Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1897-01-13
KANSAS LEGISLATURE OPENS.
House and Senate Organized by the
PopuiIsts and the Decks
Cleared for Business.

Topeka, Kas., Jan. 12.-(Special) In the
opening of the Populist legislature of Kan
sas to-day, there was a radical departure
from customs long established and viola
tion of a precedent observed without a
break from the beginning of the state. 1t
has always been custom, when the SEN
ators and representatives took the oath of
office, for the chief justice or his associate
who administered the oath to ask the legis-
lators, in token of their sincerity, to kiss
the copy of the Bible that always is in
evidence. That portion of the ceremony
was dispensed with to-day, and 1t was done
at the suggestion of Anarchist G. e.
Clemens That noted parsonage sagely as
serted that he was in possession of evi-
dence from exalted medical writers that
microbes of disease might be, almost GER
tainly were, found in large quantities on
the cover Of the book, and that horrible
disease and grim death might be the por-
ton of him who pressed his lips to the
covers or pages of the book. Even Sug-
Eestion that new publication might be
free from disease germs met the reply
that the industrious microbes were un-
doubtedly already coloniZed on each cover
and page, and were lying in wait, hungry
and gaunt. to fasten themselves on the
man whose lips gave the reverential kiss.
a Hitch in the Proceedings.
AS soon as the senate was organized, it
notified the house of the fact The house
worked slowly and the senate waited. Fin
ally, a member suggested that the house
was organized and the governor ought to
De IlOIlIlCtl. ne usual procedure Is Il con-
current resolution for "a committee from
the house and senate Jointly to notify the
governor, which brings the governors
message to both houses at the same time.
The senate was waiting to confer when
the house committee went to the gov
ernor alone Private Secretary Little
sage. Just prior to his appearance,
Representative Seaton, of Atchison, called
the attention of the house to its violation
of CUSTOM and a concurrent resolution was
quickly put through and sent TO the SEN
ate. In the meantime, Charley Martin was
called for by the house, and was well ad-
Vanced with the message, while the senate
was waiting. Word was quickly sent to
the senators of the discourtesy done them
in the matter. There was disposal to
resent the apparent affront, and senators
We're discussing the affair, when Private
Secretary Little appeared with the mes
sage He sat down and waited until his
presence was announced, and then deliv-
cred the message. The discourtesy was
| freely discussed after adjournment.
Organization of the House.
It was 1910 p. m. when Secretary of State
Bush called the house to order and intro
duced Rev. o: L, Smith. of Wellington, who
pronounced the invocation. Associate JUS
tice Allen took the platform and began the
work of administering the oath to the
members. The representatives were lined
up in sections of twenty, except the last
twenty-four. They were all sworn at once
J. l.. Cox, delegate from Morton, brought
up the rear
The Populists then nominated w. r.
brown, OF Pratt, lOT temporary speaker.
]. X. Cubbison, of Wyandotte. expressing
the sentiments of the Republicans moved
that Browns election be made by acclama-
tion. This motion carried and Brown took
| the chair. w. =. Trueblood of Usage, was
elected temporary secretary by acclamation
also. L. Mckenzie was named as assistant
An effort was made to secure an adjourn
ment for dinner, and. although the motion
carried, the speaker declared 1t lost.
W. D. Street was nominated for speaker
by Barclay. of Elk, and Barker. of Doug
las presented the name of Charles E. Lob
When Charles Lobdelrs name was called
he voted for Street This created much ap-
| plause on both sides. Street returned the
| applause. The vote stood: Street. "a: Lob
| dell. a. Mr. Street was declared speaker
! LobdelI. Barclay of Elk, Lobdell of Lane
and DOYLE of Mitchell We're named as the
committee to escort the permanent speak
In accepting the place Mr. Street said he
would treat all sides with due considera-
| tion during the session and hoped to be
| able to point with pride in after years to
! the record made by this legislature.
An adjournment was then taken until
Afternoon Session.
When the house reconvened at , o'clock.
| the election of speaker pro tenn was FIRST
made. +. c. Weilep. fusionist. of Craw-
( publican, of Wyandottee. by vote of Il
! to As. The fusionist, a. d. Gilpin, of Lin
] con- was chosen chief clerk over Charles
! Martin. Republican, of Saliua, by. the same
! vote. The rest of the officers and employees
! nominated by the Populist caucus We're
I elected by acrlamation, except the post
4 mistress. Judge Botkin, of Reno. moved
| to substitute the name of Mrs, Birdie Wag-
| ner-- of Atchison, for that of the regular
nominee. Mrs. Cox. of Ness. The Populists
! voted down the motion and Mrs. Cox was
/ elected by the usual majority.
The usual committees were then appoint-
/ ed 10 notify the governor and senate that
/ the house was opened and ready for bust
ness A few moments later. the Sergeant
/ at-arms notified the house that the private
I secretary of the governor had arrived with
/ a communication in writing from the gov
eTnor. This was the message. and the
/ clerk began its reading. (Which required over
TWO hours. The greater part of it was read
I by Charles Martin. Republican, from Sa-
Pline who was defeated for chief clerk. The
reader was frequently interrupted by ap-
l-plause from the Populist side. and espe-
tscially al the conclusion of a sentence in
| which the governor twisted the tails of the
corporations.
Referred to N Committee.
AT its conclusion. the. message was re-
/ ferred to a committee to apportion 1t to
+ tho various committees, and 800 copies
| were ordered printed.