The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-16
HOLDS IT A FARCE
Governor Not Satisfied With
House Utilities Bill.
Restrictions Placed Upon Men,
bers of Board Fatal.
WAS RUSHED THROUGH
Passee as the Committee Had
Prepared 1t.
Initiative and Referendum VIII
Probably Pass.
WAS RUSHED THROUGH

1t now develops that the public
utilities bill passed by the house SO
quickly and smoothly Tuesday morn
ing of this week in the record break
ing time of thirty minutes is not at all
satisfactory to the administration. 1t
is said that this house measure is re-
garded as a farce by the powers that
be in administration circles. The re-
strictions in the way of qualifications
placed on the members of the propos-
ed utilities commission are alone
enough to invalidate the bill, it is
said.
The qualification joker is not the
only one in the bill. 1t is declared
that it has no teeth. The governor
regards the bill as a farce.
This news will come as a great sur
prise to the administration members
of the judiciary committee who en-
dorsed the bill and fought for it's pas
sage by the house this week.
When Governor Stubs today was
asked about the bill he declined to be
quoted. He did not appear, however,
to be particularly elated over the
measure as passed by the house. 1t
does not meet his approval. He was
not inclined to blame the house mem
bers who voted for the bill in good
faith, as he said that they did not
have time enough in which to conSid-
err the bill and the jokers it contained.
1t was rushed through Just as the
committee had prepared it.
It was noted by the newspaper mon
at the time the bill was introduced
that its qualification restrictions for
members of the commission were alb
surd and prohibitive when it came to
the selection of a capable commission.
But the administration members of
the judiciary committee and the Lead
ers on the floor of the house never
''peeped'' about this qualification Sec
ton and it slipped through without
any debate.
The house utilities bill, now re-
ferred to as p farce by friends and
advocates of a real utilities bill, Las
passed the house on third reading and
is now beyond recall by that body I'M
less the senate amends it and then
gives the house a chance to alter it
in conference committee.
The status of the initiative and ref
erendum resolution was established in
the house this morning on strict
party vote when the administration
measure by Don Carlos was considered
over the motion by Cassin to substitute
the minority measure
When the house adjourned at noon
today the 1. and r. was still under dis
cussion. 1t is hardly likely that vote
will be held on this resolution before
late in the afternoon session.
OF the Il RepuDncanS IN the mouse
70 voted for the Don Carlos bill, and
one was absent, Davis of Kiowa. OF
the SO Democrats in the house So voted
for the Cassin resolution. One was alb.
sent, Lawson of Lincoln Hines of
Scott, Independent, voted with the
Democrats.
This test vote at the beginning of
the struggle over the 1. and r. indi-
Gates plainly that the resolution will
pass the house in it's administration
form with minor amendments. In this
measure the initiative is fixed at 8
per cent petitions and the referendum
at per cent of the voters at last cleo
ton.
In the debate over the Dor Carlos
bill the Democrats sought to amend
it along the lines of the Cassin bill.
Some few minor amendments in the
nature of compromise were allowed by
the majority party. The debate was
heightened throughout the morning
session in the effort to agree on de-
tails. 1gsft
The indications are that the I. and