The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-27
YESTERDAYS HOUSE SESSION
It Assembled at 4 O'Clock and Re
ferred a Number of Bills.


The house met at four o'clock yester-
day afternoon. Several of the members
had not returned from spending Christ
mas at home, but there was a great
plenty present to transact business.
When the railroad bill was called up
for ats second reading, on motion of
Representative Rothweiler, it was re-
ferred to a committee of the whole, the
Republican side of the house voting
against the proposition because the
Populist side voted for it.
A parliamentary tilt was indulged in
when house bill No. %, with reference
to regulating express charges in the
state, which was introduced by Mr..
Keefer, was called up for second read
ing. Mr.. Keefer arose and moved that
1T be referred to a special committee
composed of himself. Jaquins and Rus
sell. The Republicans voted against the
proposition and called for a rising vote,
but it carried by a vote of 63 to 25.
The bill following was with reference
to regulating telegraph and telephone
charges, and was also introduced by Mr..
Keefer. Again Mr.. keeter arose and
moved that the bill be referred to a
special committee, composed of himself
as chairman, and Representatives
Rothweiler and Bean. Representative
Fitzgerald of Ford, Immediately moved
as an amendment that the bill be re-
ferred to a committee of the whole
1T is quite evident he said, 'tO
members who attended the last session
of the legislature, that the gentleman
from Leavenworth, (Keefer) is no more
qualified than others to act upon a
measure Of this kind. We have COM
mittees of the most competent men in
the Legislature, supposed to be at least,
to act upon these various bills, and they
should be referred to their proper com
mittees. 1t may be remembered that
s1oa r7F ff1r,
after the last legislature. If we refer
this bill to a special committee we may
have to pay out our money for another
investigation. It should be referred to
a committee of the whole, if it is not
going to it's regular committee, and then
if there is anything to be gained by
handling the bill, and if there is any
investigation afterwards, we will all
have a hand in it,
Speaker Street then put the motion
made by Keefer and declared it carried.
There was an immediate jangle of
voices claiming recognition and pro-
testing against the action of the speaker
in putting the main motion without
putting the amendment. Speaker Street
said that he had meant to put Fitz-
gerald'S amendment, and to satisfy
those who were objecting he would put
it again.
At this point Hackney of Sumner
arose and said:
"Since the gentleman from Ford
wishes to get mixed up in an investf-
cation if there is to be one, I move as
a substitute, that he be added to the
special committee
This was greeted with peals of
laughter from the POpulists, and as
soon as he could make himself heard
Mr.. Fitzgerald shouted:
"The gentleman from Sumner is a
good friend of mine and hope he Won t
be instrumental in placing me an such
company"
A vote was taken and Speaker Street
declared Hackney,s amendment carried,
and Mr.. Fitzgerald was made a member
of the special committee to which the
telegraph bill was referred, along with
Keefer, ROthweiler and Bean.
The next bill which was brought up
was another of Mr.. Keefer's and related
to the penitentiary. AS Mr.. Keefer made
no move to have it referred to a. special
committee, Representative Brooks gain
ed the floor and said:
LAS the gentleman from LeavenWOrth
is so modest I would move that the bill
be referred to special committee COM
posed of himself
But the Populists voted down the mo-
ton.
When house joint resolution No. 1 was
brought up Mr.. Ury, who introduced it
ito repeal the prohibitory amendment -
moved that it be referred to a commit
tee composed of himself, Hackbusch and
SeatOn. The motion brought forth roars
of laughter from both sides, as it was
recognized as one of UJry'S Jokes, and it
carried almost unanimously. The resO-
luton is to repeal a constitutional
amendment without referring it to the
people at all.
There were fourteen bills introduced
at the afternoon session. Representative
Dingus led off with Superintendent
Stryker's bill to extend the state text
book law to cover high school books and
school apparatus.
Representative Russell introduced
Bank Commissioner BreidenthaIs guar
anty fund banking bill, and another Cby
e..
Ccontinued on sixth Page)