The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-05
ALL OVER AT LAST
Kansas Legislature Finally Ad-
jOurns for Good.
Amusing Scene in Senate Marks
Last Hour.
PLAN TO TRY 1T AGAIN
Effort Made to Recall Members
to Pass Bank Bill.
Finally a Motion to Adjourn Ia
Put Through.

The Kansas state senate has. with
four years practice, SO gotten into the
habit of "bucking' on what the house
OF representatives wants to do. that it
even tried to refuse to die when the
appointed time came at O'Clock
tuesday evening, and stood tottering
on the edge of the grave until the
mouse came along and pushed it in.
1t was tragic and pathetic strug-
gle that the senate made. Five MEM
oers wanted to stay and pass the house
guaranty deposit bill; four (who don't
expect to be re-elected) were opposed
to that plan. One of the four was
fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick, in a parlia-
mentary fight, is as good as any three
men in the senate, so it changed what
was apparently minority into a good
clean majority.
Fitzpatrick and Noftzger juggled the
majority with practised hand for a
solid hour, and then slipped through
a motion to adjourn when nobody was
looking.
when are we adjourned to?" de-
manded several people at once of
President Fitzgerald.
we are just adjourned-no time
set" said Fitzgerald.
Does that mean sine die, or until
crowding around the rostrum
What has the house done?' in
qu1red Fitzgerald. iplomatically
Just then Speaker J. S. Simmons of
the house rushed up. 'Mr. Presi-
dent" he said, 1.-The house is waiting
for the senate to act. and for my own
Information 1 want to inquire what
you have done?''
HAS the house adjourned ?" asked
Fitzgerald.
NO" said Simmons I'VE are wait
ing for you
well. we've adjourned. why
don't you adjourn and go homer"
suggested Fitzgerald.
That's good enough for me-" said
Simmons, and he rushed back over to
representative hall. Cy Leland made
the motion to adjourn sine die Rob-
ert Stone seconded it. Leland, stone
Foley of Rice and Craddock of way
out yonder voted for it. The house
was adjourned. The session of the
legislature was dead beyond resurrec-
ton for the senate could not stay in
session without the house.
So ended the sixth special session of
the Kansas state legislature, after
session lasting 19 days. 1t COM
menced January Is, 1908 and ended
February A. The real work. however,
ended on Thursday. January 80, and
the members were paid up to Satur-
day. February /. which was the day
first fixed for final adjournment BY
that arrangement each member of the
legislature got pay for two days on
which he did not work. and it is not
likely that many of them will have
the nerve to claim pay for Sunday.
Monday and Tuesday of this week
during which the legislature was
nominally in session. though no meet
ings have been held
However, if any member wants to
put in claim for pay for these two
days. the state will pay the claims as
long as the money holds out in the
legislative appropriation.
Speaker Simmons SAYS that he
thinks the members of the house and
senate who actually stayed in town
ready for business until Tuesday
should receive pay for the time they
were here. but he thinks that very
few will claim anything for tie laS.
two days.
How the Senate Fought Dissolution.
In the presence of a few friends and
quite number of unbidden guests, an
was made last night to inject
new life into senatorial veins and pro-
long the existence of the legislature
sufficiently to permit of the passage of
a banking measure that could be placed
to its credit.
The operation was unsuccessful. how
ever, and at $40 p. M. the extraordi
nary session of 1908 ceased to exist. 1t
did not die without a struggle and it's
last moments, while quiet. were not
free from suffering. The senators them
selves were not sure where they were
att and required the solemn and reiter-
ated assurance of President Fitzgerald
hat the end had indeed come before
they could realize 1t.
When the hour to which recess was
-aken. 5 o'clock, arrived the sound OF
he gavel was the signal for the prompt
of the governors private
secretary with a message announcing
hat the executive had completed the
examination of all bills and resolutions
and had no further communication to
make to the senate.
simultaneously, message came from
he house, by it's chief clerk. that it
her communications to make
The senators present were Belts,
Brewer, Dolley, Fitzpatrick, Hayden,
z Softzger. Porter of Montgomery, Smith
ind Wilkerson Hamme was in the
'ity, but was unable to attend by rea-
ION of injury in an accident.
Smith with a grandstand flourish In
reduced senate resolution No. IL, which
he secretary read:
Whereas, The veto of house bill No
IL leaves the state without any legis-
alton guaranteeing bank deposits, one
# the principal objects for which this
ession was called, and measure OF
desired by great major
as: and
Whereas. There is ample time for
he senate to act upon the house bills
IN this subject now in its hands: and
Whereas, There is not a quorum of
he senate now present to act upon said
ills; therefore, be it
Resolved, That the sergeant at -arms
5 instructed to immediately notify by
all absentees among the SEN
tors to Immediately report for duty
or the purpose of securing a quorum