Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1913-01-31
BILLS MEET DEATHS IN COMMIT.
TEE.
(By C. T. Warren)

Topeka. Jan. 27.-An unusually
: large number Of freak bills have been
introduced in the legislature this year.
Every new member is DESTROYS of be-
Ng sponsor for some measure and as
rule hundreds of bills are placed in
the legislative hopper each year that
are buried in the committee rooms.
The judiciary committee in the
house is Yeritable slaughter pen for
such: proposed legislation. Fully one
half 'of the bills referred to the var
iOus committees have been reported
adversely. During the first two weeks
of the session considerably less than
halEsof the usual number of bills has
been introduced in either the senate
or house, i'm comparison to former
sessions.
In Sympathy With Governor.
The first two weeks of the session
have also emphasized the fact that
the legislature, or rather the majority
is in perfect sympathy with the ad-
ministration, and that an honest at
tempt win be made to incorporate the
governors recommendations into
law. This is particularly true of the
more important suggestions from the
governor. The main pledges of the
platform upon which the campaign
was conducted last fall will be re-
deemed II the leaders of the house
and senate have their way.
There is disposition to question
the governors wisdom in his whole
sale policy of board consolidation,
but there is no indication of an open
fight against any of his recommends
lions
Office to be Permanent.
1t is not thought that the legisla-
ture will abolish the office of state
live stock inspector, and merge that
ONCE with the veterinary depart
ment of the agricultural college, as
the governor recommended, and con-
siderable opposition has developed to
his plan of merging the agricultural
agricultural and academy of science
departments into one department, but
In the main most of his recommends
tions will be acted upon favorably by
the legislature.
Some of the political friends of the
governor, who look at the political
side Of every question, to the exclu-
sion of its merit or feasibility, think
that the governor made a serious tao
teal blunder by recommending the
consolidation of the state bureau of
labor and industry, the bureau of
mines and the state free employment
bureau under the management of one
head, to be appointed by the govern
or, They argue that this suggestion
will meet NTH the opposition of GER
tain labor leaders, and that the So
called labor vote may become hostile
to the administration and give it all
kinds of trouble at the election two
years hence.
=. Receives Some Protests.
Already the governor has received
numerous protests against his plan
from the leaders of organized labor
in different sections of the state. but
he adheres to his recommendation
and insists tnat the cause of organ
lied labor would be greatly benefited
from the change.
Bill Will Be Enacted.
1t is not at all possible that the
Riddle bill will be enacted. There
is no question but that minimum
wage law for women is one of the
demands of the hour and that legisla-
uon along this line will be enacted
IN every state in the union before
many years, but the Riddle bill is a
little too. revolutionary in its require
ments to secure a favorable action at
this session.
A minimum wage hill of eonoo bind