The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-04
CAN NOT AGREE.
House and Senate Far Apart on
Primary Bill.
UItimatum Is Presented to
Senate COnferees.
POSITION OF HOUSE.
Demand Direct Nominations for
All Candidates.
May Make Compromise on
Maximum Rate Bill.

final effort is being made today w
the house and senate conferees on the
primary election bill to agree upon
some sort of compromise, but the
outlook is not encouraging.
Following a conference OF house lead
ers held on Sunday, the house con-
ferees, w. r. Stubbs, Parks Helmick
and r. S. Hendricks, today submitted
to the senate conferees this proposition
in writing: -,
GentIemen:-The house of represen-
tatives, February 2S passed the follow
ing resolution by a vote of 92 to II
:. Resolved, That it is the sense OF
this house that we favor a direct pri-
mary election for the nomination OF
every officer from United States senator
to township officers without the con-
yention and delegate com b1nation.
This expression is intended as ao-
Visory to the conference committee and
1t is instructed to carry out the sehtl-
ment expressed. and further to come "
an agreement, If possible, with the con-
ference committee of the senate con-
sistent with this resolution.
'.,The house conference committee on
primary election bill NO. ioS oesnes 70
comply fully with the spirit OF this IN
struction We shall be pleased to con-
slider any requests from the senate con-
ference committee for modlncanohs "
changes
bill No. 163 that do not conflict with
the above resolution.
While the house conferees deslre IA
agreement of the joint committee ana
will be pleased to confer further Win
the senate committee. we appreciate
that further conference Is useless uh-
less the above house resolution is cOh-
ceded by the senate conferees as
basis of consideration.
This is looked upon by. everyone as
an ultimatum, and unless the senate
conferees agree to continue nesoud
tions on this basis, it is likely that al
efforts to arree will be off. and the
committee will be discharged by Doth
branches of the legislature 1t Is pos
sible that a new conference cohIill.-
! tee will then be selected 10 mar 81.
/. other trial but the house has taken It's
Enosf+io1. and it is doubtful whether the
! senate viii agree to consider 1urIher
! negotiations on the basis proposed.
/ II the primary election bill negotla-
+ions fail through, tn e house Will proD-
| ably claim that the senate IS respoIlsl-
| HE and it may interfere with compio-
mise negotiations on other pehui"s
| measures. -,
| Nav Agree on Maximum Itate Bill
The outlook for an agreement on tne
! ma ximl1m freight rate bills, whlch arr
| also in conference, is better thah thae
| of the primary law. -. ,,oa-
! The house conferees on TINS meas
nre are w. Y. Morgan, j. T. Whlte
and charles E. Snyder OF LeaYeh
1ror+h for the senate Senator Fred
| Dumont Smith and George Hayden:
The principal point OF dlscussloh III
the conference thus far has peen
whether the reductions in rates
| shouId be made by means OF hori-
zontal cut, as provided in the senaee .e
| bill. or by a schedule OF rates as pro-
| yided in the house Dill.
w Y. Morgan said this mornings
'sThe house conferees are OF the oplh-
ion that there is more danger or
| horizontal cut in rates beins lhNailua.-
| ed nv the courts than there would pc
of a rate schedule meeting that fate.
| All the maximum rate schedules test
ed in the courts have PROVIDED Tot
| maximum rate schedules; the hori-
zontal cut method OF hxlng niii M
| 1ourn has never been tested in the
courts and there is serious doubt
about it being a safe method of reduc-
| ing rates.. ~ 4,. .,td
This morning: 1--WE have not yet man
aged to agree upon anything. put l
think that the indications are that we
will reach some sort of a basis wnlcn
is mutually satisfactory.
! The probab bility is that the senate
conferees will agree TO the maximum
| at schedules substantially as incor-
| norated in the house bills. covering GER
tain leading commodities, such az
grain, grain products ana coal. pot tIiS
| bousa may have to give up on gooo
| rnapv of the other schedules which werS
put into it's bill. ,...
AS supplement to its freight rats
| legislation, the senate passed resolu-
tio, endorsing an appropriation OF SoO'-
ooO to be placed at the disposal OF tns
poard H~y of railroad commissioners for the
i nl1rnose of conducting full investiga-
lions to determine the cost OF freignt
and passenger hauling ana 10 aets1 9tts, :
,i,e what would be fair and equitable
maximum rates to charge for such ser
vice. -,-.,.os ,,,, .o
the house, and number OF the mouse
'naa,.e me have EXPRESSED the opinion that
~ resolution should be passed.
.If the senate was bluffing." said one
representative today, '1et us call ther
|, | bluff .s.,.,
The resolution would not pc eHectiNe
nIass hacked up by a bill carrying
$4,000 appropria tion.