The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-27
GIVEN KNOCK OUT
Senate Kills the CONSOLIDATION
of Boards" Bill.
Measure Had Reen Passed in
the House.
DOLLEY YISTHEAUTHOR
Only Eight Votes in Opposition
in Lower Body.
An Exciting Debate Precedes
the Senate Action.
)OLLEYI YISTHE AUTHOR

received a singing blow in the solar
plexus in the state senate this morn
ing. The particular administration pet
which was given its quietus by the SEN
ate today was the bill creating new
board of control to have supervision
over the state penal and charitable in
stitutions, which passed the house with
only votes against it.
The bill is officially known as H. B.
No. 394, and was introduced by Speaker
Dolley. The senate committee on penal
institutions presented majority report
recommending that the measure be not
passed. Senators Ganse and Murphy
presented minority report, amending
the house bill in several particulars and
as amended. Senator Ganse is the
chairman of the senate committee on
penal institutions.
The consideration of the minority re-
o'clock.
Senator Ganse Explains.
Senator Ganse explained that the mi
the new board of control from three to
five members, each of the five to receive
$1,000 a year instead of $4,000. which
was provided for each of the three
members in the original bill. The mi
nority also amended the bill so as to
provide that two of the five members,
lOS0lHeT WITH the chairman OF the DOdrd
should have immediate supervision over
the penal institutions of the state, while
the two other members, together with
the chairman should have supervision
over the charitable institutions. The
purchase of all supplies and the letting
of all contracts. however. should be un-
der the supervision of the entire board
of five members.
Senator Ganse stated that the bill
had passed the house by over |
whelming majority and he thought it
of sufficient Importance to be consid- /;
cred by the whole senate. The origin
al bill he said cuts off six members
of the present board in control of state
penal and charitable institutions, and
ne thought the board should consist
of five instead of three members. He
five members the affairs of the insti-
tutions can be managed better and /
more economically than at present.
Carey Defends Present Law.
Senator Carey opposed the minority
report and argued that the present
law is adequate; that the institutions
at present are most efficiently con-
Quoted and those in charge have per-
formed a great and good work.
The debate on this proposition de-
veloped a new orator in the senate in i
the, person of Senator Stilnngs, of
LeaVen worth, who being a man of few
words hitherto had remained silent.
In an earnest speech he told of the
work performed for the state by some 1
of the members of the present board
of control. Among the men of high
character and efficiency on the board I
he mentioned Capt John Seaton, of +
Atchison, who, Senator Still1ngs de-
clared is a multi-millionaire and oc-
cupies position in penology similar
to that held by Secretary Coburn In 1
a agricultural affairs.
He declared that men of such char
acter and efficiency should be con-
ti01Iad in the service of the state ana
if the new board of control bill were
enacted into law there is no assurance
whatever that Mr. Seaton would be
kept on the board.
At the close of his speech Senator
was given ''the glad hand by
his colleagues.
senator Stavely opposed the minor
ity report and the new bill on the
ground that he did not consider its
provisions in accord with the consti-
tuition Senators Hamilton and Muir
phy favored the new bill and the for
mer said: ST dislike to do anything
to separate a multi millionaire from |
his job, for multi-millionalres need
jobs.'' He declared that there has
been some criticism of the manage
ment of some of the state Institutions,
but the criticism might not have been
Just He thought it was the duty of |
the senators to legislate for the public
rather than for the conv1cts or IN
mates of the institutions.
Senator Brewster also opposed the
new bill and urged the senators to
defeat the minority report. Senator
stewart moved the previous question,
which was adopted, and Senator
Ganse was allowed to close the de-
bate.
on roll call the minority report was
rejected by 81 to 10, after which the
senate adopted the majority report,
killing the bill
Senate Adjourns to Monday.
The state publication of text books
came up in the senate just |
prior to adjournment this morning in
consid Grafton of Senator Cookies
minority report on the text book bill
from the committee on education.
The committee reported adversely to
he made the minority report in order
to have the matter discussed
Senator Leidy, chairman of the
on education, said that a
majority of the committee strongly
opposes the project. The only state
in the Union which has tried the pub
lication of its own text books is CAL
ifornia and he declared that the ex-
pertinent there has been a failure
The books published there by the
state have been thrown out of the
schools and today only one of the
''home product text books is in use
in the schools. Senator Leidy de-
the project admitted before the com
mittee that text books are being fur
nished cheaper in Kansas than they
could be produced by the state in
Before any vote was taken on this
question Senator Brady moved that
the senate adjourn and the motor
was carried. According to a motion
earlier in the session the ad- II
Journment was until p. m. Monday. l.