The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-16
WILL TAKE THEIR PAY
For the Full Fifty Days Al
LEVIED by Law.
Senators Crush the BuncOm be
Resolution Providing
That Tn il Work Be Paid Like Piece
Work or Manual Day Labor
An Interesting
Debate

oratory. hueut ard fiery; oratory that
walked the spirits Of past legislatures
and wrung applause from the galleries
that IS what the concurrent res0Iu=
tfou introduced by Senator Household
er- prohibiting the payment Of nem-
bers. officers and employees Of the leg
islature Tor time when absent from the
capital or on the Sabbath day. pro-
voked IN the senate late yesterday af-
ternoon-
The resolution was presented in the
senate on Thursday. laid over under
the ules. and came up for the second
reading yesterday afternoon When IL
was read for the second time, Senator
Householder moved an amendment
causing the resolution to state that
members should receive the same pay
when absent from the city on legisla
tive business as when present AT the
capital
The amendment was lost This slight
opposition to his wishes touched the
combatfve spirit Of the senator from
Cherokee, and he took the floor.
Mr. President" said he. 4 was real
y not particular about the adoption Of
this amendment Il was iTumaterIal
To the spirit of the resolution But.
Mr. President am tenacious for the
passage Of the resolution I claim 10 be
law abiding citizen. and I believe
that all other members of this senate
make the same plea and I now give
them a chance to show that they are
such
The senator here paused for a mo-
meEt 70 reimburse his pulmonary air
Passages Then he waxad eloquent
This resolution IS IN accordance with
the letter and the spirit Of the ccnsti-
tuition Of the state OF Kansas And be
ing in accordance with the letter and
spirit Of the constitution. I don't believe
there is a member on the floor Of this
chamber who wants TO go on record as
he n - 2 -
for the purpose Of pumping a few dol
lars or a few cents into his own pocket
It is known that members OF the
legislatures OF this state since 1861 have
been absent from this city during ses-
sions of the legislature OF private bust
ness. and have charged their entire
time TO the state. During my time in
the legislature have myself seen
number Of circumstances Of this sort
Senator House holder was Interrupted
by Senator Lamb tRep- OF WOods0n
county who asked. If. IN the event he
left for his home TO visit his family
that night. and did not return uatil
the opening Of the senate on Monday
he would receive his pay as a member
Of the senate while absent.
No sir" thdudared the representa-
tive Of the Tenth district, you would
not be entitled 10 III
And with this fell swOOp. Senator
Householder scored the first applause
from the galleries IN the senate Of 1887
Another short brea thing spell while
the applause slowly died away as Lieu
tenant Governor Harvey beat a tattoo
with his gavel. and then he continued
I am well aware of the fact that the
pay Of the members Of this senate IS
small. but that smallness- does not con-
Sttute an excuse for the violation of
the constitution of the state This Is
the first reform legislature ever assem-
bled in this state. and il is time 10 get
back to eOnstituriOnaliry- applause
The senator from the Tenth sat down
Tt was chance for some one else. and
Senator Coleman rep. Nemaha cOun-
ty) graspins the opportunity. stood up
He spoke slowly and with considera-
BILE elaboration. He said:
Tt occurs 10 me that this resolution
IS a reflection on the anticipated action
of this body. I believe that I'd to this
time the records Will show that the
greatest aggregate amount drawn by
members Of the senate has not been to
exceed Sc per day for the 80 days as
prescribed by law " hen they are &C
cused of having made certified state
Tneuts and Of having drawn pay false
". say II Is an insult and does not do
justice 10 the honesty and integrity of
this senate
The constitution Of the state speaks
plainly as 10 what is the duty Of each
member Of this body. and Is it for
moment to De supposed that because
heretofore this duty may not always
have been done. that it viii not be done
now2 I believe that every senator who
votes for this resolution, votes TO i'm
peach his own integrity.
ITO advocate this resolution IS in
my opinion simply playing to the gal
leTies- It Is nothing more or less than
q piece Of buuCOmh be
And having expressed himself to his
own satisfaction. the gentleman from
Neruaha resumed his seat.
Then it was that Senator Jumper. the
Ben TilIman Of Usage county. claimed
the floor. His first statement was 70
the effect that he was in a dilemma
over the resolution He then continued
7 am -forlfnst- It IN some parts and
in favor OF it in others I know that in
the past some members Of this body
nave been particularly cons ieU0us by
their absence. and from their actions
when present I believe the 50 r1er t7av
paid them while absent was 4 good in
VeStment on the part OF the state
have also members of this body in mind
who should have recommended be
paid premium on their regular allow
ance of s. day to be consp icuous for
the sa me reason
I see breakers ahead in this resolu-
ton, especially for the senator from
Usage county Now. 4 there is any man
on this Ho0r who I am particularly in
teTested in it is the senator from Usage
county. II I come in here of a morn
Ing too late TO be marked present on the
journal and afterwards make . certi-
ned statement that I was present on
that day. the next time I run for seaa-
tor down IN my district my opponent
viii hawk the senate journal an over
the territory and show by its records
that I PICTURED myself Therefore. Nj
President. I am against the resolution
Senator Byan. (PopD of Crawford
county. next claimed the attention Of