is
81 per 100 inhabitants.
It is the belief of Senator Harry GRAY.
of Osborne county, that the embalmers
of the state should procure state Ii
censes before allowed to practice their
profession. He has offered a bill to
this effect in the senate.
The nurses of Topeka and Wichita
are lobbying night and day for the sup
port of a bill introduced in the senate
by Senator Bale Waggener, of Atchf-
son, requiring a state examining board
and necessity for licenses.
1t will not be necessary for the city
firemen in Kansas to organize their
own pension funds if bill by SEN
ator T. A. Milton, Cf Wyandotte, passes
the senate and house. He provides PEN
sion agreements for firemen, their wild
ows and dependents to be furnished by
d direct tax of not to exceed one-fourth
mill in cities under $500 population and
one-eighth mill in cities with more
than $500 population.
ID Val M0pGAN Dive GIN