The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-30
Mack of Harvey Sends in Meas
ure This Morning.
1t Does Not Provide for Live
stOck-POultry Display.
CONSOLIDATION BILL GOES IN
Martin Weuld Place Under One
Head All Boards.
Compulsory Study of Bible Pro-
vided in Jewell Bill.

Kansas will return to the old style
! system of straight party by voting
/ by a single designation if the legisla-
ture enacts a bill introduced in the
house today by Mack of Harvey coun
ty. The measure will practically
mean a return to the former Austria
/ liam ballot except that the Mack bill
does not provide for the live stock and
poultry display which featured the
/ former ballot and aided the ignorant
voter who read pictures only to deter
mine his party affiliation.
Mack's bill will probably go onto
the floor of the house an admins
tration measure. 1t seeks to repeal
the Massachusetts ballot law enacted
by the Democrats in 1913 and prac-
. tically restores all of the provisions
of the former ballot system in Kan
sas Under the Mack bill a voter will
! be able to vote a straight ticket by
making a cross in a square opposite
the name of the political party.
Instead of the old familiar circle of
/ gladstone days, Mack provides for a
square opposite the name of each
political party These names and
squares would be printed at the top
vote straight Republican, Democrat
or Socialist ticket, he or she would
merely make a cross in the square op-
posite the name of that party. A
voter as under the former system,
/ might declare his party allegiance by
marking in the square and at the
same time vote for candidates OF an
other party. To do so, tho, would
require that the voter mark in the
square opposite the name of each of
such candidates he desired to support.
+ When the Democrats took charge OF
the legislature in 1913 they sought to
put a crimp in the almost brutal Re
! publican majority in Kansas by sub
shutting the Massachusetts ballot law
for the Australian system. Now the
Republicans propose to go back
Consolidation Bill Is In.
Martin of Reno has introduced in
the house the state administration S
bill for the consolidation of the big
state boards. The measure provides
for the creation of a board of five
members who shall have direct super
vision of the state schools, penal in
situations and charities. The men,
bers would be appointed by the gov
ernor and confirmed by the senate.
The measure proposes the consollda-
ton of the state board of administra-
ton, board of corrections and board
of control. 1t is understood in state
house circles that Governor Capper
will hold a number of board appoint
ments in allegiance pending the action
of the legislature on the consolidation
bill.
Goodbye. Hypnotists.
Public exhibitions of hypnotism in
| Kansas would be prohibited under a
I-bi1l in the house by Representative
Ostlind of Mcpherson county. The
bill makes such exhibitions a misde-
meanor punishable by a fine of not
less than S. nor more than 500. The
bill is aimed at all forms of hypnotic
demonstration, mesmerism or psychic
power.
Must Study the Bible.
Jewell of Crawford county has an
! other bill providing for pure habits
and pure minds for teachers in public
schools and state institutions. The
| Crawford county member has intro
duced in the house a bill for compui-
sorry Bible study and compelling al
, | applicants for teachers certificates tC
pass an examination as to the history
|, teachings and influence of the Bible
H : would compel Bible teaching in al
state and public schools and provides
in his bill for a course of study in Bib
1ical lessons to be prepared by the
state board of education. Under the
bill, adoption of the course of study
would be compelled in all public
schools of the state.
Appoint County Coroners.
johnson of Brown county would
shorten the county ballot by provid
Ing lot TIE appointment VI COuIlI.
; coroners. Under the present law, the
coroner is elected. Johnson's bill
provides that the county commission
ers at their January meeting in eacf
l odd year shall appoint a county coro
: ner for a term of two years or unit
his successor is appointed and quail
les.
) Smoking Bill Is Dead
The house judiciary committee ha
: killed the Jewett anti-smoking bill
Jewett's bill went to the hopper las
week and provided a penalty TO
: smoking a cigarette, cigar or pipe il
any public place or where childrel
are permitted. If children are in
home. the Lane county member pro
posed a fine if a man smoked in hi
!, own home.
: Home Rule for Cities.
Bird of Shawnee county has Offered
= in the house concurrent resolution
providing for home rule for cities
The measure takes the same cours
as a constitutional amendment, bu
may not reach the house calendar il
time for consideration with other pro
posed constitutional changes. Unde
the amendment as proposed by Bird
: Kansas towns and cities would be per
f mitted to adopt the home rule plan
} The measure is entirely optional.
: Pass Health Nurse Bill.
The house by a bare constitutions
= ma ority passed the bill permitting
: cities of the second class to empIo
: public health nurses. The measur
f receiv ed 3 votes on roll call. Eigh
votes were cast against the bill.