The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-22
Representatives Take Action on
Anti Lobby Measure.
Effort to Except Home Folks in
the Bill Fails.
SOME SLASHING DONE.
Sections Providing for Filing
Expense Account Killed.
Only Two Votes in Opposition at
the End.

The house spent practically all of the
session of Thursday afternoon in de-
bate over the amending of the anti
lobby bill Nearly every third line in
the bill was amended, but when it had
passed through the cog wheels it was
still a terror to lobbyists. Only two
members voted against it on final roll
call and they were, Brighton of Mont
gomery and Reeder of Doniphan. Meth
er of these members would stand for the
section that classed their farmer and
workingmen constituents when they
came to Topeka to boost for measures
that were calculated to benefit their
section of the state with the profess
siona1 lobbyist.
The bill as passed is calculated to
keep all lobbyists away from the CAPT
toll as effectually as would a yellow
fever sign, the good and the bad alike.
Not only are all wicked corporations
barred from sending their agents to
the legislators with invidious offers of
gold and favor. but the farmers who
want a good roads bill, the working
men who want labor laws, the citizens
who want local dispensations. the com
mercial clubs that want state fairs and
other blessings, all these must regis
ter in the rogue's gallery in the Office
of the secretary of state. After they
have qualified by the Bertillon sys-
tenn and laid bare the secrets and joys
and sorrows of their lives they can
proceed merrily to lobby the members
by the wireless system and the dear
mute language. The effort may cost
them $1,000 each and a few years in
jail. but this is a small matter.
In the meantime, while the honest
citizens are having such a time in try
ing to get the ear and attention of their
,k-,ks 1r.1,
byists will take chances and ply their
vOcationS as usual.
One thing, while the representatives
were building a fence round themselves
warranted to be lobbyist high, tight
and strong, while they were cutting out
the agents of the corporations and the
opportunities and advice of their own
constituents at one stroke, they took
care to pass bill that did not prevent
members themselves from lobbying for
or against any measure
Foley of Rice, in the debate, said:
This bill is calculated to legalize lob
bying by the members while it fOrbids
such practice by outsiders"
THAT is it exactly" murmured a
prominent Republican member who had
tried in vain to get through an amend
bying.
After the bill had passed, Mccormick
of Crawford, in commenting on it said:
1.-The people refused to raise our sal
voted down the amendments so we
have played even by comforting the
privilege of lobbying upon ourselves
alone hereafter"
The bill amended had several of
the stingers in it's original draft re-
moved. Lobbying is forbidden only !
during the sessions of the legislature |
and not the year round as at first pro
posed in the bill. In registering in the |
lobby docket the provision requiring |
lobbyists to state the compensation |
they receive was stricken out. Only |
certain" facts are to be written in this
docket about the lobbyists business af- |
fairs, where "all the facts" were re- |
quired before. The fine for violation of |
the law was cut from $1,000 to $1,000 |
The following two sections of the bill |
were cut out entirely:
Sec. 8. Within thirty days after the |
final adjournment of the legislature |
every legislative agent who shall have |
registered as provided by section of
this act, shall file with the secretary of |