Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-03-20
KANSAS LEGISLATURE DID NOT AD-
JoURN YESTERDAY.
LEEDYS ABSENCE THE REASON.
TWO MEMBERS OF THE TEXT BOOK
COMMISSION UNCONFIRMED.
to Fill the Vacancies
q Expected by Wire From the Cow
ernor To-day Legislature
TO Adjourn To-day in
Any Event.

l. Topeka, hdS, MdFcn lS.-tSpeCldl) IOV-
| ernor Leedy. who is in Texas hunting
ducks, appointed to-day, by proxy. mem
| bers of the state text book commission, as
| follows: John Macdonald tRep0, Topeka;
! d. o. McCray tRepD. Topeka: Senator a.
II. Lupfer (Pop.), Larned; w. j. Hurd
| Pop.), Holton: s. |. Hale CPop). Lacrosse:
| 4. V. Jewett Dem). Abilene; S. Nj. Nees
| Dem.l, independence: S. w. Black Dem.)
/ Pittsburg. The names were transmitted to
the senate for confirmation and after two
sessions lasting until late Tonight, the six
| Democrats and Populsts were confirmed,
| while the names of the two Republicans
were withdrawn. The result tele
| sraphed to the governor tonight and it is
expected he will wire names to fill the two
| vacancies tomorrow.
This way of appointing officers by tele-
graph is innovation, and good lawyers
say it is irregular, but that is probably not
worrying Leedy. Anything goes with Il
Populist governor.
The legislature has been in session for a
week on account of the text book commis-
sion, and tonight when il was possible for
it to wind up business. it is prevented from
doing so because of the absence of the gov
ernor on I. junketing trip.
The senate and house opened this MORN
ing at 10 o'clock, but there was no quorum
in the senate, so that no business could be
d
this afternoon. At o'clock, the legislature
reconvened and upon roll call it was found
that twenty-four senators were present
They were: Armstrong, Battey, Benson.
Braddock. Campbell Cooke, Crossan, Far
reilly, Forney. Hart, Helm. Helmick, Hes
sin, Householder. Jumper. Lamb. Lupfer,
Matthews, Morrow Sheldon, Sterne, Titus,
Wallack and Hanna.
Executive Clerk Flcharty, who is keeping
office for the governor was notified that a
quorum present and he Immediately
transmitted a sealed letter containing the
appointments as given above to that body.
After reading the names, the senate went
into executive session. At suppertime, three
names had been acted upon-those of Mac
Donald. Lupfer and Hale-and the nomina-
tions confirmed. Just before a recess was
taken, however. the question arose as to
whether the appointees were favorable to
the new text book law, and the confirma-
tions were reconsidered. The wires were
kept hot for hours in effort to find out
how each one stood. Macdonald declined
the appointment, and McCray had his name
Withdrawn. These were the only two Re
publicans on the board. The other men,
bers all wired that they were in sympathy
with the new law and would do all in their
power TO enforce it. The senate then held
a night session and confirmed the Demo-
Gratis and Populists.
The action of the Republicans in with
drawing their names left the senate in a
predicament. No one was in the city with
authority to make appointments to fill their
places. Lieutenant Governor Harvey de-
clined to run the risk, He said that, mas
much as the thing had been we'll botched
up already. he would let the original par.
ties complete the job. He wired the gov
ernor and expects to get reply in the
morning. 1t is thought tonight that Repre- |
sentative Johnson, of Namaha, will be one |
of the new men. Who the other will be is |
matter of conjecture.
In case no word is received from the gov |
error tomorrow, the senate will wait no |
longer and the legislature will adjourn sine |
die, leaving the Republican members un- |
confirmed.
Governor Leedy is being censured on all |
sides tonight for going on a junketing trip
While the legislature is in session. He |
should have remained here and attended 10
the business for which he was elected"
said a Popuhst senator tonight, instead of
going away on a duck hunt. While he is
out having his fun the people of Kansas
are spending from s75 to 800 day keeping
the legislature in session all on his ac-
count. This is not all; it is the opinion of
many that his very act in appointing this
text book commission while out the state is
illegal This may cause serious trouble.
That's what the people of Kansas get for
electing man governor who is not at his
desk when he is needed the most"
Other senators expressed the same senti-
ments.
What makes it especially Objectionable to
the Popuists is that Leedy is following the
of ex-President Cleveland While
Kansas may not be paying all his expenses.
the expense to the state is much greater
than if his personal bills were being paid
by the people. by the way" said a pop
senator, who is paying Leedy's expenses"