The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-21

| the Republicans. Should the Demo-
Gratis designate the particular amend
| menus they desire to submit, the Re-
| puphcan opposition might plan to
/ load the measures down with amend
nents and then help to pass the bills
| IN badly crippled condition. If the
democrats refuse to elect, as to the
measures to be submitted, then the
| Republicans, some of whom at heart
| oppose some of the reform amend
menus. nope to arrange the calander
IN such a manner that the less effect
I've measures may be adopted first
| That would leave some of the really
| Dig amendments on a limb as the
amendments must be submitted in the
order they are passed. With three
minor amendments adopted. the mi
nor1ty workers believe that there
would then be no chance to force a
vote on the initiative and referendum
| and recall, which are the two meas
ures on which the real fight is ex-
pected.
At least one Democratic platform
pledge is stamped paid at maturity
so far as the Kansas house is con-
cerned. The first of the series of 1912
Democratic negotiable notes was re-
deemed in the house Monday afternoon
when 122 members voted unanimously
to repeal the present inheritance tax
law. Every Democrat every Republican
and even the two Socialist members
voted for the repeal of the law
Already there are half dozen SUBJ
stitute laws which will be offered to
the legislature to take the place of the
repealed act. 1t is quite probable that
the bill which will be accepted will be
along the lines of one framed by the
1911 legislature, but which was vetoed
by Governor Stubs. This measure will
call for the exemption of all direct
heirs such as widows and orphans and
will demand a levy from only such per-
sons as those to whom the legacies
come as 'windfalls.'' Inheritances I'M
der $4,000 will probably be exempted in
all instances
The fees and salaries committee of
the house has been instructed to draft
and present just and equitable fee
| and salary bill affecting all offices in
all counties in the state. This bill must
be reported to the legislature NOT later
than February A.
Already there is every indication of a
tier fight when this measure is pre-
sented for passage. In scarce any two
counties are conditions similar and in
but few localities are the demands of
the legislative members the same 1t
Will be a wise committee, politicians
say, which can draft bill that will
please the 125 members from the los
countless; and there is an excellent
| chance for one of the most lively fights
Of the session when the matter is pre-
scented for discussion
If the bills introduced Monday after
noon up, UppIinger,y of Cheyenne, be-
come laws, Kansas will in 1914 elect
four new officials. These will include
three members of the public utilities
commission and the state bank COM
missioner.
It is apparent that the Upplinger bill
may prove food for a lively row even
among the administration forces. Just
at present the Kansas Democrats are
hopeful of some future victories. They
believe that unless there is q broken
cog somewhere that Hodges will win in
1914. 1t is many long months since the
Democrats have been at the crib, too.
And now to think that Upplinger, a
member of the administration forces
and sitting on the, sunny side of the
legislative hall for the first time in the
history of the state, should have the
temerity and nerve to introduce a bill
that would take away some of the state
patronage. 1t almost made the close
friends of the administration gasp.
Upphnger's bill calls for the election
in 1914 of three members Of the utilities
commission, one of whom shall serve
for term of two years and two who
shall serve for four years. AS for the
bank commissioner, he is provided a
two-year term and will be chosen by
say about it.
Its a strictly Democratic policy
said one administration member in dis
cussing the new bill, "and it ought to
be passed whether it helps or hurts u.s.
And if the Democrats desire to look
at the matter in that light, n number
of the minority members are expected
to encourage them and vote for the
passage of the bill.
has introduced his resolution calling on
the Kansas members of congress to
vote for the passage of a bill which
will wind up the affairs of all federal
courts and abolish the office Gordon
wants Jurisdiction conferred on state
courts to handle the business now sent
to the federal tribunals and a national
legislation putting the federal judges
out of business. The Wyandotte county
member freely admits that his resolu-
ton was inspired through the rulings
of Judge John c. Pollock in the Kan
sas Natural gas suit
The bill proposed by State Auditor
W. E. Davis, giving to the state rev.
enue from all sand, gravel and mineral
taken from the beds of the Kansas
and Arkansas rivers, was introduced
in the house today by Kinkaid, of
Johnson county. 1t is believed by
Davis that the Kinkaid bill will bring
into the state treasury an amount not
! less than $150,000 a year. At the pres
emit time the state receives no revenue
from any of the score of sand and
gravel companies which now operate
along the banks of navigable streams
| in Kansas.
! Last week Gordon, of Wyandotte. Of
fered a bill permitting local drainage
companies to collect the royalties from
sand and gravel companies. 1t is
probable that an effort will be made
to substitute Kinkaid'S bill for the one