The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-27
Plan to Effectually Choke Off
Republican Opposition
To PopuIist Legislation is Es-
tablished by the Senate.
SENATOR HESSIN
Makes His Usual Vain Protest
Against 1t.
Informed That Minority WOn't
Be Allowed to Filibuster.

The first step in effectually 'gagS1ng
the Republican members of the senate
was taken this morning, when Senator
Householder as chairman of the select
committee on rules, made a report The
recommendations of the report change
the rules so as to place the u Repub-
lican members with absolutely no voice
an the proceedings of that body.
The first recommendation Of the re-
port makes it necessary for 10 senators
1o demand a yea" and nay vote, in
stead of three, as formerly. The second
provides that a motion to suspend or
declare an emergency and advance
hill or Joint resolution to third reading
shall be decided by a vote of roll call,
and a twO-thirds majority of all SEN
atOrs present and voting shall be neces-
sary to carry such motion. The third
recommendation makes the altering or
any rule or regulation of the senate
thirds
As soon as the report was read Sen
ator Lamb, Republican of WOOdsOn
county. offered an amendment to the
first change recommended by House
holder. making the number demanding
the yeas" and nays three instead of
l. as formerly.
I believe majorities can always af-
ford to be fair said he, and I believe
this IS an attempt to throttle the minor
ity in this deathbed repentance session
of the legislature"
Senator Householder replied to Sen
dLoA A<tAllD- MS II not lOI the pun
pose of keeping the members from go
fng on record on any proposition, but is
for the purpose OF giving the majority
the responsibility of this special ses-
sion"
This whole scheme is a put up job
and was concOcted in a caucus" said
Senator Hessin, rising to his feet as
senator householder sat down. 1t Is
for the purpose of railrOading through
this senate a railroad measure, and the
majority proposes to numerically drive
the band wagon over the members of
the minority and prevent them from
placing themselves on record on the
proposition that came before this body
Senator Jumper followed Senator Hes
sin i want to be frank with the gen
tleman from Riley county" said he. 1T
Is the purpose of the majority to pre-
vent the minority from wasting time in
TINS session, ana L want TO say thaJ II
st is necessary the band wagon will be
driven over them numerically unless
they stand aside"
IN closing. Senator Jumper moved the
previous question. A vote was taken
on the amendment of Senator Lamb
and the amendment lost. The report Of
the committee was then voted upon and
carried by p yeas to 10 nays
The senate, on motion of Senator
Jumper, then adjourned until 1:3O
o'clock this afternoon. q
The Insurance Bills introduced.
At the opening Of Nhe senate this
morning six bills We're Introduced. Sen
d-DLS MUS ana stone introduced Two
each. and the two remaining were in
troduced by Senator Young and Senator
Morrow
Both of the bills introduced by Sen
aUOr Stone refer to insurance companies.
one provides for the taxation of COM
panies doing business in the state on the
basis of net premium receipts. The rate
for domestic companies is made per
cent and for foreign companies Z per
cent. The other bill provides that any
foreign Insurance company which may
remove any cause from the state courts
TO the federal courts shall by that act
be incapacitated from doing business in
the state and its license revoked by the
superintendent of insurance.
Senator Young's bill provides for
municipal initiative and referendum. 1t
Is a duplicate of the bill introduced in
the Nebraska legislature in 1897 and
makes It incumbent on city councils to
submit any ordinance to the direct vote
Of the people on petition of 20 per cent
OF the voters.
The bill introduced by Senator Nor
row, Republican. is the same railroad
measure introduced by him at the last
session Of the legislature. Its intrOduc-
ton completes its history as far as the
special session is concerned.
One of the bills introduced by Senator
Titus repeals section 4 of the text book
bill passed at the last session, and fur
ntshes section in its place which pro-
Vides that the term of office of the text
book commissioners shall be four years.
His second bill is a minor measure, pro-
Nld1ng for the insurance of school prop
erty.
Afternoon Session.
At o'clock this afternoon after going
no farther In the regular order of business
than the Introduction of original motions
n f1r1