The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-27
Poll Tax Measure
Causes Debate.
Some Senators Are Against
Payment of Poll Tax.
TO GOVERN POWER OF VOTERS
Much Interest in Brooke'S Real
Estate Act.
Coleman Wants Water Board
Made Part of I. r.. Court.

Ten bills were introduced in the
senate Wednesday afternoon. and
some routine measures of no particu-
lar interest passed, before the body
adjourned to give opportunity for i'm
portant committee meetings.
The Bills Passed.
The ten bills were as follows:
No, 202. by Senator Slzidmore, pro-
viding for the assessment and collec-
ton of the poll tax in the state.
No. 200, by Senator Docking. au-
thorizing cities to purchase, sell
lease or otherwise dispose of parcels
of land known as parks or public
squares.
No. 204, by Senator Laing, of Rus
sell, providing that qualification for
voting in elections to decide on bond
taxes on real or personal property.
No. 205, by Senator Laing, relating
to the distribution of taxes on rail-
road property. for school districts.
No. 206, by Senator Laing. providing
for the payment of the salaries OF
judicial district during the time when
the regular judge was in the United
States army.
No. 207. by Senator Burdick, pro-
viding for the issuing of bonds by
county commissioners, for the pur-
pose of floating the bonded indebted
ness of the counties
No. EOS, by the committee on mill
tary affairs, providing for the pay
ment of the officers and men of Kan
sas National Guard.
No. 209. by Senator Brooke, pro-
viding for the creation of a state
board of real estate commissioners,
and the regulation of the business of
real estate dealers and statesmen.
No. 210, by Senator Ridgway, pro-
vld1ng for the compensation of judges
and clerks of elections.
No. 211, by Senator Coleman, pro-
viding that the removal of sand, grav-
ell, oil, gas or minerals from the bed
of any stream, shall come under the
regulation of the state industrial
court, as shall the harvesting of crops
from the bends or beds of rivers.
No. PIP, by Senator Coleman. to
create within the court of industrial
relations, a division of water re-
sources, which shall have the powers
and responsibilities now held by the
division of irrigation of the state
board Of agriculture. and the Kansas
water commission.
To Open a Debate.
Senator Skidmore's poll tax bill will
crystalline the sentiment on the poll
tax, and will probably open up a wide
field Of debate on the subject Some
of the city senators. speaking for their
constituents are against the payment
Of the tax at all.
Senator Laing's bill on the qualifi-
cation of voters in bond elections, is
designed to make more rigid the re-
strictions which govern the powers of
the voters 1t has been stated that
the bill is unconstitutional.
Much Interest in Brooke Bill.
A good deal of interest attaches to
the Brooke bill for the creation of the
state real estate commission, which is
the same as bill which has been in
troduced already, in the house of rep
resentatives.
The military affairs bill is simply
the regular pay bill for the Kansas
army, with only such changes as are
necessary as a result of the revision
of the federal statutes.
The two Coleman bills, bringing the
administration of the rivers, and their
beds. within the jurisdiction of the
state industrial court, are part of the
administration program for the con-
centrating of the powers of water reg
ulation, which are now scattered
among several boards and commits
SiOnS.