The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-15
The ROAD BILL in
Measure Would Permit State To
Build Highways.
McDermott, COwley, Wants
State AmericanizatiOn Board.
COMPULSORY VOTING URGED
Yount of Cherokee Author of
the First "Freak" Bill.
House Adopts Resolution Urg-
ing National Suffrage.

posed amendment to the state cOnSt1-
| tuition permitting the state to engage
| islature adopts house concurrent
resolution introduced today by Bard
we'll of Riley county. The measure
provides that the state legislature may
appropriate funds or vote for the is
suance of bonds for road building pur-
poses.
The Bardwell resolution is the legis-
| lative outline of the official program
| of the Kansas Good Roads association
While the plan of the state association
| for a $60,0O0,000 bond issue is not
| specifically mentioned in the resolu-
ton, the ground plan for such a pro-
! ject is laid in it's general provisions.
Funds used by the state in road build
ing would be derived from motor car
| licenses This money would be used
to retire bonds issued by the state.
All general plans concerning the
methods of road building and loca-
| tons of roads are left with future leg
islatures and the state highway com
| mission. The resolution amends the
present provision of the state constitu-
ton which bars all forms of state in
ternal improvement The amendment
is made only to apply to highway
building and does not leavep the door
| open for other forms of internal i'm
provement
Schoch of Shawnee introduced the
resolution in the senate.
BOafu OF Afncf1cdn1ZatfOn
Creation of a state board of Ameri-
canlzation was proposed today in a
| bill in the house by McDermott of
| Cowley county. The purpose of the
bill is to create a system of education
| in English for foreign language resi-
dents of the state.
An Americanization agent would
serve with the state board of educa-
| ton under terms of the bill. The
agent would be appointed by the state
| board. A fund of $4,000 for work of
the board is asked. McDermott~ pro-
vides that the board shall assist and
encourage immigrants, aliens and per-
| sons of foreign speech residing in the
state of Kansas to learn the English
| language, to become acquainted with
! the American form of government and
| to become citizens of the United
| States"
Another bill offered by McDermott
provides that all elementary schools of
the state, whether private or parochial,
| shall use the English language eX-
| clasively as the medium of instruction.
| No specific bar is placed against the
| teaching. of German. The bill per-
| mits the state board of education to
| arrange for temporary instruction
! thru the medium of language other
| than English. Such instruction shall
be only as prescribed by the board
and such as in their judgment is
| necessary.
l. Bill for Compulsory Voting.
Young of Cherokee county has
slipped a bill to the house hopper
| providing for compulsory voting of
all men ana women in general and
| primary elections. Sickness only is
| given as relief for the voter from
| exercising his constitutional right
| If a person fails to vote in either
| the primary or in the general election,
such voter would be subject to ar
rest and conviction for misdemeanor-
A fine of $50 to $100 is provided
| under Yount's bill.
House Votes for Suffrage.
Mrs. Minnie Grinstead of Seward
county today introduced resolution
! memorializing congress to pass the
| equal suffrage amendment to the fed
| eral constitution. The measure was
! advanced under the declaration of an
/ emergency and pushed to second and
1 third reading. 1t passed unanimous
and was messaged to athe senate for
final action.
Give Soldiers Preference.
| Returned soldiers and sailors will be
! given preference in the making of
house appointments by the employees
| committee. That position was defined
today when the house adopted reso-
| luton by Chase of Linn providing
that the employees committee give
! first choice to returned fighting men
who seek employment.
H. c. of l.. Hits Legislature.
Along with the high price of beef
steak and corn dodgers has come the
| high price of machinery other than
| cream separators and gang plows.
! The Kansas house saw red this morn
ing when a proposition was submitted
authorizing l.. ]. Pettijohn, secretary
| of state, to rent typewriters for the
legisla ture at the rate of IS month
During former sessions the price was
| SO a month Several house members
made an awful howl when the resolu-
ton was offered. Ben Endres of
| Leavenworth suggested that anyone
wishing to display their patriotism
| might take over the job and rent ma
| chimes at the old rate Finally the
house buried its grief and submitted
to the new item in the high cost of
living-and legislation.
No Pay for Teachers.
Yount of Cherokee wants school
teachers to serve without pay dur
ing enforced vacations. He offered a
bill in the house providing that where
schools are closed because of an cpl
demic or loss of, school building thru
fire. that teachers shall not be con-
tinued on the pay roll until active
school work is resumed.
No Afternoon Session.
The house quit business at noon and
adjourned until 10 O'Clock Thursday
morning Most of the morning session
was taken up with the reading of Gov
ernor Aliens message. The house ap-
plauded loudly when the message
| was completed. The new governor
lengthy legislative program afforded
an excellent opportunity for several
candidates for reading clerk to appear
before the house membership
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