406 



KANSAS. 



at Emporia, $25,000, for additions to the pres- 

 ent structure. The sura of $100,000 is appro- 

 priated to the Industrial Reformatory at Hutch- 

 inson.-to complete the construction of that in- 

 stitution. 



Two amendments to the Constitution were 

 proposed, to be voted upon at the next general 

 election. The first strikes out a passage that 

 debars colored citizens from joining the mili- 

 tia ; the second gives the Legislature express 

 authority to regulate the rights of aliens with 

 reference to the purchase, enjoyment, and de- 

 scent of property in the State. Other acts of 

 the session were as follow : 



To create the counties of Garfield, Gray, Elaskell, 

 Grant, Stanton, and Kearney, and to define the 

 boundaries cf certain other counties. 



To amend an act regarding cities of the first class, 

 by giving the city authorities additional powers. 



To authorize cities of the second class to construct 

 and maintain a system of sewerage and drainage. 



To provide for the consolidation of adjacent cities, 

 and for the platting of land therein into alleys and 

 lots. 



To authorize counties and incorporated cities of the 

 second and third classes to encourage the develop- 

 ment of the coal, natural gas, and other resources of 

 their localities, by subscribing to the stock of compa- 

 nies. 



To confirm deeds, contracts, and conveyances of pri- 

 vate corporations, executed and acknowledged under 

 section 4 of chapter 22, general statutes of 1868, and to 

 repeal said section. 



To provide for the organization and incorporation 

 of co-operative societies or companies for promoting 

 or conducting any industrial pursuit. 



To provide for the registration of electors at elec- 

 tions lor the location of county -seats. 



Authorizing county treasurers, in counties of more 

 than 7,000 and fewer than 25,000 inhabitants, to de- 

 posit public money in banking institutions. 



To provide for the appointment of three commis- 

 sioners, to be known as Commissioners of the Su- 

 preme Court, to aid the court in the performance of 

 its duties. [This act was deemed necessary in conse- 

 quence of the refusal of the people, at the election in 

 1886, to approve an amendment to the Constitution 

 increasing the number of supreme judges.] 



Raising the age of consent in females to eighteen 

 years. 



To legalize abbreviated forms for deeds and mort- 

 gages of real estate. 



To prevent fraud at elections, and to provide pun- 

 ishment therefor. 



Prescribing certain duties of presidential electors. 



To establish the office of Commissioner of Forestry. 



To encourage the planting and growing of forest- 

 trees and making appropriation therefor. 



Making it unlawful for any one to have in his pos- 

 session, or to use, or sell, or give away, intoxicating 

 liquors within one-half mile of any voting-place at 

 any special or general election. 



To secure to laborers in and about coal-mines, and 

 manufactories, and other firms, or corporations, the 



Eayment of their wages at regular intervals, and in 

 iwful money of the United States, and to prevent 

 any restrictions upon such laborers as to the place 

 for purchasing their supplies. 



Amending the State pnarmacy law. 

 ' To prohibit grain- dealers, partnerships, companies, 

 corporations, or associations, from combining or en- 

 tering into any agreement or contract to pool or fix 

 the price to be paid for grain, hogs, cattle, or stock of 

 any kind whatever, and to provide punishment for 

 the same. 



For the appointment of a commissioner to examine 

 and audit the Price raid claims. 



To provide for the assumption and payment of 

 claims for losses sustained by citizens of Kansas by 

 the invasion of the State by bands of guerillas and 

 marauders during the years 1861 to 1865 inclusive. 



Regulating the crossing and intersection of rail- 

 roads. 



Providing a method for the improvement of county 

 roads. 



To transfer certain lands to the permanent school 

 fund. 



Providing for an assistant Auditor of State. 



Appropriating $13,000 tor the establishment and 

 maintenance of a silk station in Kansas, appointing 

 three commissioners to assume charge of such station, 

 and to promote the silk-culture in the State. 



Regulating the shipment of live-stock and grain. 



Granting to women the right to vote in cities of the 

 first, second, and third class, at any election of city or 

 school officers, or for the purpose of authorizing' the 

 issue of bonds for school purposes. 



To encourage the manufacture of sugar, by offering 

 a bountv of two cents a pound upon all sugar manu- 

 factured in the State from beets, sorghum', or other 

 sugar-yielding plants grown therein, the total bounty 

 to be paid in one year not to exceed $15,000. 



To authorize townships to provide public parks and 

 cemeteries for the inhabitants thereof, and to levy a 

 tax for the same. 



Making counties and townships liable for defects in 

 bridges, culverts, and highways. 



To authorize city and township treasurers and treas- 

 urers of school districts and boards of education to 

 register all warrants or orders drawn upon them and 

 not paid for want of funds, and providing for the pay- 

 ment of the same in the order of registration. 



To authorize the city of Leavenworth to issue bonds 

 and incur indebtedness not exceeding $10,000 for en- 

 couraging the development of its coal and natural-gas 

 resources. 



Providing that all bonds hereafter issued by coun- 

 ty, town, or city authorities to railroads, shall be re- 

 deemabte at pleasure after ten years. 



Providing for the police government of cities of the 

 first class by a board of police commissioners, ap- 

 pointed by the executive council, and for a similar 

 government of cities of the second class in certain 

 contingencies. 



The total number of acts was 241. an in- 

 crease of 34 over the previous regular session. 



Prohibition. The following extract from a 

 public letter by Gov. Martin summarizes the 

 history and the effect of the prohibitory law : 



The prohibition amendment to our Constitution was 

 adopted in the autumn of 1880, and the first laws to 

 enforce it went into effect in May, 1881. The war to 

 banish the saloons was for some years only partially 

 successful. The amendment had been adopted by a 

 very meager majority, and public sentiment in all our 

 larger cities was overwhelmingly against it. As late 

 as January 2 1885, saloons were open in fully thirty of 

 the larger cities of Kansas, including Topeka, the capi- 

 tal of the State. But steadily and surely the public 

 sentiment against them spread and intensified. The 

 small majority that had voted for the amendment was 

 re-enforced, first by those law-respecting citizens who 

 are always willing to subordinate their personal opin- 

 ions to the majesty of law ; and, second, by an equally 

 large number who, observing the practical results fol- 

 lowing the abolition of saloons in different cities and 

 towns, became convinced that Kansas would be a more 

 prosperous, happier, and in all respects a better com- 

 munity of people if it had not an open saloon within 

 its borders. 



One argument of the whisky interest viz., that sa- 

 loons promote the prosperity and growth of communi- 

 ties has been answered in Kansas by the convincing 

 logic of facts. In 1880 the population of this State, as 

 shown by the census, was 996,096 ; in March. 1886, as 

 shown by the State census, it was 1,406,738 ; and it is 



