The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-12
IT IS ALL OVER.
Legislature Closes Amid Scenes
of HiIarity.
Grave, Dfgnified SoIOns Throw
Things at Each Other.
In GREAT GOOD NATURE
House Gives Senate Everything
1t Wants.
Comedies Worlds Fair and Rail-
road Commissioner Bills.
IN GREAT GOOD NATURE

1903 last night-or, more correctly, this
morning-were marked by great hilar-
/ ity. The term CLOSING hours is used,
for while the legislature is still theore-
tically in session, all business was con
cluded with the legislative day of Wed
nesday. Nearly all the members have
gone home today. and only a few re-
main to receive messages from the gov
ernor, announcing the signing of bills,
which does not require quorum.
The house had little to do but await
the action of the senate and few con
ference committees, but it remained in
session a greater part of the night, and
it was 2:30 o'clock this morning be-
fore the last roll was called and the
business finally concluded.
In the meantime the house enjoyed
itself. Early in the evening members
and visitors were impressed to make
speeches and give recitations About
II o'clock. however, most of the spec
tators had left and only about 80 mem
bers and a few employees, newspaper
men and politicians remained. Then
the members got to cleaning out their
desks and throwing bills and papers
a handful of bills would be thrown
high in the air and they would scatter
in all directions. Before the night was
over the floor was strewn six inches
deep with papers.
Just at midnight a basket fight broke
out. and it was fierce. There were about
75 waste baskets of various sizes In the
house and for half an hour they were
kept flying through the air Every
body was driven from the middle of the
house and perhaps thirty members on
+ opposite sides fired the baskets back
and forth at one another, and they were
thrown with vigor. too. Bale Waggen-
as~ md
ed to be the leaders on one side, and
Bevington Of Jewell and Lockwood of
+ Cheyenne on the other 1t was a great
battle And it was not entirely blood
less. DR. O'Donnell had a long scratch
and a welt over one eye, George Tucker
had his forehead scratched, and q num-
Der OF others had number of bruises
on their faces. OsDonneH is afraid his
dishguration viii require a good deal OF
explaining when he gets home to Els
worth.
After the battle the members became
quiet, and spent most of the following
two hours in talking and singing. jerks
and Emmons acted as choristers. They
started with America" and Marching
Through Georgia., but religious songs
We're more familiar. and the house sang
Nearer, Ny God, to Thee, 7" Shall We
Gather at the River. In the Sweet BY
and By and other songs, closing with
God Be With You Till We Meet
Again" Interspersed with the songs
the house acted on committee reports as
they came in.
The reason for the delay was the tie
up on the railroad commissioner and
Worlds fair bills, and later on the mis-
H cellaneous appropriation bill. which did
not get through the senate until late in
the evening. F,arly in the evening a con-
ference committee was also required on
the automobile BILL to which ODonnell
had attached an amendment excluding
political bandwagOns from its provis-
ions. The senate refused to concur in
the amendment. 50 DR.. O'Donneu was
appointed on a conference committee
land withdrew his amendment The bill
viii now become a law. Had it not been
for having fun with this amendment it
is doubtful if it would ever have got
votes enough to hive passed in the house.
The Worlds fair bill has been hung
committees: The railroad commission
er bill did not 60 to a committee until
Wednesday. Both were decided about !
o'clock this morning by the house con-
ceding almost everything.
On the railroad commissioner bill, the
bill goes into effect Immediately and the
commissioners will be elected by the
people at the next general election in
1904 In the meantime the executive
council will name the commissioners. A
section was also inserted in the bill
making any person holding stock in a
railroad in the employ of a railroad
company. or in any way interested in a
, railroad ineligible for a place on the
/ commission or as one of its employees.
On the Worlds fair bill the house
comedies that the present commission
! ers shall be removed only for cause, .
: instead of at the pleasure of the gov
: ernor. They are allowed to draw pay
: for IS days during 1903 and 200 days
) during 1904 at $12 a day.
! To the miscellaneous appropriation
? bill tackled additions amounting to over
SIS, GOO. The conference committee cut
it down after long session to little
? over $4,000 additional to what the
) house had allowed, but $7,400 of this Is
for the salary of the judge and stenog-
This report was brought in shortly be-
fore 2:30 o'clock this morning and was
adopted by a vote of 20 to f. This was
the last roll call of the session, and a
few minutes later the session ad-
journed.
The house last night passed around
J the fags-as long as they lasted. Le-
land Waggener and Bueklin were the
recipients Leland and Waggener got
the two flags draped above the speak
5 er's desk and Bucklin was given the
: big flag Which f1oated above the state
house.
4 Adams of Butler started it. He said:
{ I'VE have as a member of this house &
j DISTINGUISHED gentleman who has beer
Q conspicuous in Kansas politics fol
/ more than 40 years. a gentleman who
$ served a term in this legislature ir
4 1864 when he was a soldier in the UnfoE
army. He has probably received more
t gratuitous compliments than any Other
. man in Kansas politics, and he has
e also been the victim Of more vitupera-
c ton, but no one has ever questioned hi.
+ manhood. patriotism or ability I refel
to Mr. Cyrus Leland. and I wish t
offer the following. resolution;
Resolved. that the flag to the righ
: of the speakers stand be presented t
= CYRUS Leland