The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-07
MAHIN'S MEASURE
Regarding Regulation of the
National Webb Bill.
Would Make Fees for County
Clerks of $4,000 per Year.

House members who have looked over
the provisions of the Senator Mahin
liquor shipment bill, now on the cal
endar for consideration in the house,
have found an innocent little joker that
won't hurt the county clerks one bit.
In fact, some conservative figures
based on actual records, show that the
Kansas county clerks will profit to the
amount of about $4,000 a year by the
passa ge of the law and that in Shaw
nee county alone the additional fees for
the county clerks office will be some
where in the neighborhood of $4,000
year.
Never since the palmy days when
the druggists were granted licenses
and filed reports with the probate judge
concerning the sales of intoXicants,
have the county officials been offered
such a handsome little clean up for
their routine activity in keeping the ia
on straight. The Hill. which was IA
thered by Senator Mahin, of Smith
county, provides that a record shall be
kept concerning each shipment of liquor
and that for each such record filed in
the county clerks office. that the clerk
shall receive the sum of ten cents from
the general revenue funds OF the
county AS the individual liquor ship
ments TO Kansans from Kansas City,
Mo. alone total nearly 1000 each day,
it is very plain that the county clerk s
job under this proposed new law would
soon put the clerks in automobile so
ciety.
This week a well known official of a
certain express company visited Iope-
ka. In discussing the bill he stated
that his company alone handled ABOUT
500 liquor shipments per day from ran
sas City Mo, to Kansas points Added
to these shipments is the business of
tremendous business of the freight
companies. On conservative estimate,
1t was figured that not less than 2,Voo
individual shipments came to Kansas
each day in the year.
Under the present plan of shipment
many Kansas jointists order their wet
goods in large consignments. Even
the carload shipment plan has been
quite popular in Kansas. But under
the new law. it is belleVed tnat tnest
shipments will be reduced and that
the Kansas jointist will have a nara
time in getting his supply
Consequently, it is argued that the
retail supply and will make purchases
direct from the wholesaler. This VIII
increase the number of shipments and
likewise increase the amount OF ices
for the county clerk VINO is com
PEELED to keep a record of the ship
ments.
But using the old figures of 1000
shipments each day to Kansas, 1t Is
that Kansas county clerks will re
ceive neat income of $500 day. For
365 days it means $4,000 a year.
1t is also commended that at the
present time an average of about 125
liquor shipments are received daily in
Topeka For Shawnee county an
average of about 125 daily shipments
is claimed. Those $50 daily ship
ments mean SIS a day for the Shaw
ness county clerk, neat little pin
fund of S4,475 a year
Senator Mahin's bill provides that
the express and freight companies
shall make regular reports to the
county clerk. These reports shall
cover the name of the consignee and
consignor of all liquor, tho amount of
the shipment. date and other in
formation. All of this shall be made
a part of the public record in the
county clerk office and shall be open
to inspection at all times. For his
work in keeping this record, the coun-
ty clerk will receive ten cents for
each item recorded and shall be paid
from the general revenue fund of the
county.
Just what the house will do with
this bill is still uncertain. The meas
ure went through the senate with
noisy approval. But the house has
had more time in which to think it
over and the possibility of added
riches for the county clerks may en-
counter an early frost when the bill
is called up for final passage.