The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-11
FAvORS IT
Recommend Bill Providing for
Military Academy.
Want Real Training Course for
Kansas Boys.

The bill for the selection and desfg-
nation of a military academy in the
state of Kansas, to be visited and in
spected at regular intervals by the adj
jutant general, was recommended for
passage in the senate committee of the
whole.
1T is not the intention to create a
West Point in Kansas" said Senator
Wolf, chairman of the committee on
military affairs, in speaking on the
bill, "but to provide real military
academy course for boys who do not
tenn, but on whom the extra discipline
of the military school acts to make
them very useful citizens"
Recommend Wolf Bill.
The senateswas evidently inclined to
recommend for passage the Wolf bill,
which would give the county commits
sionerS a term of six years instead of
crepancy which was found in the
wording of the. bill, it was passed sub
.ject to amendment and debate, that
corrections might be made.
The senate passed the Taylor bill,
which provides that 1t shall be a crime
to furnish or use material inferior to
the specifications on any public work.
The bill also makes the county OF other
public official who is cognizant of the
use of such inferior material, liable to
heavy punishment.
To Eliminate Non Tax Payers.
The senate is also strongly in favor
of passing the Laing bill which would
require a tax-paying qualification of
voters in bond elections other than for
school purposes. The object of the
bill is to eliminate the "floaters" and
non tax payers from the elections
which will cost the tax payers money.
The bill was opposed by Senator Ridg-
way of Kansas City, Kan. who object
ed because Wyandotte county is in
need of a new courthouse and because
the nature of the population of Kan
sas City, Kan, is such that he believes
the law would work an injustice. SEN
ator Ridgway was unable to secure
the passage of an amendment which
would eliminate Wyandotte county
from the workings of the bill.
Arguments against the bill on the
grounds that it is unconstitutional
were answered by Senator Coleman,
of johnson county, with the assertion
that there are a score or more similar
laws on the statute books and that the
supreme court has never held one of
them unconstitutional.
Passed Subject to Amendment.
The bill was finally recommended
for passage, subject to amendment and
debate.
A bill which permits the increase of
the tax levy for the maintenance of
parks in certain cities, and which is
designed to give an adequate fund for
the upkeep of the city park at Fort
Scott, was passed by the senate.
A similar bill. which will permit the
city officials of Kansas City, Kan, to
make a tax levy for more adequate
fire and police protection, and for the
establishment of a good inspection and
garbage disposal system in their city,
was also passed. - - 49,
A bill relating to the double election
boards, by Senator Paul, contained the
provision that no information as to
the course of the election is to be
given out to any person until after the
polls have closed. The change in the
law was not favored by the entire sem
ate, and there were several vigorous
arguments against the pail of secrecy
being thrown about the polls, but the
bill was finally passed, with its original
provision intact.
A house bill which provides that
interest on internal improvement
bonds issued for special improvements
by cities of the first class may draw as
much as per cent interest instead of
5 per cent, which is the present limit:
was recommended for passage in the
committee of the whole after commit
tee amendments which make the pro-
visions of the act applicable to all
cities of the first class, had been
adopted. AS first drawn up. the bill
applied only to Kansas City. Kan.