The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-02-14
DIED EASY DEATH
Senate Kills tho Proposed Con-
stitutiOnaI Convention.
Senator Porter Only One to
Speak for Measure.
QUESTION OF COST.
Senator Dolley Said 1t Would Be
Three-Quarters of Million.
Ends the Agitation for Resub-
mission Before Legislature.

From the rather decisive action
taken by the senators Wednesday
afternoon it is certain that the propo-
sition of submitting to the electors at
the next general election the question
as to whether or not a constitutional
convention shall be called for a gen.
eral revision of the constitution of the
state, is a dead letter for the time be-
ing. Senator Porter of Montgomery
! has had a concurrent resolution 10
/ this effect pending before the senate
since the opening of the session. 1t
came up for consideration as a special
order yesterday afternoon and only
favor. while there were eighteen
! against it, and eleven senators absent
| or not voting. Inasmuch as resolu-
ton of this character needs two
| thirds vote to pass, the vote of yester-
| day killed it quite as dead as the pro-
verbal door nail.
Senators who voted for the propo-
sition were Benson, Belts. Conner.
Haskell, Huffman, Porter of Mont
| gomery. and Waggener, and those who
voted against it were Baker. Brewer,
! Buschow, Carver, Dolley GllDert:
Bourbon Miller Porter of Crawford,
Quincy, Robertson, Simons, Stewart,
Tucker and Young: Those absent, or
| not voting were Caldwell, Chapman,
Fitzpatrick, Hodges, Hughes, Martin
of Woodson, Noftzger, Smith. Stan
nard. Stillings and Wilkerson.
Impression had gone forth through
| out the state that this proposition to
| have a constitutional convention for
general revision of the constitution
was nothing more or less than an IN
direct way of securing change IN the
| constitutional provisions relating to
! the prohibition question and for the
past couple of weeks the senators have
been flooded with petitions urging
them to cast their vote against the
proposition for this reason.
1t was expected that when the reso-
tuition came up for final consideration
there would be an oratorfcaI rest IN
which a dozen or more members or
that inner circle of the senate. known
as the "tallxy-talky club would dis
play their abilities as stump spea kers.
This was not the case. however Only
one speech was made on the resolu-
ton and this was by Senator Porter of
Montgomery, It's father. When he got
through talking the question was cali
ed for and the senators, or eighteen OF
them which was quite a Sufhciency,
jabbed the proposition to death.
Senator Porter declared that con-
stitutional convention was the only
means by which a general and ade7
quate revision of the constitution
could be arrived at.
1--WE are undertaking at every ses-
sion of the legislature" he said, TO
provide for the amendment or the
constitution in three or four ways:
That is a good reason why we should
have a general revision. We have now
seven or eight propositions before US
for amendments to the constitution
Its provisions are such that we can
not vote on more than three proposed
amendments at any one time. That
to my mind is a good business reason
why we should have the constitution
taken up for a general revision.
Public sentiment, from the num-
- hPan
suggested, has certainly demanded a
revision. 1t has gotten to be matter
of public policy that this should be
done Under the conditions which
prevail heroic treatment is demanded
and the people should take the first
opportunity to have a general revts-
ion of the constitution. This oppor-
tunity is afforded by this resolution.
1t merely allows the people of the
state to say whether they want the
constitution revised.
cit does not provide for the revision
of the constitution in any one parti-
so much a one as may be necessary
and I believe that the people have q
right to express themselves in this
proposition. 1t has come to be a mat
ter of state policy and I think 1t ought
to be a Republican policy as well. If
the Republicans do not do it, mark
me- it will be done by some one else"
Senator Porter declared that it cost
the state about 5000 every election
for the people to have an opportunity
to vote on the constitutional amend
ments suggested. This was a good
reason why a convention should be
called for revision of the constitu-
ton.
r"Do YOU know what constitutional
convention will cost ?" asked Senator
Dolley.
II do not" replied Senator Porter.
"well it would cost about three
AL
Mr.. DolIey.
That's a mere statement an
swered Senator Porter. You might
just as we'll say it would cost five hun
what it will cost. There is no need |
that II should be larger or more ex- |
pensive than a session of the legis- |
lature. AS a matter of fact 1 believe |
that twenty men could be selected in |
the state who could revise the consti- |
tuition in a better fashion than would |
a convention of three hundred men. |
But that IS a matter for a future legis- |
lature to determine. The question be-
fore US now is simply whether we will |
give the people of the state a chance |
to say whether or not they are in i
favor of the proposition for a conven- !
ton for the general revision of the |
constitution
When Senator Porter concluded no |
one else made an effort to take the
floor to discuss the proposition and the |
resolution was put 10 a vote, with the /
result as indicated. When it was |
found that eleven senators had not /
voted a call of the house was demand
ed. Senator Noftzger, who did not /
vote on the proposition. happened in
about this time and raised the point of |
order that a call of the house was out /
of order because enough votes had /
been made against the resolution to |
defeat it even though all of the sena-
tors not voting should be recorded in /
its favor Lieutenant Governor Fitz-
gerald held the point of order well |
taken and declared the resolution lost |