The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-23
House Formally Votes to Accept
Its Furniture.
Those Opposed Make Some ROus.
ing Speeches.
BROWN TO THE FRONT
Says Republicans Have AdOpted
POpulist Slogan.
Kenneth Makes SuggestiOnAbout
Wasting Time.

The house has passed the appro-
priation bill of $6.OS6 for the carpet
and furniture placed in the hall by
Crosby Bros. of this city. This was
in full payment for the bill as pre-
scented. The vote on bill stood, SO
yeas to SO nays, being almost a party
division, as only one Democrat voted
yea and three Republicans voted nay.
KreihbieI. Ryan and Kenneth, (RepO
and PenweH, Democrat, casting aside
party bonds for the moment.
The bill was not passed, however,
until after two hours of warm debate
in which many wise and witty and
interesting things were said on both
sides of the house.
Brown of Kingman, that old Demo-
cratic war horse, led the fight of the
minority against the bill. The old
timer made a great speech. He called
to mind the events of other days when
the Populist prophets, like John the
Baptist, preached reform and urged
the people to turn to the light. He
declared that all the issues of the
square deal party now in power had
been conceived and nourished and
fought for by the Farmers Alliance.
81 thank Cod he said, that 1 have
lived to come back to this hall as a
representative and see a majority
member introduce an initiative and
referendum bill, that slogan of my
own party years ago 1 have rubbed
elbows with you for over twenty
years and you know me and I know
you. The Democrats made possible
the placing of the primary law on the
statute books and that is the corner
stone upon which you built your
square deal triumph. Without Demo-
cratic aid you could never have beaten
Chester I. Long for the senate.
Economy was the watchword of
the last campaign, yet at this session,
for the first time in Kansas history,
forced $50 in postage upon US. Yes, I
took it; L will take a gold cane and
plug hat if the majority vote them for
me.
''In the days gone by we had to
pass a resolution before we voted
money from the treasury, now a Sc, 900
debt is incurred beforehand. You
tell me that all local dealers were
equipment yet I have papers in my
hand to prove that Crosby Bros. re-
ceived the invoice for these special
factory made and ordered goods be-
fore the other dealers received no
tice of bid.
Besides this big bill find that the
state has bought $4,000 worth of goods
from Crosby Bros. since June, 1907"
The speaker then read a signed and
sworn statement from three Topeka
firms setting forth the favoritism of
the state officials for the one fortunate
firm in this case and offering to
duplicate the bill for $597 less money.
The Kingman man warmed to his
subject as he told of the sermon by
the speaker of the house Tuesday on
economy and the fight on an old
soldier employee in the house post
office. THAT only involved $780," he
said, while in this case you are pay
ing nearly $500 more money to'Crosby
Bros than other firms charge for the
same goods"
Boyd of Republic followed with a
speech that would have done credit to
the debates of old times in the short
grass country. Flanagan of Decatur
Davis of Bourbon, Mitchell of Doug
las, Ryan of Brown, Krehbiel of Har-
vey and Lehman of Labette all dis
cussed the bill. The minority mem
bers all claimed that it was irregular,
unfair and the price charged was too
much Lehman made a cracking
good speech for the bill and the house
roared with laughter when he closed
with the words: I'VE were elected on
a platform of progress as we'll as &C.
onomy. These new seats were badly
needed. The price was right and I
do not believe the people will grudge
them to us. 1 tore my pants on my
old seat the first day of the session,
while I can sit in these chairs in com
fort and safety"
Another Anti-Lobby Bill.
special passed through the house Fri
day afternoon by vote of IS to "a
in the shape of the Stone bill barring
all employees of the house from lob
bying on the floor of the hall Some
score of Republicans and a few Demo-
cratic members opposed the bill as
silly and uncalled for and there was
a short, but lively debate before the
administration band wagon passed
triumphant on its way.
The appropriation bill for $4,000
for sending out the 18th biennial re-
port of the secretary of agriculture
was passed by the house just before
adjournment was taken.
Nearly all the Democrats explained
their votes against the appropriation
bill for the house furniture, and they
quoted Gov. Stubs message, the
Scriptures, the constitution of the
state and Shakespeare in defense of
their attitude on the matter Foley
of Rice wrote out his explanation and
had it enrolled on the journal of the
house. The gist of these explanations
was, that they did not object to the
purchase of new furniture so much as
they did the manner in which it was
purchased and the excessive price
paid for it.
Ryan OF Brown, Krehbiel of Harvey
and Kennett of Geary were the three