The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-02
no BOOK BILL.
Senate and House Continue
Their Wrangle.
Fail to Agree Upon Provision OF
the Measure.
MAY BREATHE EASIER
Uniformity Law to Be Allowed
to Stand.
New Committee Appointed to
Consider Question.
NAY BREATHE EASIER

The two houses of the legislature are
as far apart as ever on the text book
bill. The conference committees Of both
houses reported that they were unable to
come to an agreement regarding the SER
ate amendments to the Grattan bill.
When the committee made its report to
the senate it was decided to recall the
bill from the house and change it 50 that
there would be some chance Of the Dill
going through this session.
In the conference committee, Repre-
sentative Grattan and Senator Leidy
had a lively tilt and it was evident that
neither would recede much from the
stand they had taken Leidy said that
he would make some changes in the bill
if it was sent back to the senate. ana.
after talking with some Of the members,
the proposed changes We're agreed upon
and were made in the senate The
changes did not suit the house. how
ever, for the section knocking out the
maximum rate was not reinserted, and
that was the very thing the house want
ed the senate to put back in the bill
When the bill was recalled to the SEN
ate Senator Leidy moved to recon-
slider the vote by which the bill was
amended and passed in the senate. He
said that in view Of the fact that the
conference committee was unable to get
together on account OF the amendments
the senate had made he thought the ser,
ste should make some concessions SO
that the bill might be passed by tire
house and become a law. He then
moved to put back in the bill sections
which empowers the commission to con-
tract with publishers and authors for
manuscript. He said that he considered
the section pernicious, but that he be-
neved the governor would appoint men
on the commission who would not buy
manuscript from the authors but would
buy only books which We're known to
be good. The section was reinserted.
The next change was the reinsertirs
of thee lause which limits the use OF
supplemental books The senate had
been almost unanimous on striking out
that clause when they first considered
the bill The clause regarding the meth
Cd of yprocedure to compel school boards
to use the books selected by the commits
ton was next reinserted
Senator Codding then moved to pu-
the maximum rate clause which had
been fixed by the house back in the BILL
with the proviso that the commission
could go above the prices fixed in the
schedule 10 per cent If 1t was necessary
to get good books. Leidy opposed the
amendment and declared that the max
imum rate law vas repugpant to the
people Of the state either for school
books or for railroads. The amendment
was voted down.
The bin as patched up was then put
on third reading and was passed by
vote Of &c to 10
The bin was called up in the house on
the motion Of Mr.. DOOley to concur In
the senate amendments made to the bill
in the afternoon. Mr. Grattan spoke
against the amendments and declared
that the house should insist upon the
bill as it left that body He said that 1t
would be better to have no bill than to
concur in the amendments as made by
the senate He said that the bill as
amended by the senate was a bill made
by the lobby and cast some very strong
insinuations at the members of the SEN
ate because they saw fit to change his
bill In speaking Of the bill he did not
refer to 1t as the house bill. but as my
bill"
Mr. Dooley followed him with speech
favoring the senate amendments. He
referred to Mr. Grattan as tie man with
the sprained voice. Il was sn the SEN
this bill" he said, and did not see
any effort there to get dramatic In the
speeches They seemed only to want
better books for our children'S use. I do
not believe the senate is controlled by a
trust and I do not believe that any
member q this body lg controlled BY q
trust" He went over the old argu-
ments that have been advanced against
the maximum rate
Mr.. Mckeever followed him and said
that it would be better to have no bill
the senate but he thought there was
no danger of the legislature adjournfrfz
without enacting some text book law
II we vote this down another confer
ence committee viii be appointed and
we may arrive at an understanding" He
had a good deal TO say about trusts and
read telegram purporting to have been
sent by G. G. Burton, agent OF the
American Book company. to the county
attorney Of Harper county cSlxing that
he wire to the members OF the legis-
lature from his county to. vote against
the Grattan bill, and that he have his
friends do the same. The expenses were
to be paid by Mr.. Burton
Adams OF Butler made q few remarks
in which he took shot at 1IcKeever for
pleading that the bill as amended would
rob the common people. He did not
think who was paying the bills when he
for the exposition in Topeka and the
$4,000 for the exposition n Buffalo,"
said Mr.. Adams
McKeever jumped to his feet and de-
MED having worked for the appropria-
ton for the semi centennial
Some one moved the previous question
and the roll call on the motion to adopt
the senate amendments was lost BY q
vote OF 43 to 70. Giessler Of Logan then
committee and the motion was carried
The speaker did not announce the COM
mittee. but said he would do 50 in the
morning.
The old text book law has given ex-
cellent satisfaction and the people will
be satisfied If 1t Is allowed to stand.
EMPLOYEES ARE DISCHARGED
Tzo,,-. ay,1~.- g1ec 49, nc. vry1 :