The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-29
Also Charged senator Getty
With Using Billingsgate.
WAS AWFULLY SORRY.
So He Twice Apologized for His
"Unparliamentary Language
Finally Permitted to Finish His
Speech.


day. 1t was the first that has occurred
since the senate assembled twenty
days ago. Senator Gilbert, of Brown,
started it and also finished it after get
ting few rebukes handed to him.
/ When the special committee was ap-
pointed a few days ago to Investigate
the conditions at the state printing
lplant and see if it were not possible to
have the senate journal printed daily,
lit reported that with the present
equipment, that this could not be done.
A motion then prevailed to appoint
committee of three senator's to re-
wise the journal daily and have such
parts of it read each day as might
need correction. Lieutenant Governor
Fitzgerald appointed Senator's Gilbert,
Robertson and Benson as this commit
/ tee. On the arrival of the time for
the reading of the. Journal today, mo-
ton prevailed to dispense with the
reading of it. Senate Noftzger inQulr-
ed If the committee appointed. to cor
rect the journal hadSdone its work.
This brought Senator Gilbert to his
feet with question of personal priv
ilege. He started off by saying that he
had listened patiently the other day
to talk on the ability of the state
printer to do the work demanded OF
him. He characterized some of the
remarks made nsthatz occasion by
Senator Getty as "biflingsgate." He got
no further with his speech. Senator
Noftzger jumped up with a point of
order that Senator Gilbert was using
parliamentary language Lieutenant
Governor Fitzgerald sustained the
point of order. and directed Senator
Gilbert to take his seat. He did so,
but got up "a minute later on another
question of personal privilege. He
was called to order because he WAS
not entitled to address the senate -un-
til he had withdrawn his unparl1amen-
tary language and apologized. Sena-
tor Gilbert made the apology.
Then he started to speak again and
this time began to- say things about
the "skinnfng" which Senator Noftzger
gave the state printer few days ago.
He likened some of the remarks that
Noftzger made to making noise like
gas pipe working overtime.
senator Gilbert was called to order
again for not speaking to- question
of personal privilege and again the
lieutenant governor ordered him to his
seat He sat down but was on hissfeet
again in "a minute. He 'apologized a
second time and then started to speak
again.
He finally said that it was customary
in legislative bodies, even in debating
societies in the wilds Of Wisconsin, that
when a person was made chairman of
special committee, he was invaria bly,
the person who moved for the commit
tees creation. He had not made this
motion and asked to be relieved from
serving on the committee
He was relieved instantly by 1ieuten-
ant Governor Fitzgerald, and Senator
Martin of Bourbon, appointed in his
stead.
If the governor signs the bill which
passed the senate this morning capital
punishment will be a thing of the past
in Kansas and when murderer is con-
victed of murder in the first degree the
death sentence will not be imposed
upon him. AS a matter of fact capital
punishment has been dead letter IN
Kansas as no person who has been
sentenced to death has been executed
because of the reluctance of governors
to enforce the death penalty.
Mr. Wheeler in the house and Senator
Simons the senate introduced similar
bills striking the death penalty from
the laws of Kansas. The bill passed
the house and the senate bill was favor
ably reported by the judiciary commit
tee of that body. This senate bill was
on the order of third reading today
Senator Simons asked that the house
bill be substituted for the senate bill.
This was done and the bill was pass
ed It now goes to the governor and
will probably receive his approval.
Most of the time of the senate was
consumed this morning with disposing
of a large number of bills which were
on the general orders calendar.
Among the bills considered by the
committee of the whole was the one of
Senator F. Dumont Smith, amending
the present railroad law in regard to
the rate fixing powers of the board of
railroad commissioners. This bill, il
is said, will strengthen the railroad
law in this particular by stripping
from the board certain judicial pow
ers which it is now supposed to have
and leaving it the legislative power to
fix rates. 1t is claimed that the pres
ent law giving them these dual pow
ers is unconstitutional. Several amend
ments were recommended by the
railroad committee and then Senator
Noftzger wanted 1t amended SO as to
make it more certain what rates the
commissions may consider. There
was considera Bile discussion and the
matter was not determined, as the
noon hour came along about this time
ner The committee of the whole re-
ported progress on the bill and will
take up its consideration again.
Just before adjournment at 1915
O'Clock until this afternoon at 2
O'Clock Senator Miller announced that
the committee on ways and means
would meet at 4 O'Clock on each after
noon of this week and that he intend
ed to ask that the senate adjourn at
that hour SO that the committee could
getting behind in its work because 1t
had been giving away to other COM
mittees.
Senate Bills Introduced
No. 259. BY Senator Carver-An
act concerning the completion of a
certain bridge in Reno county.
No. 260. BY Senator Tucker-An
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