The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-14
Two Senators and Three Repre-
sentatives in Their Seats.
GOV. HOCH COMPLAINS.
Didn't Have Time to Examine
Appropriation Bill.
Couldn't Investigate Items So
Approves All Of Them.


Lieutenant Governor Fitzgerald was
| in the presidents chair of the senate
when S. C. drummer, private secre-
tary to the governor entered, and pre-
sented the governors last message,
and list of about twenty senate bills
which the governor had signed. The
message was as follows:
ITO the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
Il have completed an examination
me by the two houses, and have no
further communications to make to
the legislature of 1907
"E. w. HOCH, Governor"
Senator Ed Wilkerson of Cowley
and Senator Griffin of Jefferson were
present at the time. Senator Wilker-
son made the motion to adjourn sine
die and it passed unanimously.
Those present in the house, besides
Speaker John S. Simmons in the chair,
were Representatives Stone and Bird
of Shawnee and Representative Ber
ryman of Clark. Representative Bird
made the motion to adjourn, after Mr..
drummer had presented the final
message and a list of about 80 APP
proved house bills. The motion car
ried
The sergeants at arms and chief
clerks of both branches of the legis-
lature were present at the time of adj
journment.
Thus ended the legislature of 1907.
on March IA, after having been in ses-
sion Sc days, or lie days beyond the
so day pay limit set by the constitu
ton.
Senator Fred Dumont Smith of Ed
wards county was in town, was also
Senator Fitzpatrick of Chautauqua
and Senator Porter of Montgomery.
None of them were present at the OBJ
sequfes, however.
ST told F'itz," said Senator Smith,
that it was his senate, and he would
have to adjourn it,"
Il wish it could be burned into the
minds of the legislature of this state"
said Governor HOch this morning, that
the governor should be given more time
to examine the miscellaneous appropria-
ton bill. urged that the miscellaneous
bill, or at least the bulk of it, be sent
to me few weeks before the close of
the session, so that 1 might have an OPP
portunity to examine the items, and
blue pencil those which did not seem
right as the law giyes=fnes authority to
do. But this reat-bulky bill came into
my possession yesterday. 7 put in half
the night studying it, and brought
down some items to the office to look
into. But the members of the legis-
lature were all gone, and found it i'm
possible to arrive at any intelligent
conclusion, so 1 just signed the whole
thing, and let it go.
But this is the wrong system. The
governor should be given a better
chance to know what he is doing. The
appropriation bill should be disposed
of, except possibly a few scattering
items. earlier in the session.
A curious mistake was found in the
appropriation bill for the state forestry
stations at Dodge City and Ogallah,
which will make those two stations
g So, II. 1T So.
chase of seeds, plants and young trees.
The bill as prepared provided for such
an appropriation, to take effect at once,
but the amount was left blank. Instead
of filling in the amounts, the ways and
means committee simply struck out
blanks and all, and left the stations
without any funds available for this
purpose. The salary of the forestry
commissioner at Dodge City and at
Ogallah is provided for up to July 1,
and thereafter, but there is no money
available for their work until July !,
when it will be too late for this seasons
planting.
Two constitutional amendments will
be submitted at the next election. One
is the proposed raise in pay for mem
bers of the legislature to $500 for reg
ular sessions and 800 for special ses-
sions, with no limit on the length of the
sessions. The other is the amendment
disqualifying judges from holding GER
tain offices.
The following is list of some of the
important laws which came under the
wire at the eleventh hour, just in time
to escape the "distanced" flag and
were returned to the legislature today
with the signature of the governor at
tached to each:
House bills returned to the house:
No. 91-To prohibit persons hunting
or fishing on private grounds without
written permit.
No 2SO-Relating to corporations
and charters.
No 1o2-Amending Juvenile court
No. 1ss-Relating to issuance of
bonds for high schools.
No. 3SO-Providing bounty on coy
ote and wolf scalps.
No. 4o5-Establishing state board of
emil a aiming.
No. 62S-Making appropriation for
No. 7oI-Allowing cities of first
class to levy a tax for bands:
No. ss-Relating to erection of
court houses.
No 52-Allowing cities of first and
second class to refund Indebtedness.
No. S76-Making appropriation for
executive and judicial Offices
No. 77-Miscellaneous appropria-
ton bill.
Senate bills returned to the senate:
No. 9-Investigation of streams
and water courses.
Memorial day.
No. 347-AlIowing minors to have
bank accounts.
No. 491-Relating to mutual hail
insurance companies.
No. 602-Relating to state coal lost
in transit.
No. 614-Appropriations for private
charities.
No. 21-Appropriation for farm
ers' Institutes. good roads. corn breed
ing and good seed trains.