The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-13
anti LOB" BILL.
1t Passes the Senate Without
Division.
Goes ON Record for Popular
Election of u. s. Senators.
RUSH BILLS THROUGH
Those Recommended in Com
mittee of Whole.
An Adjournment Over Sunday.
Taken at Noon.
RUSH BILLS THROUGH

The senate, at last, got down to
I business this morning and redeemed
| two of the partys "promissory notes.
| by passing the anti-lobby bill and also
adopting a resolution urging an
amendment of the United States con-
stitution so as to elect senators by di-
rect vote of the people.
Today was the first session the
senate has held on Saturday since the
opening of the legislature and only 2S
of the 40 senators answered to roll
call. Before the session ended a
number of senators were excused from
attendance and there was not
quorum present to pass Senator Ham
ilton's bill to validate certain electric
light bonds issued about a year ago
by the Topeka company
A number of bills recommended
for passage in committee of the whole
were passed and the senate adjourned
at 1850 a. m, until Monday at p m.
The senate this morning admins
tered another slap in the face on the
economy boast of the house, when
it adopted Senator BrewSter'S resolu-
ton forbidding senate stenographers
performing services for the repre-
sentatives. The resolution which was
unanimously adopted was as follows:
Whereas, various members of the
house of representatives have been
getting their stenographic work done
by the employees of the senate and
since the senate stem ographers are
already oVerworked, without doing
such work for house members, it is
resolved by the senate that the en-
pioyeS of the senate are hereby IN
structed to refrain from such employ
ment in the future"
The senate adopted Senator Quincy's
joint resolution urging the Kansas
representative in congress to endeavor
to secure an amendment to the con-
stitution of the United States providing
for the election of United States sena-
tors by direct vote of the people.
Senator Quincy mentioned that this
resolution is in accordance with one
of the pledges of the Republican party
of the state and provides for carrying
out the purpose in an orderly ana
legal manner. The resolution was
adopted, all the twenty eight senators
present answering AYE" on roll call.
On motion of Senator Reed of
Smith county, the judiciary commit
tees anti-lobby bill, the substitute for
s. B. No. 2S1, was made a special or
der and placed on third reading and
final passage The various sections
ment being offered and no one de-
sired to discuss any of the provisions.
The bill was passed without a dissent
ing vote This bill is modelled after
the Wisconsin or La Toilette anti
lobby law and the word lobbyist" is
not contained in the act. the terms
Legislative COUNSEL and Legislative
agent being used instead of the for
mer designation. In brief the bill as
passed by the senate provides that
any person who shall be employed by
any person, firm, association or cor
poration having any interest in any
measure pending before the legisla-
ture, distinct from that of the whole
people, who shall attempt to influence
in any manner the act or vote of any
member of the legislature during any
special or regular session, upon such
measure, shall be deemed a legislative
counsel or agent. Persons not so en-
pIoyed are not prohibited from at
tempting to influence by arguments,
briefs, or written statements the leg
islature or any member.
The secretary of state is required to
keep two dockets in which the names of
legislative counsel and agents are to
be entered. Lobbyists are forbidden
from plying their trade on contin-
gent fee, but an exception is made in
the case of counsel for a person who
has a claim against the state arising
from personal injuries. Persons who