The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-09
The. END IS near.
Senate and House Committees
Finally Agree.
Deadlock Will Be Broken This
Afternoon.
ONE POINT AT ISSUE.
Question of Paying for Paving
Around Capitol.
Final Struggle Is Being Held
in the House.
ONE POINT AT ISSUE.

| 1t was reported in the senate lat
this afternoon that the conferees O
both houses had agreed on a report OF
the miscellaneous claims and account.
bill and the deadlock is broken
Still hitch is possible as those who
are endeavoring to secure the appro-
priation for paving around the state
house grounds claim they have enough
members in the house who will defeat
the adoption of the report.
| The majority of the senators still ir
/ the city expect to leave late this even
| ing. They believe the two houses will
get together late this afternoon on the
appropriation bills.
The senate yielded half way on the
] Pittsburg training school appropria-
tion in conference committee this
morning by agreeing to cut of $1S,-
800 and making the house stand for a
raise of $500. This compromise
would likely have suited the house but
FOR the fact that the senate refused to
Yield one inch on the matter of paying
the Topeka paving tax cutting out
extra pay for employees, and the house
wanted to hold the Pittsburg matter
over the senate as club
The house leaders believe that the
Plttsburg school bill once settled the
senate would promptly adjourn and
let the important appropriations in the
themselves Besides the Topeka paw
ing tax, dozen different and impor-
tant state departments are provided
for by these two bills.
The house was still fighting the
fight at 1880 this morning The sixth
conference committee on the extra
pay for employees matter was appoint
ed at noon as follows: Buckman, Mer-
Ger and Morgan of Reno.
The house passed the bill providing
for an inheritance tax on all legacies
except those of 100000 or less de-
cending to direct kindred.
One Of the last bills to pass the leg
iSlature last night was the measure
authorizing cities of the first class to
construct, equip and operate high pres
sure pumping plants for their water
works systems. Topeka is deeply in
terested in this new law as high water
pressure for fire protection is conteIn-
plated in this city.
When the house resumed this morn
ing at o'clock (there was no adjourn
ment or recess, just a lull in the battle)
the janitorS had claened the hall but
the pure food and drug display so ably
demonstrated by Stone of Shawnee still
stood forth in bold relief on one of the
desks in the front row and the remains
of the fruit cake that Morgan of Reno
bought rested on the press desk.
A guard of dozen members nodded
in their chairs. weary but determined,
while the rest of the members foraged
for their breakfast.
Sig Lehman was the sleepiest of the
lot while Farmer Cline of Montgomery
was the most Wakeful.
The fight on the Pittsburg Train
ing school had been brewing for two
weeks between the house and senate.
Remembering it's humiliation two
years ago, the house did not pass the
Pittsburg bill until last night and then
the appropriation was cut in the same
proportion that the other schools suf
fered.
There were three snags in front of
the legislative bark last night that
barred the way to the haven of rest,
the Topeka paving, extra pay for SEN
ate employees and the Pittsburg bill,
but the last named is the biggest of
the three.
The senate had its own way last
term with the Pittsburg school. but it
looks like a fight to a finish this year.
Speaking of Cline, he stood guard
all night on the senate bill granting
trustees of county high schools the
to levy tax of six mills on
all taxable property for the mainten-
ance of these schools and while call
placed in a house omnibus and passed. |
Mr. Cline declares that Brighton of
placed the bill in the om-
nibus and he is dead sore over this ac-
ton on the part of his colleague. The
bill will allow the Montgomery coun-
ty high school trustees to raise S342,
600 for support of that school if they
desire as that county has taxable
wealth totaling 50 millions. This as
sessment of course. will apply in other |
in proportion.
The minority members of the house
presented Speaker Dolley with a new
bandwagon in the shape of kids ex-
press wagon. The speaker promptly
sent it over to the senate with the COM
pIiments of the house. Somebody put |
Morgan of Reno in the wagon and
hauled him down the aisle and clear
over to the senate and up to the presi !
dents desk A lot of house members |
went along to see the fun
This sending of a bandwagon over to |
the senate this morning was in the |
nature of the issue of a def. standing |
pat. throwing down the gauntlet by |
the house.
-A mM@H% AAR TNRE All