The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-03-04

nal convictions of the administrator
forces. Apparently they believed tnaI
the alleged corrupt provisions OF the ,i piil
would allow the railroads and pupllc
utilities to steal the state and tney
viewed the situation with due horror
and alarm. They asked nothing but
new committee and when they won,
they landed one of the biggest victories
Of the session.
1t is freely charged that the admin
lstration does not want the utilities Dill
except along certain lines. 1t IS salo
that if the bill is defeated bodily, 1t VIII
reflect more credit on the simon pure
administration members in the coming
campaign than though it were adopted
into law. These statements are most
empilatically denied.
There are but four more days in
which to consider bills. If the bill is
badly altered in the new conference
committee, there is quite certain to be
no new utility law at this session.
Should this happen someone will do
the explaining in the rural districts
On the motion to non-concurr in the
report the vote was as follows:
For: Anderson, Avery, Brady,
Brown, Cambern, Cooke, Denton,
Fowler, Harris, Hamilton, Hodges,
Hostrup, Huffman, Milton, Murphy,
Myers, Potter, Quincy. Robertson,
| Smith, Stannard. Total 81.
Against: Caldwell, Carey, Fagerberg,
| Glenn, Hunter, Lower. Milligan. Por-
ter, Price, Reed, Stavely, Stewart.
Travis. Total 13.
Absent: Bender, Ganse, Overf1eld.
Stillings. Chapman, (excused)
Friends of the state educational in
stitutions are not as yet ready to re-
turn to their homes. Next Tuesday
the senate will consider the admins
tration bill as passed by the house,
w hi ipb
gents for all state institutions. 1t is to
secure the final defeat of this bill
that the energetic lobby is devoting its
tim to the senate. The senate slaugh-
tered the Huffman bill several days
ago. This has not comforted the lob
by however. There may be change
of heart and every heart throb
arouses keen interests in the lobby.
Up to the present time there have
been no reasons offered why the bill
should not pass 1t is not wanted by
the state institutions. That's all. 1t
was in the governors message. But,
like party promises, it sometimes does
not count. Most of the administration
following voted against the bill, and
up to this time have made no apollo
gies for their conduct.
After defeating the Stavely inheri-
tance tax law, the senate this morn
ing passed the house inheritance tax
measure by vote of 27 to 6. Several
administration members voted against
the house bill on the grounds that the
new bill was not as good as the pres
ent law.
In the bill which passed the house
some days ago direct heirs were ex-
empted from taxation and this pro-
vision removed one of the objection
able features. This seemed to restore
confidence in the bill and the mem
bers who carried the fight against the
Stavely bill, lined up for the house
document.
ate measure which would refund
money received from direct heirs un-
der the old law, but his amendment
was defeated. Then the Salina man
lined up with the opposition.
There was very little debate on the
bill and within ten minutes after the
clerk had completed the reading of
the BILL it was passed. The house bill
was substituted for the badly dam
agen senate bill and every standpat
| and Democratic member voted for
the bill on final passage. The six SEN
ators who voted against the house
bill were Glenn, Hamilton, Murphy,
Myers, Quincy, Stannard. Frank L.
Travis voted against the bill, but
changed his mind before the clerk an
nounced the decision.
The new Inheritance tax law is not
in the least satisfactory to administra-
ton mem bers. They declare that the
original law has been seriously Grip
pied. For this reason they voted
against the bill. which would leave
the old law on the statute books.
In a joint session of the claims and
accounts committees held this morn
ing, there was a lively discussion over
the Topeka claims. The house COM
mittee agreed to recommend the pay
ment of $4,000 to cover the $500
paving account, but the senate COM
mittee objected most strenuously and
refused to allow the item to go in
their bill. If the appropriation passes
the house, it will meet considera bIe
| trouble in the senate and an effort will
be made to defeat the measure. Geo.
| Padders, secretary of the Commercial
| club, and others have made hard
| fight for the passage of the bill and
the committee recommendations today
were the first real results of their eff
| forts.