The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-30
State Fire Marshal Plan of
Senator Stavely.
Officer to Watch Rates, Haz-
ards and Causes.
AMENDMENTS ARE FAVORED
Income Tax and 4-Year Term
Meet Approval.
Other Items of Interest in Up
per House Today.

state fire marshal for Kansas with
authority to investigate fire losses,
supervise fire hazards and keep an eye
open for the betterment of rates and
the safety of public buildings, Is the
plan incorporated in a bill introduced
in the senate today by J. H. Stavely,
senator from Usage county. The mar
shall would have a complete office and
working force with headquarters at the
capitol in Topeka.
The office would be known as state
fire marshal and assistant superin-
tendent of insurance. He would have
at least two assistants who would act
as inspectors and travel over the state
in carrying out the policies and plans
of the department.
Fire marshaIs, chief of fire depart
ments and all fire department heads
over the state would report the cause,
loss, and other details of all fires in
their respective cities and towns. These
reports would be filed at least two
days after each fire. A state report
would be made monthly and annually.
The fire insurance companies would be
required to report the amount of in
surance, the loss and the payment on
each policy affected by the fires.
The regulation, storage and sale of
all explosives would be under the di-
rect supervision of the state officer.
The risks of buildings and the con-
demnation of hazardous property would
come under his power. He would be
given the power to summon witnesses
and make a thorough investigation OF
the causes of fires and of other law
suits or criminal procedures in con-
nection with conflagrations.
= +Ja0 1,,@ia Of off
is prescribed for the protection of the
school children of the state. Senator
Stavely provides that the inspectors
shall see that monthly fire drill is
practiced in every school in Kansas.
The bill has been recommended by
a series of statewide meetings held in
Topeka
The senate this morning took favor
able action on the Bale Waggener
constitutional amendments providing
for an income tax and for four year
term of state officers. Although the
committee of the whole did not go on
record favoring the bills, it was decid
ed to bunch the amendents and later
bring up for consideration the ap-
proved and amended list for the final
passage of three-the number the law
allows.
In the income tax bill it was de-
cided to add franchises to the words,
incomes, privileges and occupations"
This WidenS the scope of the bill and
makes it an almost word for word
copy of the Wisconsin law now in eff
feet and declared constitutional by the
courts.
The four-year-term bill although
not directly approved through the
noon hour rest interruption, it met
little opposition in the committee of
the whole. Senator Kinkel of Morris
county suggested that county officers
be added but the amendment was not
amended the bill to read that all cleo
tive state officers should come under
the four-year term with the excep-
ton of the justices of the supreme
court. This includes governor, lieu
tenant governor, secretary of state,
auditor, treasurer, attorney general,
superintendent of public instruction,
printer. Also other officers that might
be created. No party line was drawn
in the arguments on the amendments.
Senator Milton of Wyandotte coun-
ty would send to the county Jail for
thirty days and impose a fine of $500
on the person or persons aiding in
carrying voters to the polls in car
has offered a bill in the senate pro-
viding for this penalty.
An appropriation for the Hospital
framing ScnoOl Tor Nurses is asked
in a bill introduced in the senate by
Loring Trott, state senator from Geary
county, today. The school would be
situated at Manhattan, Kansas
A bill allowing cities of the first
class to build flood gates sewerage
pumping stations and buy necessary
equipment was introduced in the SEN
ate this morning by James Troutman.
senator from Shawnee This bill would
authorize a bond issue of s125, 900 for
this purpose. Although applicable to
other cities in the state the act really
concerns Topeka. 1t will be necessary
soon for this city to build sewerage
pumping stations to protect the health
of the city in time of high later and
flood. The sewerage must be pumped
over the dixie along the Kaw river wa
ter front.
Another state board of education bill
calling for the appointment of one
body to handle the affairs of the text
book commission, the university, the
agricultural college and the normal
school, was offered to the senate to-
day The latest bill by King of Cow
ley, provides for the appointment of
one man from each congressional dis
trict. who, together with the state su-
perintendent of public instruction will
compose the state board of education
The board would be located at Topeka
This is the first bill that Senator King,
the president pro tenn. has offered this
session.
Ex-senator Stewart, the only sur
yivor of the free state legislature and
a member several times of later houses
and senate, spoke for a few minutes
was introduced by Senator Harry Nc