The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-07
PLAYING HORSE.
House and Senate Spend Hours
In Vain Attempts
To Get the Advantage of One
Another.
600 THE HOTPLACEo
Said the Senators at Last to
the House,
off You Don't Want to Come to
Our Terms"
'GOTO EHOTPLACE''

After three more postponements of
the hour when the consideration of all
business except messages from the gov
ernor should cease, at fifteen minutes
past midnight last night the deadlock
in the Kansas legislature remained ex-
actly where it had been for forty eight
hours previously. Both houses were
determined never, never to give in to
the other, but each was afraid to ad-
journ without outdoing the other in
seeming to try to adjust matters.
That a body of men who call them
selves lawmakers should be guilty of
so much horsepIay as has been going
on in the upper halls of the state CAPT
toll for the past few days is unbelievable
by the great mass of people who are led
to believe that a legislature is a great
deliberative body. Each house was
willing to sacrifice the interests of the
state in moment if it were not for
the fear that their constituents might
not return them to Topeka in another
two years. 1t is charged that the peo-
pie of Kansas change their legislators
too often. Is it any wonder when legis-
latures refuse to do the will of the peO-
pie. but work chiefly to their own per-
sonaI ends? When a legislature is to
be elected the people think a new one
could certainly do no worse than the
old one, while there is a chance for it
to do better, and so a new one IS sent
to Topeka.
For the past four days the only ques-
ton before the legislature has been,
Shall the senate be allowed pay for
spending its time in trying the Stuart
Falcon contest? One body contends
that it is it's constitutional duty to give
the contestants a fair hearing and dis
close any frauds that may have been
perpetrated; the other body holds that
it is simply an excuse for steal, but
at the same time it is afraid that some
fraud may be uncovered and it's idols
DESTROYED. Each is afraid that the
people, may be led to believe the other
body was right, so each is playing to
put itself right before the people, and
the result is lot of horseplay-
AS o'clock drew near yesterday af-
ternoon, at which time the fifth con-
current resolution said the considera-
ton of bills should cease, the house be-
gan to grow nervous. The senate
seemed as determined ever to stay
by it's announcement to have $4,000 for
the Stuart-F'alloOn contest or else give
the state officers nothing. Accordingly
a resolution was introduced to extend
the time till noon today. The reSolu-
ton was adopted and sent to the SEN
ate. In a few minutes it came back
amended to make the extension only
till 10 o'clock last night. The house
hastily accepted the amendment as that
much more time in which to avert the
disaster, and a recess was taken till
after supper.
nothing but listen to speeches. songs and
Tecitations the greater part Of the time
contested item for the Stuart-Falloon
ae9ng pt fhat IT e4nld some Of 70 tho
committee and recommended that a new
appointed Rees of Ottawa, Brooke and
Lawrence to try their persuasive powers
on the recalcitrant senators. Late in the
further effort was useless-the senate was
given them to understand that no further
conference would be agreed to on the sub
Mr.. Brooke Brooke" explained 1G med that the 't Senate
had agreed to compromise on basis of
not agree 10 pass the judiciary and exec
utive appropriation bill separate from the
other. and then fight it out on the contest
appropriation alone.
As both the other members of the con-
Mr.. Lawrence thought it his duty to do
likewise, and he said:
':Since the committee has adjourned one
of the senators has come to me here in
the house and said that the senate was
preparation, and if the house didn't want
to agree to that it can go the hot place,
This prospect for an adjustment seemed
rather poor, but at 3 minutes of 10 o'clock
Colonel Tom jackson was secretly dis
patched to the senate chamber to inform
willing to extend the time. At the same
time the senate was passing its resolution
midnight. and Secretary Morphy dashed
over to the house to inform it. He met
COIOnel jackson IN the cOrr1QOrS and Cney
exchanged greetings and Information n.
Colonel Jackson dashed on and mumbled
out something to the senate which the
senate took to mean that the house had
concurred, while Secretary Morphy went
on to the house, and the country was
saved once more.
Members of the house. by the way, give
Lieutenant Governor Richter credit for
saving the country at one critical period
/ When the senate clock said that i was
demanding that the senate go home,
Lieutenant Governor Richter calmly pull
: Cd nl1f FOL "a mat fsl5 X
was too fast. Then he put through the
resolution extending the time thereby
helping to stave off the calamity little
longer.
After 10 o'clock the house did nothing
but try to amuse itself. At 10 minutes
| before midnight Mr.. Dawes offered an
other resolution extending the time till
| noon today. promising not to introduce
another if that was adopted. 1t carried
! was sent to the senate and concurred in
| by that body.
| At 1915 both houses adjourned till to-
! day to renew the fight