The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-03-17
THE BUDGET PLAN IS KILLED
ing Appropriations
Utility Bill Is Dead.

Topeka.-The senate has finally
killed the budget system for Kansas.
The original senate constitutional
amendment failed earlier in the week
and the house resolution adopted
some days ago failed recently. The
resolution directed the governor to
make up budget just before the
legislature convened and this budget
was to be presented to the legislature
as soon as the session opened. The
proposition was intended to fix re-
sponsibility for the appropriations.
The senate killed bill that had
some elements Of good in it, but in
which there was doubtful provision
The bill provided for changing the
existing franchises so that the cities
could collect a share of the gross re-
ceipts of public utilities. The propo-
sition had the united opposition of
the utilities Hobbies in the legislature
until they made discovery which
provided that the utilities and cities
might agree that free service might
be given the city in exchange for the
gross receipts share Then the seri-
Gus opposition stopped, as this opened
the way for continuing to let the
cities hold most of the sack as under
the present arrangements.
The house passed the flood proven
ton commission bill. It creates a
commission Of engineers to investi-
gate the flood and drainage conditions
along the watersheds of the state and
also investigate the possibilities of
irrigation. The commission is to CO.
operate with the federal authorities
r r r
Counties to Get Big Oil Tax.
The Kansas counties with oil and
gas wells are going to find themselves
with lot of extra money next year.
The house has passed the senate bill
authorizing what is practically a gross
production tax on ali the oil and gas
wells in the state. The assessors are
to inspect the wells, ascertain the pro-
duction, the average value OF the oil
and gas sold, the nearness to market
and the value Of equipment and also
the probable life Of the well and
then list this value as a part of the
personal property of the owner and
the same tax will be levied against
that as is levied against other prop
erty.
State Fairs Win Out
The Topeka and Hutchinson state
fairs both won victory over the
house ways and means committee, but
they had to join issues to do so. By\a
vote Of 40 to At. the house adopted
an amendment giving the Hutchinson
fair $4,000 and the Topeka fair
$4,000. The ways and means COM
mittee had only given Hutchinson
$4,000 and had cut Topeka out en-
tirely.
Vetoes Convict Labor Bill.
Governor Capper has used his veto
power for the second time during this
session of the legislature. He killed
the bill requiring the prisoners at the
state reformatory at Hutchinson to do
the construction work at the state fair
grounds.
To Curb Cattle Stealing.
A bill requiring cattle shippers to
report shipments to the county sherins
has passed both branches of the legis-
lature It is intended to curb cattle
stealing.
Quits Board On Control.
w E. Brooks, chairman of the state
board of control, in charge of the
charitable institutions, resigned the
other day. Mr.. Brooks was elected
mayor Of Fort Scott last fail and took
his office In January.
= + =
"Bone Dry" Law for Cities.
a bill to allow cities to pass ordi-
nances to put in effect the ~bone dry
law within the city. so that the police
could enforce the law, was introduced
recently by the committee on temper
ance IN the senate.