The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-22
Brown of Kingman Throws One
Into House.
Wants General Investigation of
Purchase of Furniture.
RESOLUTION ADOPTED
Republicans Dare Democrats to
Do Worst.
Refers to Use of Various Con-
tingent Funds.

Brown of Kingman, that irrepres-
sible Democrat of the old school,
threw a firebrand into the house this
morning in the shape of the following
resolutions:
Whereas, it is currently reported
on the streets of Topeka by reputable
citizens of this state and city, that in
the purchase of furniture and other
supplies moneys have been misappro-
priated and were taken from funds
which were not accredited by the leg
islature for that purpose.
Therefore, Be it resolved, by the
house, the senate concurring therein,
that special committee consisting of
three of the members of the house
and Two from the senate to be named
by their presiding officer be appointed
to investigate said charges and they
be given power to send for persons
and papers. administer oaths, and full
ly investigate said charges and report
their findings back to their respective
houses -
Brown with the assistance of his
Democratic colleagues seems to be
able to have no end of fun with the
Republican majority He seems to
have been able to keep them quarrel
ing ever since the legislature convened.
Mitchell of Douglas, Stone Of Shaw
nee, Foley of Rice, Brown of Kingman,
Ryan of Brown and Dolley of Wa
baunsee all spoke on the resolution.
and on motion of Stone it was adopted
without a dissenting vote.
1t is understood that this resolution
is directed against the switching of
state funds by certain state officials
from the uses for which they were ap-
propriated to be used to buy office
furniture. Attorney General Jackson,
Ex-Governor Hoch, ex-Bank Commis-
sioner Royce and other state officials
he fv.faT7
their contingent funds to buy Office
furniture when the switch was made in
state house Offices year ago when the
tax commission was established.
Brown, the author of the resolution,
declared that he had vouchers and re-
ceipted bills with which to prove his
assertions.
The debate on this resolution be-
came acrimonious from the start.
Mitchell was the first to speak on the
resolution. He said the charges were
nothing more or less than buncombe.
Dolley appeared on the floor and in
vehement tones declared that the Re
publican party invited the most
searching investigation of all public
whom had been reelected by major
ties of 10000 last fall. He found the
word "buncombe" as used by Mr..
Mitchell. most appropriate in descrlb-
ing the charges contained in the reso-
luton and used the word in his turn.
Foley of Rice arose to defend the
minority of the "bunkum'' charge. He
said that the members of the majority
were "hyper-sensitive to criticism"
honestly made and resting on a sub
stantial foundation.
Brown of Kingman declared that
he was willing to apologize on the floor
of the house if these charges were
proved to be nothing but "bunkum."
The Carpet and Furniture Bills.
The house adjourned for the noon
recess until o'clock this afternoon
when it took up the matter of pay
ment of the Crosby Bros. bill of $4,000
for the new house carpets and desks.
Several of the carpet and furniture
dealers of Topeka, among them, the
Mills Dry Goods company, Thompson
Brothers and Emahizer & Spielman
deny the statements that have been
the debate covering this bill. that 'the
executive council sent notices to all the
furniture and carpet firms of the city
asking them if they could be prepared
to install carpet and desks and chairs
at once should the members favor this
new equipment The above named
firms say they received no such no
tices.
Hutchinson introduced a bill this
morning which requires all minors to
secure a license from the county clerks
OF their counties before they shall be
allowed to enter any pool hall The
written application of parent or guardi-