The Topeka state journal., 1901-01-31
SEATON STRIKES.
Veteran Legislator Makes At
tack on Governor Stanley.
Resents His Limitations on Lo-
cal Bills.
is NOT HIS AFFAIR.
Says Governor May Veto Bills
IF He Cares To.s
Has No Right to Dictate to
Legislature.
Resolution to Defer to Cover
nOr's Suggestion Defeated.

If it was a feeble way in which the
house snapped its fingers at Governor
Stanley this morning, 1t did so at any
rate at the instance of John Seaton. But
the venerable Atchison representative
came out strong enough for himself ard
brought down his hammer on the gov
ernor with a resounding whaclx.
In his message to the legislature Gov
ernor Stanley urged that local legisla-
tion be gotten out of the way as early
as possible. He arbitrarily fixed Feb
ruary IS as the limit that he could be
expected to takeup the bills and approve
them.
Some OF the legislators believe in
dancing lively to the governors orders,
and is not 50 ready to do Jig-steps to
suit the executive He knocked right
and left on the proposition that was
made in Ed McKeever's resolution,
which was to bunch all the local bills
on third reading and push them
through sc that they would not suffer
defeat by the governors veto.
Mr.. McKeever urged that local bills
because every member sent here was
expected TO get some things more or
less for his district
Emil Grosser, of Dickinson, objected
to delaying important measures affect
ing the good of the whole state.
Then came SeatOn'S turn to object. lie
had some of GroSSer'S idea in his mind
but his long memory doubtless occupied
more OF lis InOu&nC-cnanDSr. AT. SEA
ron remembers his defeat for the nor1li-
nation for governor at the Hutchinson
convention, and his being turned down
for director of the penitentiary when he
wanted tn follow up the binding twine
industry, his own scheme. and keep an
eye out Tor the success of its operation.
Seaton rose coolly to throw heavy
shot into the motion that would recog-
nize the right of the governor to in
terfere with the house choosing its own
order of business and transacting it un-
trammelled.
II have great respect for and defer
Speaker he said. but this is the first
time ever knew of an executive to say
to a legislature If it don't do SO and so
he won't 90 so and so.
we are sent here to do our duty and
serve our people who sent US regardless
of the whims of the governor He has
his share of the state government to
carry and we have ours. It is our pre-
rogative to pass bills and his to approve
or veto them. It is nothing to me if re
chooses TO turn down a local bill we may
pass after February Is. That is an az
fair wholly between him and the people
Therefore, Mr.. Speaker, I move the. res
olution be laid on the table"
Capt Seaton gathered great earnest
ness when he spoke of being agains.
bowing to the caprice of the executive.
He was applauded. Appreciation seem
ed to come more from the minority side
of the house however Some Repul1li
cans approved also. but many of them
are kept III leading strings because they
want something or other at the hands
of the executive and their approval was
allowed to come out only in spots
Ed McKeever wanted to talk again in
support Of the resolution to have local
bills given precedence He claimed the
right of the mover of a resolution 10
make the last speech. But Seaton was
not losing the advantage gained by tho
fall he had taken out of the governor
q n i'm ~
termined to batten them down He cali
ed the point of order that a motion to
table resolution was not debatable
ana Mckeever was successfully muz-
zled- Seaton's resolution to Law the mat
ter on the table was then passed by
vote of 81 to 80