The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-01
NOTES OF SENATE.
Republicans Worry Democrats
With /. and r..
TrOutman Tried to Dig Up
Special Order Today.
WARNING FOR LOBBYISTS.
Investigations Reveal Viola
tiOnS of the Laws.
Mcmillan "HOme Rule" Meas
ure Is Recommended.

Ihe tables have turned IN the SELL
ate. The Republicans, long in the de-
fensive on the initiative and referen-
dunn, reversed the line of battle this
morning and under the generalShip of
i TrOutm i of Shawnee, carried the flag
into the ranks of the Democrats. Call
ing to the administration forces to car
ry out the principles they have been
advocating since the session began in
an attempt to provide for the 1. and
r. in Kansas, Senator Troutman sug
gested to the Democrats this morning
that they consider Immediately the
senate concurrent resolution now on
special orders and corresponding to
the resolution passed by the house d
few days ago.
Winning a rules of order debate, the
Democrats refused to consider the res
olution and held it over until later
period.
Now that the house has killed the
conference report on the 1. and R. and
mas voted to postpone Indefinitely all
action on the constitutional amend
ment, the Republican forces in the SEN
ate are trying to make life miserable
for their opponents on the opposite
side OF the senate chamber, in daring
them to take up and pass the resolu-
ton now on the calendar.
new feature in the initiative and
referendum has been brought to light
i'll senate. Here is the problem:
Suppose the I. and r. passed and
the people voted to initiate a law and
the law was placed into effect. Now
suppose the legislature met two months
afterWard and repealed or amended
to death the law initiated by the cleo,
tors OF the state. Under the pending
amendments, this is possible.
The legislature has decided that the
courts have not the right to pass on
"A hox
against the feature giving the governor
the power of veto. But in the haste
of debate they have left out of con-
slderation the rights of The legislature
following the peoples vote to either
repeal or amend.
This Joker has spread over the
senate and is a source of merriment
among the senators today. 1t compIi-
Gates further the I. and r. and its eff
feet if placed in effect in Kansas
The Troutman resolution which WAS
not allowed to appear on account of in
terrupted rules this morning, reads:
whereas, During the debate in the
mouse OF representatives on the initia-
tive and referendum yesterday, the
sincerity and good faith of some of the
members of the senate was impugned
and it was vehementIv asserted that
it was the deliberate purpose of the
majority of this body to obstruct and
finally defeat all initiative and refer
endum resolutions, and
Whereas, There is pending on To-
days calendar senate concurrent resoIu-
tion No. 30. relating to the Initiative
and referendum, which is a verbatim
copy of house concurrent resolution
No. Z, passed some days ago by the
house of representatives and supported
by the unanimous vote of the Demo-
cratic members of that body
Therefore be it resolved That ho1se
concurrent resolution No be sub
stituted for senate concurrent resol1,-
tion No. 80 and be placed upon its finSl
passage Immediately. and if adopted by
members of the senate, that such ac-
ton be certified to the house of repre-
sentatives without delay
Railroad "spotters'' who have been
spying on suspected engineers by tam
to if the engineer would
obey the signals, are legislated out of
business by bill passed by the senate
this morning. The measure, introduced
by Senator Wilson, of jefferson county,
provides a severe penalty for the man
who manipulates or tampers with
switch or signal lights along the rail-
way lines in this state. The fine is
from $500 to $1,000. If the action re-
suits in death of a member of train
crew or a passenger, from one to f1fteen
years in the penitentiary is the penalty
The important measure by Senator
Mcmillan of Ottawa county giving
municipalities the authority of home
rule and the regulation and control
of rates of utilities was recommended
for pasSa ge by the committee of the
whole. This bill is one of the most
sweeping of the session and is watch
ed with interest by every town and
city in the state. It gives to city
councils and commissions the right to
change and adjust rates of public
utilities that are deemed burdensome.
The task of providing machinery
and equipm ent for the manufacture
of bags at the state penitentiary has
been unloaded on the next legislature
in Kansas. The senate this morning
in acting on the Milton measure rec
commended that commission be ap-
pointed to look into the advisibi1ity
of making bags at the penitentiary
legislature. The bill was favored on
the floor by Milton, Mcmillan, Carey,
and the suggestions of Shouse, Howe
and Malone. Senator Waggener op-
posed it saying he was not in favor of
extending operations beyond the linn
by Senator Milton that the state man
ufacture of bags would save the far
mers of the state thousands of dol
lars every year
The committee on state and federal
affairs introduced to the senate today
a bill which gives the county print
ing to newspapers of counties in the
state by a vote of the people. 1t is
the idea of Chairman Malone of this
committee that this will eliminate