The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-26
NEW LOBBY BILL.
One Less Drastic Than Old One
Is Drafted.
The Definition of Lobbyist Is
Greatly Narrowed.
ONLY THE PAID KIND.
Others May Petition or Discuss
Legislation.
No Provision for Legislative
Agents Expenses.

| "A DTdnQ new anLl-lODDy measure
with the enacting clause con-
| spicuousIy displayed in capital letters
at the head of the bill, has been
| drafted by the special joint committee
| of the house and senate and will prob
| ably be introduced in the senate at
the session this afternoon. This bill
makes some marked changes in re-
spect to the definition of a lobbyist, it
omits sections s and of the former
| bill, and it is believed it will be con-
sidered less drastic and more ac-
ceptable to the entire membership of
the senate.
AS soon as the senate threw out the
bill, which was deficient in an enact
ing clause, late Monday afternoon, the
members of the special joint COM
mittee got together and worked
diligently to prepare a new measure
that would meet with more unanimous
approval on the part of the senators.
The draft of the bill was completed
shortly after noon.
In the new bill the definition of a
lobbyist is given in section 1 as fol-
lows:
"Any person who shall be employed
appointed or retained by any person.
firm, association, or organization or
corporation having any interest in any
measure or measures pending before,
or to be introduced in either branch
of the legislature of this state, dis
tinct from that of the whole people of
the state. who shall attempt at any
time to in any manner influence the
act or vote of any member of the
state legislature during the session of
such legislature upon or concerning
such measure or measures shall be
deemed a lobbyist, and such act or
acts shall constitute lobbying; pro-
vided that nothing in this act shall be
construed to prohibit any person not
so emplayed, appointed or retained by
a niaf irTa
ton or corporation so interested from
attempting to influence by arguments,
briefs or written statements the legis-
lature or any member thereof"
This section, it will be observed, is
vastly different from section 1 of the
original bill. which specified that .'any
person who is directly or indirectly
pecuniarily interested in any measure
shall be deemed a lobbyist. Also the
former measure prohibited any person
so interested in legislation from con-
ferring with a member of the legis-
lature during his term of Office while
the new bill puts on the prohibition
only during sessions Of the legls-
lature.'
Sections 2, 8, f. 5, and of the new
bill are practically the same as those in
the old bill. including the amendments
made in committee of the whole by the
senate. But the original sections and :
9, which required lobbyists to file de-
tailed statements of expenses after
each session and provided penalty for
false statement. have been omitted
entirely from the new bill. The former
sections were a bone of contention to
certain of the senators, and with their
elimination it is thought the bill will /
be considered more practicable.
No Juvenile Courts.
In the senate this morning the judi !
ciary committee submitted an un-
favora BILE report on the bill providing
for the esta blishment of a juvenile /
court in each of the judicial districts /
in the state
The committee on agriculture rec
commended that the bills introduced by
Senators Travis and MiIHgan for the
encouragement of agriculture be not /
passed.
An invitation was extended to the
senator this morning by the Midwin-
ter exposition to attend the "big show
tonight in a body free of charge. +
Senator Potter suggested that "since
have to do anything of this kind, we /
ought to accept the invitation and ex- /
tend the exposition vote of thanks.
Senator Price facetiously moved to
refer the invitation to the anti-lobby
committee, but Senator Potter's mo-
ton prevailed and the invitation was /
accepted
The senate resolved itself into al
committee of the whole with Senator
Chapman in the chair, and proceeded i
with the consideration of bills.
Among the bills considered and
recommended to the senate for pass =
age, with slight changes in unimpor- /:
tant particulars, were the following: (
Senator Stewards bill relating to
qualifications of the commissioner of
elections in cities of the first class hav- /
ing over 10000 population.
Senator Chapman's bill giving city
councils of second and third class cities
power to remove dangerous buildings.
Senator Fowler's bill authorizing
school boards to issue bonds for the |
purpose of erecting and providing ne i
cessary school buildings, such bonds to |
be voted by the electors of the district /
Considerable discussion occurred rel |
ative to the bill introduced by the COM !
mittee on fees and salaries, fixing /
charges for furnishing copies of type |
written bills to persons desiring them. |
Senator Hamilton in response to re-
quests of several senators for reasons
why such a bill should be necessary.
stated that in the past some of the
house and senate employees have made
les of bills. which they made on the
states time. The bill had been sug-
gested by the secretary of the senate
and chief clerk of the house, to put a
stop to this practice.
Senator Huffman believed the bill
should not apply to members of the
legislature OF representatives of news
papers, and Senator Robertson then Of
fered an amendment specifying that
members of the legislature and news
paper reporters might be furnished cop
les of the bill without cost.
Senator Glenn objected to this pro-
vision, declaring that the newspapers
ought to be made to pay for their. cop
les of bills, but the senator from Gree