The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-19
Started by Having a Quarrel on
the Floor. -s.s-. 81.
MIR. GUYER is GRIEVED
Thinks That His Bill Wasn't
Considered.
Representatives Refuse to Fol-
low Lead of Senator'S.

the slaughter house" because 1t Kill
ed so many bills of doubtful value Al
the present session, the judiciary COM
mittee is getting the reputation TOT
being queer" 1t seems to be DRIFT
ing about like ship without rudder'
and to be taking the most extraordin-
airy tacks on certain matters.
.One of the members of the COM
rnittee said yesterday: THE trouble
with the committee is that it hash
any head" This is in decided con-
trast with the judiciary committee OF
the last session, when A W. BENSON
was chairman Benson's committee
was one of the most industrious anu
able committees that was ever organ
lied In the house, and it will be nara
for any committee to keep up the pace
which it set.
S one of the first public ''breaks"
which the committee made was when
the chairman got into wrangie with
some of the members of the commit
tee on the floor of the house over what
the committee really intended to re-
port on the Sunday baseball bill Ihe
committee said one thing, the chalr-
man said another, and the mouse nm
ally had to send the bill back TO tne
committee to find out what was really
intended.
On the second trial, the committee
had almost as much trouble me
members who were in the minority at
the first session gained the upper
hand at the second meeting, and pin
ned a lemon to the Sunday observance
law. Then the minority members hled
a written objection with the house.
And it happened that when all the alb
sentees had signed up the minority
report, it had half the committee.
The committee has also caused
much excitement by reporting ad-
versely two bills which are generally
nv
which have been presented at the
present session.
One of these bills was the Guyer bill
to prevent bucket shops from doing
business in Kansas. The committee
did not give Mr.. Guyer a hearing on
behalf of his bill, but simply went
ahead and jabbed the knife into il.
The reason alleged was that the bill
was just about the same as the pres
ent law Mr. Guyer said:
Il can't believe that the committee
understood that bill, for if they had. I
l-iieve they would have recommended
1t favorably- I don't believe the people
of Kansas want bucket shops, and I
don't believe that committee on judic-
larry wants them either, though their
votes were against my bill. know,
and every other naan2knows, that the
present law does not stop the bucket
shops, though it is supposed to do so.
The country papers throughout the
state have been demanding law which
would put these gambling concerns out
of business. They are extending their
business to many of the smaller towns,
especially in the grain growing section,
and the laws do not seem to be strong
enough to stop them. Ny law was in
tended to remed! the defects and I
think the judiciary committee should at
least have given me a chance to be
heard. I think I shall introduce my
law again in modified form. and try to
get a hearing"
Another proposed law of merit which
the committee killed by an almost un-
animous vote was the bulk sales BILL"
the sole object of which is to prevent
frauds But for some mysterious rea-
son the committee opposed it. The bill
in similar form was introduced by three
different members: Ham of Rocks,
Hendricks of Rawlins and Davidson of
Sedgwick, three of the ablest members
of the house. The bill had the backing
of the wholesalers and jobbers of the
state. and is generally favored by the
honest retailers. 1t is intended to pre-
vent swfndlers from buying a lot of
goods from a wholesaler, and getting as
big line of credit as possible, and
then, without giving notice to the
wholesalers whom he owes for his
goods, effect a quick bulk sale" of his |
whole stock to some innocent purchaser, |
against whom the wholesalers cannot |
enforce their claims. The retailers are
favor OF a law 10 prevent SUCH trans |
actions, because they are not only a |
fraud on the Who'll -alers but they lead |
to slaughter sales of merchandise |
which tend to demoralize the regular |
retail trade.
In spite of the fact that many states
have enacted this law, and that it has !
the backing of legal and mercantile !
interests, the judiciary committee re- |
ported the bill adversely, and it is
dead, so far as the house is concerned. |
House Is Industrious.
Although the senate adjourned I'M
til 4 o'clock Monday afternoon, the !
house is in session today, and is grind
ing away in an effort to clear up its |
the house made hard fight to secure
adjournment until 4 o'clock Monday |
but by a vote of As to Al it was de- |
cided to work on Saturday.
Representative Kih made the mo-
tion to adjourn until Monday. Repre-
sentative Edward2 of Greenwood
amended the motion by fixing the time
as 1880 Saturday.
Then happened one of those semi
tragic little incidents which sometimes
occur right in the midst of humdrum
business.
T. P. Murphy of Harvey county got
up and made a personal attack on Ed
wards. He said: THE gentleman
from Greenwood seems to be unduly
anxious to keep this house at work. 1
stayed here last Saturday and worked
and the gentleman from Greenwood |
was absent, and continued to be absent |
for several days. He hasn't any bust
ness to try and hold me here, for 1 |
have arranged to go home.''
The house members burst into a
loud laugh at Edwards expense. and |
seemed to be preparing to vote down
his amendment. Just then little Rep
resentative Fisher from Chautauqua ,
Jumped up in his back seat and said: |
81 am surprised at the words of the !
gentleman from Harvey. and shocked
at the conduct of this house. Evil