The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-06
House Wants the State Plant
Repaired at Once.
Only $500 Is Needed if ApprO-
priatiOn Is Made Now.
SPEND TINE IN PLAY.
Speaker DOlley and Hopkins
Speaker Pro Tenn, Fined.
Many Bills Recommended in
Committee of Whole.

| Ihe saturday working shift" Oi
| the house of representatives spent the
greater part of. the morning session as
a committee of the whole for the
| consideration of the several bushels
| of legislative ideas in the form OF
| bills reported favorably by COM
mittees. One of the important mat
| ters brought before the morning ses-
sion was the serious condition of the
state heating plant which was con-
tanned in a report of the special com
mittee appointed yesterday to inVesti-
gate the matter.
The report of this special com
mittee, composed of Representatives
Mccormick. FEEDER and Penwell is in
part as follows:
I'VE have personally visited and
carefully inspected the state heating
plant, and find the same to be in a
very badly rundown condition. OF
the four boilers contained in this
plant two are entirely out of commits
sion and cannot be used. One of the
remaining two is in such bad con-
dition that it is liable to become use
less at any moment, and should it be-
come entirely unfit for service either
the state house or the state printing
plant will have to be cut off from all
heat, light or power from this plant
The entire battery of boilers will re-
quire patching. The entire steam
line needs overhauling and a part of
it should be replaced with new ma
terial. This entire line should also be
Jagged The plant is in need of
new engine and generator, also a new
switch board.
THE executive council has no
available funds with which to repair
this plant or to purchase any new ma
chinery for it. We are informed that
by spending not to exceed $500 at once
the plant can be put in a condition
in
during the remainder of this winter
and we therefore recommend that an
emergency bill be passed appropriat-
ing this sum for the use of the execu-
tive council in making the necessary
emergency repairs. We would recon-
mend that in this appropriation bill it
be specified that the amount so ap-
propriated should not be expended by
the executive council except upon the
written approval of this committee.
CAS- to the amount necessary to be
appropriated for permanent repairs
and improvements in connection with
the heating, lighting and power sys-
tenn your committee will submit
full detailed report at a later date
The committees report was adopted
by the house.
Prior to the taking of a recess until
afternoon the members of the house in
dulged in a short comedy sketch in
which Speaker Dolley, Speaker Pro
Tenn Hopkins and Representative Foley
were fined barrels of apples and boxes
of oranges.
A motion that the committee of the
whole would arise and report progress,
was carried, but neither Speaker Dol
ley nor Representative Hopkins speak
er pro tenn, could be found. There was
no one to whom Chairman Stone. who
presided over the committee of the
whole, could turn over the chair The
was directed to seek
out Speaker Dolley or Mr.. Hopkins and
bring them before the house forthwith.
While the sergeant arms was en-
gagged in his search, the members pro-
ceeded to fine Mr. Dolley a barrel of
apples and Mr.. Hopkins a box of or
anges for absence from the house.