The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-18

light of Attorney General Godards
opinion, holding the special session OF
the legislature unconstitutional The
dignity of the senate was upset for
time this morning by the following res
oIutions, introduced by Senator Jump
er:
Lord, A. d. 1895, the present attorney
general of this state was occupying the
position of assistant attorney general,
and
toned, the Hon. E. N. Morrill,, then gov
ernor of the state of Kansas was con-
sidering the advisa bility of convening
the legislature in special session for the
purpose of apportioning the state into
senatorial and representative districts,
and not being fully advised in the prem
ises decided to call upon the attorney
general for his views as to the right of
the chief executive to convene the 1egis-
iature for the extraordinary occasion
above mentioned, and
Whereas, The opinion then rendered
by the attorney general, through his
assistant the present boss" in said Of
fee. is in words and figures as fol-
lows:
1T will be noticed that the section
provides that the governor may con-
vene the legislature on extraordinary
occasions. The only power to judge as
to what extraordinary occasion requires
the convening of the legislature is the
governor himself He is the sole judge
of such emergency, and it is for him
and for him alone to determine when an
extraordinary session shall be held"
and
Whereas, A change has taken place
in the office of attorney general of this
state and the change of views is as sud
den and radical as that of Saul in an
cient times; therefore, be it
Resolved, That a committee of three
be appointed by the senate to proceed
in their own way, and find out what is
the opinion of the former assistant at
TO a nd att
general as to the legality of the present
session of the legislature. in order that
this session may proceed according to
the latest revised rules and holdings of
said department.
Senator Jumper moved that the reso-
lutions be adopted.
Senator Lamb wanted them read
again, when Jumper said:
It's fine readin' for you fellows"
Lamb asked Jumper what he meant
by suggesting that Saul had changed
his mind.
LAS 1 am not a minister nor a lawyer
and the senator from Woodson is both,
1 think he can answer his own ques-
tion, said Jumper.
Didn't you mean Solomon instead of
Saul?" inquired Lamb.
I am not responsible for the sena-
tors lack of knowledge" replied
Jumper.
on Mr. Lambs motion the word
Boss was stricken out and attorney
general substituted.
This pleased Jumper, who said: ct
doubt if the present attorney general is
boss of the office"
Senator Lewelling, with great SOL
emnity, then offered the following, the
third verse of the first chapter of Ha-
ballkuk, in the Bible:
Therefore the law is slackened and
judgment doth never go forth, for the
wicked doth compass about the right
eous. therefore wrong judgment pro-
ceedeth."
Thi samendment was adopted with a
whoop, whereupon Senator King offered
an amendment, including the first verse
of the fifth chapter of James, as fol-
lows:
60 now We rich men, weep and howl
for your miseries that shall come upon
you
Your riches are corrupted and your
garments are moth eaten.
Your gold and silver is cankered; ;
and the rust of them shall be a wit
ness against you and shall eat your
flesh as if it were fire Ye have heaped
treasure together for the last days
Behold the hire of the laborers who
have reaped down your fields. which is
kept back by fraud crieth: and the cries
of them which have reaped are entered
into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
"Ye have lived in pleasure on the
earth, and been wanton; ye have nour-
ished your hearts as in a day of slaugh-
ter.
"Ye have condemned and killed the
just and he doth not resist you
The resolutions were adopted as
amended and the senate adjourned un-
til p. m.