The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-06
LONG OR SHORT TERM?
Chas Sessions Discusses the Kansas
Senatorial Situation.

VIII he Kansas legislature next
month elect a United States senator
for both the short and long terms, or
simply for the long term. permitting
Senator Benson to hold over until
March 4 ? asks Charles Sessions, in his
Washington message to the Kansas
City Journal. Mr.. Sessions goes on to
say.
Benson is SERUM the. .unexpired
Burton term. which ends on March 4,
next Under the LAVE Benson's ap-
pointment technically can only hold
until the legislature meets. That IS
the wording, exactlTs- Of the statu les.
But upon the advice of Senator Long,
who secured the views of several sem
ators here. at the time. the Benson
commission was made to hold until
tne legislature met and until his sue
cessor is elected and qualified
II the Kansas legislature sees fit to
only elect senator for the long term.
beginning March 4, next, 1t can do so.
EhlS would leave Senator Benson to
serve out all of the unexDired Burton
term However, the legislature can
elect both for the short and long term.
The election viii be pulled off about
January 20 The short term would
senator would no more than get his
seat located before his term expired.
lie would have no time to do any
. tning, not even get a private pension
it would be the honor"
Senator Benson doesn't expect to do
much this term. He has few pri-
vate pension claims which he is push
ing, and even though he should be so
fortunate as to be elected either for
the short term, long term or c n or
permitted to hold over until March 4
he will not be able to accomplish
much this winter. He can be on hand
70 vote right on all big measures,
7nf Oft
any general legislation or make any
speeches on any of the important bills
pending, or to run things
On account of the brief period inter
Venlng between the time of the cleo
ton of a senator and the Adjournment
OF congress some of the senate officials
thought perhaps the legislature would
ignore the snort term affair and simply
let Benson hold on until March T.
1ou don't know Kansas legisIa-
ture, said one of the memb ers of a
group which was discussing the uues-
ton A Kansas legislature would
never overlook bet of that kind. It
would elect senator for the short
term, in my judgment, if the short
term only lasted a day. It not only
wants TO transact all the business that
the constitution calls for, but many
other things beside. For that reason
1 do not believe that it will check up
an opportunity to name short term
senator"
Snoulu senator Benson be elected
for the long term it wouldn't matter
about the short term. He could hold
over without an election But if tn e
long term goes 20 someone else then
the legislature will be face to face with
the question as to whether to name the
long term winner for the short term
also. The lines may be drawn so tight
~ in the wiring that the successful
candidate viii want both terms In
case a senator is elected for both the
short and long terms 1t will take two
separate roll calls If it is decided to
give both terms to the same candidate
the Formally of two roll calls must be
observed
Senator Benson will return home for
the holidays. but he has not decided