The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-02-21
STIRRED EN- UP.
Bill to Divorce Legislative and
Executive Departments.
One of the Shortest Measures OF
Session.
ONE CHANGE is MADE.
Members of Legislature May Run
for State Office.
Campaign Publicity Bill Talked
to Death.
ONE CHANGE is MADE.

It was just little bill, not covering
one page, but it stirred up all, kinds
of trouble in the house Monday night
and twenty members debated it be-
fore it was finally recommended for
passage. The bill was introduced by
Orr of Atchison and it read as fol-
lows:
"No person, elected member of
the legislature shall be eligible, dur
elected, to any other state office of
profit or trust under the constitution
and laws of this state. No member of
the legislature, during the term Tor
which he was elected, shall be APP
pointed to any office created by the
legislature of which he was a mem
Der nor shall any such member be
appointed during the term for which
he was elected, to any office, the salary
or e1nolument of which was increased
nv the legislature of which he was a
member
floor against the passage OF the Dill
to speak for his amendment cutting
out the first sentence. This amend
ment was adopted and it made big
difference with the intent and pur-
pose of the measure. As the bill hnal-
" passed the house 1t prohibited mem
bers from appointment only to office
created by themselves. In his attack
on the bill Judge Buchanan declared
that to pass this bill in its original
form would be for the members to
stultify themselves. They would ad-
vertise to the state at large that they
We're not to be trusted to faithfully
discharge their duties in the face of
untoward influence.
Davis of Kiowa, Stone of Shawnee
and Boyd of Republic all foloW9d
Judge Ruckman and spoke for the bill.
Stone said: st believe that the legis-
lative and the executive departments
should be completely divorced from
each other" -,
but objected to that provision that
barred a member from running for
state office, and he intimated that ne
himself might be caught by that sec
ton. Cassin also started a boom Tor
Judge Buchanan for congress from
the Third district in the course of his
speech and the house cheered.
Carney of Cloud was for the bill.
Meek was the only Democrat to speak
against it. Ellis of Labette spoke
against the measure and SO did Veatch
of Washington. Veatch declared that
he favored the advancement of the
Young members of the house who
were making good. and he cited Car
governor could not find better men in
the state for responsible positions than
right here in this house among the
younger members. I am an old man
and not in line for job, but don't
want to see these young men with
whom I work and learn to know their
worth barred from a good place to
which they are entitled"
The Buchanan amendment taxing
the singer out of the bill carried so
to A. On the motion to strike out the
enacting clause from the bill only p
voted yea. The faithful ones We're:
Abrams, Daily, Davis of Gray. De-
Camp, Ellis, Field, Haslet, Hyer,
Keene, Kerr of Montgomery, Lawson,
Manchester. Martin, Matson. McComb,
Mcmillan, Newlin, Noble. Ostlind,
Wayman, Worley, Buchanan.
The house actually talked bill to
death In committee of the whole Mon
day afternoon, when it passed the
motion by Brown of Kingman to report
the campaign publicity bill be not pass
ed. The bill came Up for consideration
at the morning session and the discus
sion of he measure was spun out until
the skein of the patience of the house
was snapped, and then the bill died.
1t carried several Weighty amendments
with it to the grave. One or these was
blow directed against the rich man
in politics, and offered by Davis of
Kiowa 1t provided that no candidate
should spend more than $500 in state
wide campaign for office. Carney Of
Cloud, speaking for this amendment
declared: you have already placed re-
strictions around this bill that make the
Office seek the man and prohibit the
man from seeking the office. Why, un-
der the provisions of this measure
man would have to walk on eggs to
get through a campaign without land
ing IN jail. l therefore favor this
amendment as being in keeping with the
rest of the bill.
Davis supported his amendment by
saying that I'VE want to keep the rich
man from enjoying monopoly of Office
| under the primary law.
| One vote to strike out the enacting
! clause of the bill, was killed, but the
second attack was successful.
! In reference to the speech of Repre-
! sentative Davis, of Kiowa, referring to
the Topeka Capital, that paper says:
There is no more relation between the
| Kansas City Star and the Capital than
/ between Davis OF Kiowa and the En-
| peror of Siam. Governor Stubs has
| never at any time had any financial
| interest, directly or Indirectly in the
Capital. has never assisted it financial
! " or otherwise, but it is owned and
| controlled solely by Arthur Capper."
The stone bill providing for the cleo
1 ton at q primary of DELEGATES to the
national convention was sent back to
! the judiciary committee on motioi- by
| Orr of Atchison. The motion was a Sc
we're if not a mortal blow at this party
| platform promise.
The three bills providing for the cleo
| ton of United States senator by the
! y,eople were read and laid over until
! this morning when the bill by Davis of
| Bourbon could be printed. The Stone
bill and the Matson bills are almost
| identical and are along the lines of the
Oregon plan. The Matson bill reads
/ as follows:
ANY elector in this state seeking
the nomination for the office OF state
senator or representative in the leg
islature may attach to and have cir
culated with his petition or nomina-
ton paper one of the following two
staten ents and may file the same with
his petition or nomination paper with
the county clerk or secretary of state
as the case may be; but If he does not
file such additional statement the sec
rotary of state or county clerk, as the