The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-25
BARS LET DOWN.
PrivateCh neutrality-suspicious.
Make Appearance in Senate.
Stewart, of Sedgwick, Puts Them
All Back In.
HAD BEEN CUT OUT.
New Measure Will Appropriate
Sixty Thousand Dollars.
Topeka Institutions Among the
Favored Ones.
HAD BEEN CUT OUT.

Democrats, insurgents and standpat
Republicans this morning took stock
in a new pork barrel scheme promoted
by Senator Stewart, of Sedgwick coun-
ty. when he started a stampede for
state appropriations for a long list OF
private hospitals and charitable insti-
tutions. No sooner had the Wichitan
slipped in his long list of favorites than
a dozen members were reminded of an
opportunity to take home little bacon
TO their own constituents
The trouble started a few minutes
before noon when the senate took up
the consideration of the approprlallon
bills to provide for the expenses ana
salaries of the several state charitable
and penal institutions. Stewart was
waiting for the measure and he prompt
ly sprung a long typewriter list OF IN
stitutfons which he said would be Will
ing recipients of state aid. In his ilst
he proVfded institutionS-42 in number
from every section of the state. -Four
institutions in his home town were on
the list at $500 year each. topeka
landed four packages from the pork
barrel at $500 each. LeaVenWorth' Kan
sas City, Kan, Pittsburg and other
towns were carefully provided Tor. But
when the list was read the members
thought of a score of other charities
that needed help.
Carey, of Reno, recommended two
Hutchinson charities at $500 a year
each. and they went on the list. Robert
son. who represents Is counties was
modest For his entire district he ask
ed for but one slice of bacon and that
in a most timid tone. He wanted $zOO
a year for an Atwood hospital; and the
institution went on the list without ar
gument Then an adjournment was
taken until 2 o'clock in order to pre-
pare a complete list of all worthy chari-
ties.
When the appropriation bills were
considered by the joint ways and means
committee. it was decided to eliminate
all of the private institutions, but the
Stewart amendment puts these charl-
ties under the control and supervision
of the state board of control and com
pels them to make regular statements
10 the board. The additional approprla-
tfons will probably total somewhere IN
the neighborhood of $4,000 for the two
years when the list is completed. Stew
arts original list hit the $4,000 mark.
Among the Topeka charities included
in the list are: The Topeka Orphans
Home association, the Florence Critten-
ton mission, the Florence Crittenton
mission (colored); Ingleside Associa-
tion, and st. Francis hospital. The
ProVident Association asked for a $500
appropriation early in session, but was
not included in the list offered by Sem
ator Stewart.
Senator Vinton Stillings' bill provid-
ing for an asylum for the criminal
insane was reported for passage by
tl-e senate committee of the whole and
will probably complete its march
through the senate without further
difficulty. This bill is the Leaven-
worth mans particular hobby in the
1911 session and he made a strong
defense for the bill on the floor of
the upper house.
An amendment was offered which
provided that a person charged with
criminal offense who was shown to be
insane should Immediately be cited in
the probate court and if found to be
of unsound mind, sent to the new
asvlum. Lawyer members objected to
the necessity of two trials in these
cases and the matter was compro-
misd by allowing the trial jury to pass
on the mental condition of persons ac-
cused of crime and where insanity is
plead as a defense. Under the terms
of the bill persons sent to the asylum
for the criminally insane are COM
peIled to remain in the institution
until the superintendent of the asylum
and the trial court in which the per-
son was convicted shall recommend
their release. The bill is in many
ways similar to the New York law and
the facts surrounding the recent Harry
Il Thaw trial were cited by members
hamilton and Brewster each sprung
strong veins of oratory and the meas
ure was under consideration nearly
an hour.
A bill making an appropriation for
OFFICIAL state printing and submission
of constitutional amendments passed
the senate this morning under general
orders.
The pages of both the house and SEN
ate have planned a mock senate for to-
night. The galleries will be open to the
public.
Senator Stillings this morning intro
duced by request a resolution calling
for the appointment of a commission
TO determine the advisability of state
buildings at the Panama canal exposi-
ton to be held in San Francisco in
1915. The commission is to serve with
out pay from the state and is author
lied to select cite for buildings.
The senate will hold an all afternoon
session today for the purpose of con-
siderfng bills under general orders.
None of the more important measures
will be taken up tbs afternoon, as sew
eral of the members returned to their
homes Friday night
The senate has turned over the
chamber to the newspaper boys for
next Tuesday night and the latter will
hold a mock session of the senate for
edification of the multitude A pro
gram committee composed Of Ralph
Faxon. Frank FARRELL, F. w. Brinker-
hoff. c. A. Cain and Walter Johnson
will arrange for the reproduction of
a few of the most famous scenes that
have been enacted in the senate This
session. There ought to be something
doing all the time. The senator's will
be relocated to the gallery and can
see themselves as others see us, a rare
opportunity In this world since the