The Topeka state journal., 1909-02-16
Governor and Speaker See in
the House Vote
A Prearranged and Concerted
Plan to Defeat
IMPORTANT MEASURES
Including Utilities and Other
Administrative Bills.
Lobby Charged With Fixing
Last Day and Delay.

By large vote the house this
morning decided 60 to "a that it
would adjourn on March srd. This
is the date which would terminate the
fifty days of the session for which pay
is allowed including Sundays.
Omitting Sundays. the legislature
should work until March 10th to re-
ceive pay for the full working days
to which the law limits the session, so
far as cash remuneration is concerned
The fixing of adjournment by the
house for March 3rd was only con-
troverted by a ruling of Speaker
DolIey who asserted that a constitu-
tional majority had not voted as 63,
instead of so, would be required.
There were 81 absentees.
The house appealed from the speak
er's ruling and the body will take this
up at a later hour.
1t is charged by the administration
and Speaker Dolley that the move to
fix the adjournment March 3rd is one
manipulated by those opposed to the
utilities bill, and more or less to the
guaranty bill, the amendments to the
tax law, the amendments to the school
laws, the Jackson liquor bills, and ad-
ministration measures generally to Il
greater or less extent.
The governor has indicated in an
interview in another article in this
paper that he is naturally much con-
cerned by action of the house today.
Speaker Dolley as a champion OF
certain measures known as admins
tration measures is, too. greatly con-
cerned.
The friends of the utilities bill. of
the anti-lobby bill and of other meas
ures covering platform and political
Of hRliREa thew
see in this fixing of the day OF ad-
journment plan and concerted action
to defeat the important bills.
They say that the plan of the lobby
representing the corporate interests is
to fix the date of adjournment at the
earliest possible time, and then pro-
ceed to delay action on the bills so that
when the last day arrives little will
enactments.
This is very important IL it details
the true situation
No member of the house can afford
to go home March Bird II the measures
which his party insisted should be-
come laws, or the measures upon
which he was elected, or the measures
which his friends expected him to car
ry through, have died on the calendar.
1t is no good excuse for the men,
bers to say that they cannot afford to
stay longer than the time for which
they receive pay. In the first place II
pay for Sundays. This would extend
the time to March 10th
In the next place if by refusal they
compel the governor to call special
session it will entail unusual expense
upon the state in order that measures
for which the members were sent to
fight should be won into law
1t will be brave member who viii
go home with this situation staring him
in the face.
Every member knew that he would
receive only IS a day for his services,
a sum which would not pay his ex-
penses Yet he was willing to assume
the duties of the office. and he fought
for it. He worked three months for
cases perhaps spent more in the cam
paign than he can possibly receive from
the state in per diem and mileage.
1t will be remembered that the
legislature of 1905 worked fifteen days
over time and they were given credit
bv both the Republicans and Demo-
Gratis alike for their services because
they stayed to perform the work they
were sent to perform.
Will the present legislature adjourn
without material action?
The individuals whom Speaker Dol
lev charges specifically with lobbying
to fix adjournment early and who are
charged will delay measures mean
while. are D. w. Mulvane, Simeon Bear.
Dan Dyer and some others who are
designated as part of the "old ma
chine"
The speaker and others attribute to
these men a wonderful power and say
thew are backed by the corporations,
including the banks and the railroads.
cTIII Mn cENAT0p