The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-01-04
All Sorts of Bills introduced at
Columbus
Directed Against Corporate In
terests of Every Kind.
COMBINE STANDS FIRM
Has a Majority Against Hanna
i'm Both Houses.
Governor Bushnell Replies to
Protesting Republicans.

Columbus. O.. Jan. 4-Previous to the
assembling of the legislature today
there were conferences on both sides
on the senatorial contest. The Hanna
men claimed to have secured pledges
from Representatives Griffin of Union
and Joyce of Carroll, who voted for Ma
son yesterday fro speaker, but with
these doubtful accessions they were
still short two votes of enough to elect.
While Hanna's friends are working
here, the Republican county commit
tees, clubs and other organizations at
the homes of the doubtful Republican
members have been enlisted and many
delegations of visiting statesmen are
arriving, one of the first being from the
home Of Governor Bushnell, Springfield.
The combined opposition to Senator
Hanna is still uncertain as to their
candidate. Some Democrats object to
Governor Bushnell or Mayor McKisson
or Mr.. Kurtz, or any other Republican
that has yet been suggested. While
the opposition has informally announc-
ed several names for senator, there has
been no fixed action on that selection.
The combine opposition to Hanna
claims to have enough votes to defeat
him, but they have not yet claimed
enough votes for any one senatorial
candidate mentioned by the combine
to elect.
Their trouble is not only to hold all
their present forces in line against
Hanna, but to get them to agree upon
their man for the senator
Tne work today was devoted by ''the
combine" to holding their forces and TO
managing them for the senatorial con-
test as was done yesterday for the or
ganization of both branches of the leg
islatUre.
The work of the Hanna men has
been Skirmishing for two or moro
votes. The morning sessions of both
houses were devoted to. routine bust
ness.
Senator Burke of Cleveland arrived
today from Chicago and completed the
full attendance of the senators. Burke
voted with the Democrats, but took his
seat on the Republican side of the
chamber.
In the house all sorts of bills were in
trOduced against corporations. These
measures were regarded as thrusts at
Senator Hanna, whose affairs are OF
varied interests.
An amendment to the Nichols law
which taxes the earnings of express,
telegraph, telephone and other cOmpa-
nies, was introduced so as to include
street railways, electric light and pow
er equipment, artificial and natural
gas, pipe line, sleeping car and all 9TH
er corporations.
There was also a bill introduced to
repeal the law for new state house.
This was regarded as returning the
compliment to the Columbus people,
who have expressed their protests to
the course of Gov. Bushnell. While
these measures were being thrown in,
a delegation of $50 from Springfield, the
home Of Gov. Bushnell, marched into
the state house, wearing Hanna badges
and with banners of severe inscrip-
tiOns, and called on Gov. Bushnell. In
response to their protests, Gov. Bush
nell responded in a speech in which he
said his Republicanism had never be-
fore been questioned and that he re
COZ cd 10 rio hf n n
ions and preferences.
The Springfield delegation afterward
called on Senator Hanna and then join
ed in the chorus of other visiting dele
cations that are coming in today to
protest against the action of Republi- |
cans who are combining with the Dem
0crats to defeat Hanna. The house ad- |
jOurned at noon till tomorrow.
There is much unfinished business,
but the combine" does not intend to |
announce any of the standing com |
mittee until after the joint senatorial |
caucuses are held tomorrow night. The |
preferred places will not be given out !
in apportiOning the committees till it /
is known what Republicans remain out
Gus.
The senate at noon took a recess till !
2:3O without announcing any of its COM |
mittees. Senator Burke secured all he !
wanted in clerkships and other pat |
ronage through the Democrats. He |
was in conference with the Democrats |
during the noon recess. The proceed
ings in both houses showed plainly |
that everything possible was being !
done by those who held the fOrt,to beat |
Senator Hanna. The line of yesterday |
was as distinctly drawn as ever,show- |
ing the senate to stand 19 to II against |
Hanna. and the house Sc to So against !
him. leaving him three short of enough |
votes on joint ballot for election.
During the noon recess the confer |
ences and jollifcatiOn meetings of the |
combine were continued.
OCnra- Cr-OAn rACrrnDv