The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-10
SHORN OF POWER.
Lieutenant Gov. Hopkins Is
"CannOnized."
Senate Refuses to Let Him Name
Committees.
WINS IN THE CAUCUS.
But Action Overturned When
Senate COnvenes.
Bitter Debate Proceeds Action
in Caucus.

BY vote of 81 to 1s, the senate this
afternoon voted to deny Richard J.
Hopkins, lieutenant governor, the
privilege of naming the senate COM
m1ttees. and indicated by its tone that
committee on committees would look
after the distribution of appointments.
The vote followed a motion for the
adoption of the old senate rules with
the elimination of the presidents privi-
lege IN the appointment of the vari-
Gus committees. These rules now gov
ern the senate. but a rules committee,
appointed before adjournment, will
construct a set of laws that may en-
body some changes.
The rules committee is composed of
J: H Stavely. of Usage; s. NJ. Brew
of Johnson; Emerson Carey, of
Reno; w. M. Glenn, of Greeley, and
F. l.. Travis. of Allen
A committee on appointments is this
afternoon holding in it's power the
probable fate of a list of anxious look
ing job hunters, who find it impossible
to stay away from the state house. This
committee meet at o'clock and dis
cussed list of candidates for every job
ii. the senate. The committee to whom
the successful applicants will owe their
lifelong gratitude is composed of: j.
H. Stavely of Usage, S. M. Brewster of
Doniphan, J. A. Milligan Of Anderson
L. S. Cambern of Neosho. j. B. Lower
Of Washington, J. E. Reed of Smith, W.
M. Glenn of Greeley, and c. L. Harris
of Butler.
F. H. Quincy, of Sa1ina, and Emer-
son Carey, Of Hutchinson, were ap-
| pointed members of a joint committee
| from the two houses to notify Governor
| Stubbs that the legislature was in ses-
| sion.
| The name of Fred Robertson, who was
selected at Democratic caucus this
morning, as the minority candidate for
president pro tenn was not presented
| to the senate; probably because the mi
nority members forgot their own trou-
| bles in the animated discussions in the
| morning session.
AT 12:45. the senate adjourned to
meet at e'eIeek this afternoon.
The Caucus.
| The expected fight over president
pro tenn of the senate failed to ma
| terialize in the caucus this morning.
e. F. Porter, Of Crawford county, was
trenominated as president pro tenn
without opposition Reports Monday
lima, would oppose Senator Porter for
/ reelection. Quincy was to be recog-
nized as the administration candidate,
while Senator Porter was well known
to be the regular candidate. If this
plan had been carried out, the sentf-
ment of the senate on administration
measures would have been known be-
fore that body convened
The plan was abandoned, however,
and Senator Porter was the only can
didate placed in nomination.
Senator Porter called the senate
caucus to order. Senator Quincy was
elected chairman of the caucus. SEN
ator Porter was also nominated for
chairman, but withdrew in favor of
Senator Quincy.
But if there was no factional fight
over the nomination of a president pro
tenn, there was war to the knife over
the resolution offered by Senator Pot
ter to go on record in favor Of follow
ing the usual senate custom of allow
| ing the lieutenant governor to name
the senate committees.
Senator Potter's resolution was op-
posed by such well known standpat
senators as Brewster, Reed and Glenn,
who even threatened to bolt the
caucus.
Brewster moved to adjourn without
acting on the Potter resolution, but
the motion for the reason that the
senate had agreed a few minutes prev
iously to consider the resolution.
Senator Avery, of Usage, drew the
| fire of Senator Hamilton, of Shawnee,
when he sought to muddy the water.
Senator Hamilton took the floor for
| the Potter resolution and made a red
hot insurgent speech. He said that
the effort on the part of certain sena-
| tors to 'dehorn" the. new lieutenant
governor was a direct slap at the peo-
pie who had nominated and elected
Mr.. Hopkins by a big majority. He
said that Mr.. Hopkins made his two
campaigns on clean cut issue as a
progressive and that the people elected
him in order that, as presiding officer,
he might exercise the normal influence
on the deliberations of the senate
body. The Shawnee senator wanted
D@k+ -
be clean cut, and he wanted the sena-
tors placed on record as favoring or
opposing the will of the people as ex-
pressed last summer and last fall.
Senator Glenn wanted to adjourn
and threatened to bolt the caucus.
Senator Brady, of Douglas, took the
floor and advised Glenn to walk out if
he wanted to, it was his privilege, said
| Senator Brady.
Then the senator from Douglas pro
ceeded to check the matter squarely up
to the senate in a vehement speech
square from the shoulder. 'sThe people
of Kansas issued mandate to this
senate last summer" he said. 1--WE
were elected two years ago, and the
| only way they can reach US now is to
send US a presiding officer who stands
for their views on public questions. Mr.
Hopkins is a fine young man and made
a fine record as president pro TEN of the
last house, and for this senate to Iu-
term of office is a direct challenge to
i the people of this state who elected
these senators to office"
Senators Reed, Price and Brewster
spoke against the motion. Senator
Price, speaking of Lieutenant Governor
Hopkins, said: This young man may
4 be governor of this state within "a
hours, and I would not regard that as
any calamity. either The senate
laughed heartily over the sally of the
standpatter at the expense of Governor
| Stubbs.