graph two of the same section as relates to the filling of vacancies, the following be proposed as an amendment to the constitution, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part of the constitution when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the states: ""The senate of the United States shall be composed of two senators from each state, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each senator shall have one vote. The electors in each state shall have the qualifications requisite for electors of the most numerous branch of the state legislatures. ""When vacancies happen in the representation of any state in the senate, the executive authority of such state shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: provided, that the legislature of any state may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointments until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct. 66 "This amendment shall not be so construed as to affect the election or term of any senator chosen before it becomes valid as apart of the constitution;'" therefore Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas, the House of Representatives concurring, That the foregoing proposed amendment to the constitution of the United States be and the same is hereby ratified. Be if further resolved, That a copy of this resolution, duly certified by the presiding officers of the two Houses of the Legislature, the chief clerk of the House and secretary of the Senate, by the governor of the state of Kansas, certified under the great seal of the state of Kansas, to the President of the United States, and to the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States. Approved January 21, 1913. CONCERNING NATIONAL LEGISLATION. WHEREAS, A great part of the time of Senators and Representatives in Congress that should be devoted to matters of public concern and importance is take up with the consideration of matters of purely local and selfish interests, such as the demands for public buildings and the improvement of rivers and harbors that are not necessary to the industrial development of the whole country, and that are of a purely selfish or local interest; and WHEREAS, This practice gives rise at once to a most extravagant expenditure of public money and results in such a scattering of the amount available for public improvement over such a varied number of selfish interests, that improvements that are worthy and of great concern to the country are dragged out through a long period of years, and gives rise to injudicious and extravagant practices in the expenditure of money required for these great public improvements; and WHEREAS, This method of dealing out the public revenues has given rise to most vicious practices of "log-rolling" among members of Congress, which methods have for their aim, not the general good of the economic and industrial interests of the country, but the selfish aim of the return of certain congressmen to their places; and WHEREAS, This practice has given rise to the public scandal of "pork barrel" methods in connection with our most important appropriation bills, which practice is notoriously known as corrupt, extravagant and against the best public policy; now therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate, the House concurring therein, That we denounce such practices in the most severe terms and call upon our members of the national legislative body, both senators and representatives, to refuse to join in such "logrolling" and "pork barrel" methods, and endeavor by every means that are possible to secure such legislation as will forever put a stop to the present extravagant waste of public money occasioned by this method of dealing with necessary public improvements; and Resolved further, That we suggest to our representatives in Congress that they consider the wisdom of making such changes in the rules of Congress, in the laws of this country, or of submitting an amendment to the national constitution which would provide against the passage of bills in omnibus roll call, by which method by far the greater part of vicious "pork barrel" measures are passed, and also provide such amendments to our national law or our United States constitution as would give to the president of the United States power to veto special items in the appropriation bills without vetoing the entire bill, thus giving the president of the United States the power to cut out those special and selfish appropriations which have for their purpose the strengthening of the political fences of members of Congress, rather than the advancement of the industrial welfare of the entire country. Resolved further, That a copy of these resolutions properly attested by the secretary of state be sent to each of the Kansas delegation in the House of Representatives at Washington and to each of the United States senators from this state. Approved March 3, 1913. CHAPTER 341. RELATING TO TARIFF REVISION. Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 9. WHEREAS, The prices of the necessities of life have in the past few years become almost prohibitive and have advanced out of proportion to the advance in wages and incomes and the price of all other articles of commerce; and WHEREAS, The Democrat party in their National platform, adopted by the Democratic convention, at Baltimore, July 2, 1912, have pledged themselves to favor the immediate downward revision of the existing high and in many cases prohibitive tariff duties on the necessaries of life; and WHEREAS, The people of this Nation having elected by an overwhelming majority, Honorable Woodrow Wilson, as president of the United States, have dicided in favor of such immediate downward revision of tariff revenues upon the necessities of life: therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate of the State of Kansas, the House of Representatives concurring therein, do hereby petition the Honorable Woodrow Wilson, to call a special session of Congress immediately after being inaugurated President of the United States, for the purpose of removing or reducing all tariff revenues upon the necessities of life; and be it Further resolved, That upon the adoption of this resolution a copy of the same, with the result of the action of the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Legislature of the State of Kansas, be forwarded to the president-elect by telegram, by the Secretary of the Senate. Approved January 27, 1913. erly ton CHAPTER 342. RELATING TO PRACTICE OF POLYGAMY. House Concurrent Resolution No. 21. Be it resolved by the House, the Senate concurring therein, That our representatives in the Lower House of Congress and the United States Senate, be memorialized and requested to submit an amendment to our national constitution, the object of which shall be to forever prohibit polygamy in the United States and all territories under their jurisdiction and that Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the spirit and intent of this resolution. Be it further resolved, That an engrossed copy of this resolution be immediately forwarded, by the Chief Clerk of the House, to our Senators and Representatives in Congress, individually, upon the concurrence of the Senate in the within resolution. Approved January 31, 1913. CHAPTER 343. AN ACT RELATING TO NATIONAL LOANS. An act relating to national loans. WHEREAS, The farmers and resident land owners of this state and of many other western states are compelled to borrow money upon their lands, for which they must pay excessive rates of interest, which retards the development of the farming industry therein; therefore, Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Kansas, the Senate concurring therein, That the Legislature of the State of Kansas respectfully petitions the Congress of the United States to pass an act at the earliest possible date providing a plan whereby an adequate part of the national funds shall be loaned to resident land owners at a low rate of interest, to the end that the farming industry of the several states may be protected and advanced by making possible the securing of loans from the national government at a rate of interest which said land owners can afford to pay. Be it further resolved, that this resolution shall, upon its passage by both branches of the Legislature, be engrossed and transmitted to our Representatives in the United States Congress. From the governor, unsigned, February 1, 1913. CHAPTER 344. RELATING TO THE FREE DISTRIBUTION OF GARDEN SEEDS BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS. Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 29. WHEREAS, The practice of the free distribution of garden seeds entails a large expense upon the government as well as adds to the encumbrance of the mail; and WHEREAS, In this day of agricultural colleges and experi ment stations it is of no particular benefit to the agricultural community; and WHEREAS, It requires some time of the representatives of the people which could be better employed in more useful and valuable service; therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate, the House concurring therein, That we urge upon our senators and representatives in congress to discontinue the practice and to use their efforts to initiate and further legislation that will put an end to any further waste of money along this line. Resolved, further, That a copy of this resolution be sent by the secretary of state to each member of the Kansas delegation in congress. Approved February 17, 1913. CHAPTER 345. RELATING TO THE ACQUIRING LAND FOR A STATE GAME PRESERVE. House Concurrent Resolution No. 36. WHEREAS, The United States government is the owner of thousands of acres of wild land along the south bank of the Arkansas river in the western portion of the state of Kansas, which land is known as the Kansas National Forest Reserve, and is not now used for the purpose for which it was originally set aside, and WHEREAS, Such National Forest Reserve is rough, sandy land, especially well adapted for a game preserve for elk, antelope, buffalo, deer and other wild animals, as well as for grouse, quail and other wild birds, and WHEREAS, The state of Kansas has no game preserve or reservation wherein its fast disappearing native wild animals and birds may be propagated, protected and preserved in their wild state for posterity, therefore Be it resolved by the House of Representatives the Senate concurring, That the senators and congressmen representing the state of Kansas in federal Congress be, and they are hereby requested and urged to use every effort they have to have said Kansas National Forest Reserve or proper portion thereof, ceded to the state of Kansas for a state game pre serve. Approved March 15, 1913. |