The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-15
EDGE OF REVOLT.
Revolution Nearly Breaks Out
in the House.
Mr. Ham of Rocks Uses Prod on
Speaker.
CHAFES AT DELAY.
Wants to Know Why Speaker Is
Slow.
Makes No Announcements OF the
House Committees.
Mr.. Bird Forces Adjournment
Before Action Is Taken.
Makes No Announcements of the
House Committees.

There came near being rebellion in the
house of representatives this morning
In fact. there was an insurrection. but
1T was suppressed.
The black flag of revolt was raised by
3 w. B. Ham of Rocks county. Just be-
fore the house adjourned at noon, Mr..
Ham said. addressing Speaker Pro Tenn
w. L. Cunningham. who was in the
chair.
I'VE have now been in session eight
days, and no committee appointments
h re been made by the speaker. Eight
DAYS of the fifty are gone and nothing
is done It seems to me that we are
wasting time. While do not desire to
criticise the speaker. would like to ask
If anybody can inform US when we may
expect these appointments?''
Speaker Pro Tenn Cunningham said:
81 understand that the speaker is
working on the appointment of his
committees. and will make his apoplnt-
ments as soon asc possible
There was an awkward silence, and
then Mr. Bird, of Shawnee, moved that
the house adjourn till o'clock.
Ham was back on his feet in an in
stant.
II wish the gentleman from Shawnee
would defer his motion for a moment,
as I have a motion which I would like
to make"
Il will defer to the gentleman if he
has something of Importance to pre-
gent" said Mr.. Bird.
Il wish to move that a committee of
three be appointed to wait on the
speaker of the house and find out
when he will be ready to appoint his
committees
Hendricks of Rawlins and Enright of
Wyandotte seconded the motion.
''V ell. don't know about that" said
Mr.. Bird doubtfully. This seems to be
a motion for the purpose of forcing the
speaker to appoint the committees be-
fore he is ready. don't believe I care
to defer to that motion. I shall insist
that my motion to adjourn be putt
The question is on the motion of
the gentleman from Shawnee to ad-
iourn," said Speaker Pro Tenn Cum
ningham.
The question was put, and a division
was called for. The motion to ad-
iourn carried by a vote of 35 to 33.
The insurgents" were beaten by only
two votes.
If the motion to adjourn had been
beaten, Hams motion to haul the
speaker up on the carpet for delay in
appointing the house committees
would have been made and probably
would have passed. The Democrats
and about a dozen Republicans voted
with Ham. 1t indicated that a strong
offensive and defensive alliance be-
tween the Democrats and the old Boss
Busters is growing up In the house.
and this alliance is likely to grow
stronger as the session progresses.
For the State REFORM School.
NJ. A. Hutcheson, representative
from the north district of Shawnee
county. this morning introduced a bill
providing an appropriation of $4,000
to pay for the proposed improvements
to Soldier creek, for the purpose of
keeping the creek from overfiowing.
The $4,000 is to be paid to the North
Topeka Drainage district, and is the
Reform school share of the cost of
Strengthening and deepening the chan
mel of Soldier creek to prevent over
flows.
Change Juvenile Court Law
The Juvenile court law will be re-
vamped at the present session, accord
ing to present indications. A c.
Mitchell of Douglas county, introduce
ed this morning a bill providing for a
large number of changes in the law
enacted at the last session. The new
bill is about as long as the old one.
The original juvenile court bill was
prepared by some of the state univer-
sity professors, and the amendments
come from representative of the
same county where the state univer-
sity is located.
To Stop Overbonding.
w. A. S. Bird. representative from
Shawnee county. this morning introduc-
ed bill prohibiting a corporation from
overbonding itself. The law prohibits
the issuance of bonds to an amount of
over IS per cent of the value of the
property. The bill is as follows:
ANY corporation doing business in
the state of Kansas desiring to mort
gage or bond any of its property shall
make an application to the judge of the
district court in the county where its
general office or principal place of bust
ness is located. setting forth the fact
that said company desires to mortgage
or bond its property; and describe in a
general way the property to be mort
gagged or bonded; and thereupon the
Judge of said district court shall appoint
three competent persons as appraisers,
who after taking an oath so to do, shall
make an honest and careful appraise-
ment and valuation of the property that
bond, which valuation shall be report
ed by said appraisers and filed in the
office of the clerk of said court
After said appraisement and valua-
uon, as aforesaid. is filed in the office
of the clerk of the district court the
Judge of said court shall make an or
der authorizing and empowering said
corporation to mortgage or bond its
property, so valued by said appraisers
to an amount not exceeding seventy
five per cent (75 per cent? of its ap-
praised value, and no mortgage or bonds
executed by a corporation in this state
shall be valid. or subject to record in
the office of the register OF deeds un-
less issued in compliance with this act
The valuation placed upon said pro-
perty as provided by section one of this
act shall be the basis for the asses
eor's valuation of said property, the as