Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-03-24
GOVERNOR STEPHENS' PET SCHEME
MEETS DEFEAT.
MEASURE KILLED IN SENATE
ST. Louis AND KANSAS CITY Will
BE LET ALONE.
-Hill 10 Lcxow the Two Cities Biennial
y Was Uapopular. Especially
After Amendment-A Lively
Tilt Between Lyons
and Farris.

JEFFERSON CITY. March 2S.-tSpeciai) }
Governor Stephens pet scheme for u
"Lexow'' of Kansas City and ST. Louis
every two years met with a Waterloo in
the senate to-day. The senators are dis
gusted with the farce Investigation of st.
Louis Undertaken at the suggestion of the
governor, and they showed their disgust
by killing the Farris bill. which provides
that at least thirty days before each ses-
sion the governor shall appoint commit
tee consisting of one senator and two rep
resentatives to examine the books and in
vestigate the city governments of Kansas
City and ST. Louis.
Senator Lyons denounced the bill as an
insult to Kansas City. He said that Kan
sas City was well able to take care of
her own affairs, and would resent any
meddling the part of the governor or
anyone else. He moved to strike out every
thing after the enacting clause. This mo
tion was voted down.
Senators Lyons and Farris then mixed up
in u wordy tilt. FarIis attempted lofty
flight OF eioquence in defense of the Ste
phens measure. Lyons, in replying. went
after Farris in this fashion:
u know there are men who hail from
counties, inhabited chiefly by the wild hog
and the prairie dog. who imagine that they
craniums all the brains and all the wisdom
of the country, whose hysterical shoutings
can be frequently heard re-echoing from
the rocky cliffs of Galloway; who imagine
that all who hear them mistake their OBJ
strusive mouthings and ribald harangues
for wisdom's authentic Oracles, and whose
overweening coxcombery and lordiy con-
ceit assure them that those who from
sense of decency or common politeness
listen patiently and often painfully to their
prolonged mouthings are very much edited
thereby. Let us not undertake the Hercu-
lean task OF convincing them of their
Righteousness. Let US rather be patient
still and go on exercising our judgment
I'm such matters as come up for our con-
Hderation, meanwhile congratulating our
selves that when the spring rains with
their loud winds and fearful thunderings
are over, We can return once more to homes
of civilization and politeness. in the conf
dent assurance that the neighbor and COM
panicn OF the wild hog and prairie dog will
no longer disturb US by his positive snort
ing"
Senator Young made q strong speech in
which he characterized the measure as an
unnecessary interference with the rights
Of the cities to manage their own AFFAIRS
He said to be consistent. the senate should
make the act applicable to cities of 1000
and more Inhabitants. He offered that
amendment and it was adopted. This was
an adroit move on the part Of Young. I'm
mediately the senators from the smaller
cities lined up against the bill. Senator
Morton criticised the principle OF the bill.
He said that he was opposed to deiegating
the power properly belonging to the iegis-
lature TO the governor OF to any other man. (
The. bll Vas defeated for engrossment, re-,
ca3Eing II ayes and IS Nays --.,.-..-- .