The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-29
IN THE HOUSE.
History of the Passage of the Rail
road Bill

road Bill
There was an air of expectancy in
the house this morning. Before it was
called to order the floor was crowded
and the visitors whispered to one an
other, the railroad bill is going to come
up, sure" and, they are going to do
business this morning."
The POpuliSt members stood around
in groups and talked, the party leaders
keeping a careful eye on the door and
making a mental note of each arrival
to see that none of their members had
taken sick or been called home since
the adjournment Of the caucus last
night"
When the roll was called at 10 o'clock
six POpulist members were absent. They
We're bradley, Ernst, LoOmis, Palenske
and Sutcliffe. LOOmis came in just after
the roll was concluded.
Representative Harry Larimer of
Shawnee county, secured the attention
of Speaker Street and sent a petition
signed by SO Topeka Republicans, ask
ing that the Republican protest against
the special session be spread upon the
journal of the house, to the desk. The
announcement of the petition was greet
ed by loud laughter.
A rush of bills at once commenced.
One of the first introduced is particular
ly important, because of the recent con-
Viction of John Henry Collins 1t makes
it mandatory on the part of the COVER
nor to sign death warrants in cases of
conviction of murder in the first degree.
1t was introduced by Smith of Sherman.
A resolution introduced by Treasurer
elect Frank Grimes, called attention to
the fact that Speal1er-prO-tem Weilep
now holds a federal position and was
therefore not eligible to a seat in the
house. Representative Hackney asked
that the resolution be referred to the
committee on elections, and Represen-
tatiVe Weilep asked that it go to the
committee on Judiciary. The resolution
gave promise of debate and Speaker
Street ruled that it should go over until
tomorrow under the rules. Brooke of
Shawnee, appealed from this ruling of
the chair and demanded a roll call In
explaining his vote, Fitzgerald of Ford,
said:
Mr. Speaker, I understand Mr..
Weilep is not holding an office in the
United States senate, but is simply in
charge of room. In other words, he
is acting in the capacity of chamber
maid, and for that reason 1 vote to sus-
tain the chair"
This sally of the gentleman from Ford
caused a big laugh at Weilep's expense.
When it came time for the speaker pro
tenn to vote he stood up and said:
Mr. Speaker, the shentleman from
Ford says he vote for me because 1
don't hold no office, but it's really be-
cause he likes me. Everybody who
knows him knows he likes chamber
maids
This reply caused a bigger laugh than
the sally of Representative Fitzgerald.
The appeal was lost by a vote of 80
to 27.
A
house resolved itself into a commit
tee of the whole for the consideration
OF bills under the head of general or
derS.
Representative Fairchild took the
chair and when the reading clerk start
ed to read the dummy bill" the rail-
road measure was substituted after the
eracting clause on an amendment by
Brown of Pratt.
The Republican side of the house at
once raised a loud objection that no
copies of the amendment had been dis
tributed- The chair called upon the
ergeant-at-arms to distribute the eau
Gus railroad measure, but DunsmOre re-
piled that the amendment had never
been placed in his hands, and he had
no copies. Brown of Pratt then collect
ed sufficient copies of the bill held by
Populist members to supply the Repub-
licans. At few minutes before II
o'clock the reading of the caucus rail-
road bill was commenced.
During the reading of the bill Repre-
sentative Fairchild frequently raped
for order and called upon the lobby to
stand back He finally made the threat
that unless the lobby kept back from
the members desks he would order the
floor cleared.
End of Reading Railroad Bill.
The reading of the railroad bill was
concluded at 11:3O O'Clock AS the read
son was on his feet ''I move, Mr.. Chair
man. said he, that when the commit
Tee makes a report II report this meas
ure back with the recommendation
that it be referred to the standing COM
mittee on railroads. In this connection
I want to say a few words. This bill
if passed in its entirety will have the
effect of cOnfiscating a large amount of
the railroad property in the state. The
majority of this house has seen fit to
eliminate a large portion of this house
from the conferences and consultations
on this measure, and I think in all JUS
tice an opportunity to discuss this
measure should be given. For this rea-
son it is only right that this committee
report it back with the recommendation
that it be referred to the standing COM
mittee on railroads"
The motion was put and lost by yea
and nay vote.
Barkley of Elk then moved the read
ing and adoption of the measure by sec
tions, and this motion carried. The
reading clerk read the first section and
Barkiey of Elk at once moved its adop-
ton. The Republican side at once call
ed for division and the motion was
carried by a standing vote of SO to 3S.
This was the test vote on the bill.
AS the readings of the sections pro-
gressed the bill was assailed by various
members of the Republican side. Fitz-
gerald of Ford, made a speech against
the creation of the court on the ground
of economy, but nothing said on that
side of the house had any effect. AS
soon as each section was read Barkley
of Elk moved its adoption, and was
quickly seconded by various POpulist
members. By these tactics and with