The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-15
SHORT AND SWEET
Today's Session of the Senate a
Brief One.
Adjournment Taken Until 4 t.
M. Monday.
A TEXT BOOK BILL.
The Minority Members Father
Measure.
Provides That They Be Fur
nished at Cost.

A sessions of one hours duration SUI
nced for the transaction of the senate's
business today and at II o'clock this
morning adjournment was taken until
4 O'Clock next Monday afternoon the
proceedings presented no startling
features, being characterized by the
monotony of routine work, with the
wheels of legislation steadily gridlng
along on the grist of bills.
There were number of interesting
measures presented today, however
chief among which was the bill proVld-
ing for the publication by the state OF
school text books, which was intro
duced by the half-dozen minority
members as a body, thus early lndlcat-
ing that the "unwashed and unterrl-
fed in the senate intend to play up
strong the harmony element IN Iesls-
Iation. This bill carries appropriations
In the neighborhoOd of 100000 Tor ne"
buildings, equipment, salaries, etc An
other interesting bill was that ofered
by Senator Hamilton relating to hapll-
fly of common carriers in case OF IN
Jury to their employees.
A number of senators have gone 10
their homes to spend Saturday ana
the color sergeant at the capltol bulid-
ing will have brief respite from his
arduous duties of keeping the coIorS
flying over the senate chamber
More Committees Named
At today's session President F1tz-
gerald announced the appointment OF
additional senate committees ana
chairmen of committees already select
ed as follows:
Observation-Disclosures, chairman; Quincy
Stewart. Porter. Fowler, Travis. Leidy'
Carey, Ganse. Stavely and Hodges.
Mines and mining-Porter, chairman;
Huffman, Stavely, Stillngs' Leldy'
Lower. Glenn Ganse and Robertson.
oh n
appointed were: Assessment and taxa
ton Stavely; education Leidy; educa-
tiOnal institutions, Potter.
President Fitzgerald appointed Sena-
tors Reed of Smith county, Stavely of
Usage and Robertson of Rawlns, as
the senate'S members of the joint COM
mittee of the house and senate to DRAFT
an anti-lobby bill, as the chair face
tiously remarked ito protect the SEN
ators against dangerous lobbyists.
Senator Chapman, chairman of the
committee on insurance, announced
that John H Grant has been chosen
clerk of his committee.
Early in the proceedings the sem
ate adopted Senator Chapman's mo-
.tion that when the senate adjourns 1t
adjourn until 4 p M, Monday. The
motion to adjourn finally was made
by Senator Hodge Senator Cooke of
the minority occupied the chair dur
ing a part of the session.
The bill introduced today by the
minority senators providing for the
publication by the state of school text
books was prepared by the half doz-
en- Democratic senators in conference.
1t is believed that this is the first in
stance on record wherein the members
of the minority of the state senate
have presented a. measure as a body.
In the bill provision is made for the
creation of a text book commission,
to consist of the governor, superin-
tendent of public instruction, state
printer, attorney general and three
other persons qualified to pass upon
educational matters coming before the
commission 1t is stipulated. how
siCners last named shall be the head
The three commissioners mentioned
shall be appointed by the governor
and confirmed by the senate and shall
serve for terms of four years each,
with compensation at the rate of IS
per day and expenses for the time
they are actually employed.
The commission is authorized. to
select plates. copyrights, etc, for a
complete common school text book
series. The sum of $500, 900 is appro-
priated out of the state treasury for
the purchase of a site and the cree
ton of a suitable building additional
to the state printing plant and for ac-
quiring the necessary type, machinery
and other equipment for the school
text book printing and which plant
shall also be under supervision of the
state printer. Fifty thousand dollars