Barton County democrat., 1915-02-12
I. & R. KILLED
BY THE HOUSE
Is Fourth Successive Defeat For
Measure-Lacks Fourteen
Votes

Topeka, 'Nebr., 1O.-For the
fourth successive time, the res
olution to amend the state con-
stitution by providing for the in
itiative and referendum was de-
feated in the Kansas Legislature.
There were seventy yeas and
fOrty-fOur nays -eighty-four
yeas being requisite for the two
thirds majority required, the res
Olulion failed passage in the
house. 1t is predicted this will
be the last appearance for a num-
ber of years.
Speaker Stone, of Shawnee
county, was the author of the
resolution voted on, it being the
same resolution substance as was
offered by Republican minority
two-yearS ago. Thirty nine re-
publicans declined to follow the
speaker and a number of them
made vigorous speeches against
it, explaining that it had been
made a plank in the party plat
form against their protests after
their nomination, and that their
position of opposition to the in
nOvation was we'll known by
their constituents at the time of
their election. Eleven democrats
likewise refused to be bound by
their party pledge and one pro-
gresSive, Representative GibbenS,
of Kingman, voted against the
resolution. Representative Way
man, leader of the progreSsiveS
in the House, was absent.
To Raise Legislatures Pay
The house likewise killed con-
Stitutional amendment reSolu-
tions providing for four year
terms for state officers and to
submit six instead of three
amendments at each election.
Resolutions were adopted pro-
posing to amend the constitution
so as TO pay legislators $500 for
their term instead of the SO a day
for fifty days now provided, and
submitting the amendment per-
mitting a classification of prop
erty for taxation purposes.
Five more constitutional
amendments remain to be voted
on in the house, the chief of
which is the three-fourthS jury
verdict in civil cases.
Labor Bill Defeated
The house committee on eff
cheney and economy reported
back the society of labor bill ad-
verSely this evening, but a sub
stitute bill, practically the same
as the original bill, except that
it conferred on the governor the
power filed sikned by the chair
man, Judge Frank L. Martin, of
Hutchinson, and Representative
Bird, of Shawnee, MoSher, of Ed
wards, and Wayman, of Lyons.
The bill was killed in the house
by vote of forty-One for to fifty
four against. The measure pro-
vided that the state society of
labor proposed to be created by
the bill, should name the state
secretary of labor, instead of kav-
ing him named as under the pres
ent law by the governor. The
labor lobby has centered its eff
forts on securing the enactment
of this bill.
The chief work of the senate
today was the recommendation
for passage by committee of the
withdrawal of the mortgage fee
registration bill and the exemp-
ton of mortgages from taxation,
in the event of its passage. The
bill was drawn by the house and
senate committees on assessment
and taxation jointly. 1t is be-
lieved the measure has a fair
chance of. passage through both
houses. II is estimated that its
effect will be to reduce interest
rates on real estate mortgages ap-
prOximately one per cent.
Mr.. and Mrs. John S. OlmStead