The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-24
KNOCK OUT BLOW
Utilities Bill Receives Severe
Jolt in House.
Its Enemies Have 1t Referred to
Committee.
HAVE NOT GIVEN UP.
Speaker DOlley and Other
Friends Still Hopeful.
Clever Move of Morgan RespOn-
Sible for Action.

The utilities bill was knocked out in
the first round in the house Tuesday
| night, only forty-two members rallyinE
i to the support of the administration 5
pet measure on the roll call on the
| motion by Morgan of Reno to send the
bill back to the Judiciary committee to
! be amended to the extent of doing
/ away with the utilities commission al
together and have the city councils
! supervise the corporations in their re-
| spective cities. There were 81 MEM
bers voted for the motion.
How They Voted.
The roll call vote to adopt the mo-
| ton was as follows:
| Yeas-Allen, Ashcroft, Banker, Berke
| of Jewell. Bonnet, Boyd Brighton,
Brown. Burke of Saline, Clark, Cole.
Crary, Cron. Crumly, Davis of Kiowa.
Darling, Deacon. Ely, Fehr, Flanagan.
Hines, Hutchinson, Incl, Jackson,
Jewett of Lane. Johnson. Kenneth,
Kelly, Keraus, Kyle. Landrey, Lau-
baugh, Lehman, Lennen, Loofbourrow
| Meek, KerrilI, Miller Morgan of Hodge
man, Morgan of Reno, Morrison, Nor
ton of Clay, Phillips, Reeder, Rhodes Of
| Marshall. Rich, Rogers, Ryan, Schaum-
Stone of Sherman, Stout, Westcott.
Westgate. Total Ga
Nays-Amrine, Dryden of Usage,
Buchanan. Carpenter, Carter Case,
y, .
Cunningham. Davis of Bourbon, Eadie,
Edwards Fisher, Flagg, Grabbe, Gray,
Griffen, Hopkins of Finney, Jewett OF
Sedgwick, Kreihbel, Lambertson, Loud
Mitchell, Morris, Morton of Osborne,
Newlin, Parker, Schlitching, Shideler,
Stannard, Stockton, Stone of Shawnee,
Watson, White, Wood, Mr.. Speaker.
Total AZ.
Morgan of Reno is not a rough and
tumble fighter He speaks but sell
dom on the floor of the house and
then briefly, but he is a polished and
courteous gentleman, smooth as woven
silk and a past master of politics This
motion of his was the one recourse
for the enemies of the bill with which
to swing a majority of the house. 1t
bills opponents could retire gracefully
and still present a good face toward
their constituents-the patrons of the
uncontrolled corporations Mr.. Nor
gan declares that his motion was
made in good faith and simply to
amend and thus improve the bill.
This motion was the deathblow to
the bill and it prevailed, yet a direct
motion to kill the bill would have been
beaten and on vote yea and nay |
on final passage the bill would have
carried. 1t is strange, but neverthe |
less natural and true when applied to !
politics.
The corporations won and the peo- |
pie lost, but this is only the first |
round. The people lost four years ago |
in the first round of the primary and |
railroad regulation fights. but won in |
the second round two and three years |
later. Public control of public utin- |
ties will come, sooner or later.
1t is the plan now of the friends of |
the bill to get it reported back to the |
house from the judiciary committee, |
amended as per instructions in the !
NJ organ motion, and bring it before |
the house Thursday. The amended bill !
can then be amended in such fashion |
as to again convey its original inten-
ton and the proposition checked up |
to the bills friends and enemies and
the fight fought over again. This is
the plan. AS to whether or not it will |
work, and how well, remains to be
seen. There is a utilities bill in the
senate and this measure may be
brought into the 1imeHght.
Speaking today of the defeat Tues
day night, Speak DolIey said: ''Well
he enemies of the bill licked US. The
and their agents are hard
and skillful fighters. I ought to know,
FOR have been up against them at the
game for several years now. But at
he worst they have only put off the
Inevitable for two more years. The
demand of the people for the passage
IF a utilities bill two years hence will
De so strong that few will dare to
stand against it. I will admit, how
ever, that am surprised that so many
Republicans were found wanting on