The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-06
To WOMEN'S AID
Senator Barr Champions Their
Cause in the Legislature.
He Makes Strong Plea for
Mothers Pension Measure.

Senator Barr, of Bourbon, stepped
upon lot of senatorial corns during
the discussion of the mothers pension
bill in the senate Monday afternoon.
He had listened to several senators,
who. in the name of charity, ha Of
fered one amendment after another to
the bill
"AlI these amendments he de-
clafed, ARE offered for the purpose
OF loading down this bill and killing
it. Why, I'd like to know, are ne
members of this senate SO nIsSardly
that they want To withhold from the
widowed mothers and orphan chill
dreE of the state the aid society owes
them?
Every thing the women Of kansas
have wanted in the way OF legislation
has been trampled upon III this lcgis-
latLre. All the legislature needs -
by the women, and bingO, It's dead or
Sd badly crippled that it is worthless.
eff the men will not Look after
these humanitarian matters the E-onn
en- must The men do not Individ-
ually they care but collectively they
do not. The women are right in seek
ing to put such legislation as this
thru the legislature. Let's cut out
these weakening amendments and
pass this bill as it came from the
house,
Barr Charges Denied.
fered amendments were on their feet
instantly to deny the charge that the
amendments they had offered were
offered for the purpose of loading
down. the bill. AS it came from the
house the bill provided that county
commissioners shall pay mothers
pensions in certain cases and it placed
investigating and other authority in
the hands of the juvenile court.
Senator Price of Clark, proceeded
with his amendments and as the bill
leaves the senate it is much as he
wanted it. At that, he voted against
it on final passage. The bill takes the
authority away from the juvenile
court and places it back in the hands
of the county commissioners as it is
under the old law. AS it stands the
bill says the commissioners ''shalP'
grant pensions but it also gives the
| commissioners full authority to fix the
amounts
Most of the friends of mothers PEN
sions voted against the bill on final
passage but before the vote was an
nounced the leaders changed their
| minds and their votes, also. They
| ran the vote from a deficiency up to
a surplus and passed the bill.
No Insurance Investigation.
There will be no appropriation by
| the legislature for the purpose of
| financing an investigation of the fire
| insurance rates in Kansas. Such a bill
was passed by the senate a week ago,
making an appropriation and provid-
| ing for the appointment of an investi-
eating committee. The appropriation
was fixed at $4,000. But when the
same matter came up Monday night
in the senate along with the executive
and judicial budget the senate struck
| that feature out of the bill, by vote
| of Is to 21-
| Topeka Schools Hopeful.
There is hope for the Topeka board
| of education in a bill passed by the
senate Monday night 1t had already
passed the house and increases the
| limit of tax for school purposes in cit
les of the first class from to 10 mills
1t is expected that the measure will
| aid the Topeka board of education in
Strengthening out it's financial af-
| fairs. 1t is said that it will also make
possible a raise for grade teachers.