Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-05-09
DEADLOCK SEEMS IMMINENT
HOUSE VOTES NOT TO ADJOURN UN-
TIL ALL WORK Is DONE.
Is Determined to Force the Senate to
Pass the eAnti-CorporationM Meas
ures-A Few Days Work at
81 Day May Cool
It's Temper.


Leaders in the house and senate anticipate
the biggest fight of the session during the
latter part of this week and the next, and
a deadlock seems imminent. The one pal
Hative to a stubborn contest is the fact
that members will be paid only 81 day,
while they fight. The house IS determined
to force the senate to pass the anti-cor-
poration measures and especially the F'itz-
gerald bill taxing franchises the same as
other property. Members of the house, how
ever, talking quietly among themselves, ad-
nit the dollar day feature places them
at a disadvantage with respect to the SEN
ators. They claim that the senators can
well afford TO work at 81 a day to prevent
legislation inimical TO corporations. Thus
it may come to pass that the house will
give in first.
But whatever be the final result of the
house and senate warfare, the present ses-
sion promises to see an exciting close
Senators are denounced on the floor of the
house at the slightest provocation. and
ugly insinuations have come to be the
regular order. If the sentiment stirred up
by the house is not successful in getting
the franchise bills out Of committee. an
other means will be taken to bring the
senate to time. When the revised revenue
bill reaches the house the plan is to tack
on an amendment incorporating tax on
franchises. This will force the senate to
a direct vote on the proposition, and should
each branch stand firm in it's present atti-
tude deadlock would result and revision
of the statutes would be rendered impos-
sible at this session.
DR. Delzell. of Webster, radical on anti
corporation legislation. introduced a resolu-
ton this morning to test the temper of
81, ic cchn md to hn int
Resolved, That it is the sense of this
house that we will not adjourn until we
get through our work, regardless of the
behest of any man."
The resolution was adopted by a vote
practically unanimous, amid howls of de-
light.
Occasionally the house emphasizes its
dislike of certain senators by lauding cer-
tain others. MIR. Kneisley called UP a
bill by Senator Wilson, referring to him
as "a senator who favors taxing franz
chises." The bill passed, receiving eighty
six ayes and no votes against it. The bill
provides that officers of corporations or
ganized under the laws of Missouri shah
have their offices at the general Office of
the company in this state and that meet,
ings of the board of directors shall be held
there also. Judge Hawthorne strongly ad-
vocated the measure.
The house passed to-day senate bill that
seeks to correct abuses in the justice court
fee system in Kansas City and St. Louis.
The bill provides that for every paper filed
in justice court requiring an affidavit the
fee for the affidavit must be paid into the
court whether the affidavit was taken
before the justice or before some other
notary. Under the present law justices can
swell their salaries considerably from the
fees.
The question of taxing franchises, which
promises to be the big one of the session,
came up in the senate this afternoon, when
Senator Major, of Pike, offered an amend
ment to revised bill No. 10, on the subject
of taxation. The amendment inserts. af.
fsF aa e
Guiding all public or quasi public franchises
owned or held in any way by any person
persons irm COMPANY association CO.
In explaining the amendment, Mr. Major
said 1t woulu include the franchises of
steam railroads, street railways, telegraph
and telephone companies, union depots and
kindred corporations. The intangible prop
erty to-day, he said, escaped taxation, and
me me tangible property bore all the burden.
franchises in St. Louis amounting in the
aggregate to more than S43, 600 escaped
without cent of tax.
Senator Farris said that he would vote
for the amendment but against the bill
The bill contained 121 pages and a great
deal of new matter, he said, and could not
be studied carefully in month.
Senator Young characterized the amend
ment as "a lot of buncombe. The metro
polltan press has been scattering buncombe
for the past three days" he said.
Senator Young then went on to explain
that franchises were property and had so
been decided by the courts. He claimed
that the state board of equalization was
now empowered to tax franchises, and if
they were not taxed the responsibility rest
ed with the board. He gave as his author
ity the opinion of Attorney General Crow.
And now | want to know why doesn't t
the board of equalization tax the fran
chises?" asked the senator.
The question remained unanswered
In reply to query from Senator Clay,
Mr.. Young admitted that he had failed to
report the franchise tax measures from
his committee although he had had them
late TOR them to go on the calendar. He
offered no explanation. He talked a little
about Senator Majors Populistic speech
for effect and then sat down.
Senator Major retorted that If some fell
lows would make more Populistic speeches
better off. He charged Young with insin-
certify in so bitterly opposing an amend
ment which, according to Young's own
statement, did not change the present law
On motion of Senator Morton, the consid-
GRAFTON of the whole matter went over un-
til tomorrow. when the fight will be re-
newed.
The house took another dig at the senate
this afternoon by adopting with a whoop a
resolution by Boydston, of Platte instruct
ing the committee which has the chapter
on the legislature under consideration to
shall be held in committee longer than ten
days.