The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-22
Six Days of Hard Work i'm Up
per House.
Measures of Revenue Are Most
Important.
HAVE RECALL OUT OF WAY.
Corporation Tax and Text Book
Publication, Also.
Harmony in Both Camps in the
Senate.

The stiffness of the senate machin-
cry has worn off, the calendar oiler
is working day and night, the morn
ing and night sessions have been
heightened and the memb erS VIII
spend Sunday looking back with pride
on the legislative grind of the last s1x
days. The senate now has a total OF
nearly 100 bills passed. In the last
week &c have been advanced from
third reading and sent to the house
for final approval or conference.
The most important measures OF the
week, which have been either consld-
cred, introduced or passed, follow:
Recall constitutional amendment.
Corporation tax.
Inheritance tax
Creating office of fire marshal.
AboIishing Newton tuberculosis ap-
preparation.
Moving picture censorship.
Appropriations, K. u, K. S. A, e.,
X. S. n.
State Insurance company.
State textbook publication.
The administration forces are
breathing easier since the safety OF
their corporation tax, textbook pup
LEGATION and recall amendment meas
ures are practically assured. one tul-
fills their promise to the people Tor a
chance to recall public officers an
other guarantees relief from the ex-
orbitant school book prices and the
third brings to the states general
revenue fund an annual contributor
of 100000 as an aid to the reductlon
OF taxes. Two of the measures are
still in formal conference.-the no
fear is held for, their final passage.
The other has been tested and brand
ed-the textbook publication Dill Dy
Davis of Bourbon county.
The administration inheritance tax
bill has been introduced and will be
one of the important acts of the next
week. The Democrats declared two
weeks ago that they would never sup
port any kind of bill which provided
for the taxing of legacies. But a
warning from Senator Troutman OF
Shawnee cooled their jubilant spirits
and they realized that something
must be done to increase the state s
revenues and keep down the tax levy.
Troutmans timely warning was heed
ed the governor inoculated his ma
jority with ginger and the admin1stra-
ton inheritance tax bill was the re-
suit. But it contains none of the VIC
ious and unfair inflictions of the old
law repealed early in the session.
The Democrats have another thing
to be thankful for this week-the
moving picture censorship measure py
Stavely of Osage-a Republican. The
pure picture" bill will bring hun
dreds of thousands of dollars into the
state treasury yearly and viii insure
the people of the state against OBJ
scene and immoral productions on the
screens in the 800 or more movie"
houses throughout the state. The
Stavely bill came in just in time to
create a fee collection for the support
of the institutions and departments
The recall constitutional amendment
giving the people the right to recall
public officers, including judges of the
state courts, is a great victory for the
administration forces in the senate.
The Howe corporation tax, the Wilson
of Washington fire marshal bill and
thee Davis textbook publication meas
ure are other banners or the weeks
parade.
Along the appropriation lines, the
Democrats carried out their threats
threats that will meet with approval
from all sections of the state. The
WAYS and means committee has re-
fused to appropriate money for new
elaborate buildings at the three big
educational institutions-only main
tenance and minor improvement funds
were allowed. The administration in
the senate also has cut out the 100000
appropriation for a tuberculosis hos
pital at Newton.
The Democrats have this gratifying
feature to look back upon in a sum-
mary of the weeks events--they have
sliced state expenses and have passed
measures that will produce state reve-
nue.. Although no administration sup
port-or Republican either for that
matter-wi1l dare hint a guess that
the taxes will be reduced this year
still there is a feeling among the
members of the senate that the taxes
for 1914 and 1915 will not be raised
in proportion to the increase of the
last few years. The normal gain in
population and in state expenses is all
they will allow on the tax receipts.
Another pleasing weekend memory:
The members of the majority are
holding together. Until this week the
Democrats couldn't depend on one
another. First one and then another
would take running jump and leap
the prison wall of party pledges and
caucuses. With the exception of Meek
of Nemaha county, who believes in de-
pending upon his own motive power
for operation, the Democrats are vot-
ing solidly in favor of party prin-
ciples. Meek, honest and conscien-
tious. man who at no time would
decline to serve the people, has few
ideas of his own on matters of public
Importance. Caucuses do not direct
him.
The Republicans are not to be over
looked. The new members are de-
veloping into fighters. The veterans
are hanging together on partisan
promises-with the exception of a
Progressive now and then who voices
with the Democrats. Even the bitter
state fair fight has not succeeded in
pulling apart the minority. A ''porl1
barrel promise from a few of the
members on certain Democratic meas
ures is the only suggestion of a break
in the ranks.
Taken as a whole it has been a sue
cessful week. The senators are not
afraid of the night sessions Thev are
times monotonous, labor. Even the
good old standpatterS are admitting
that the 1913 session will occupy a
favorite spot in the memory of the
constituents back hum"
MMR RaRR az A~mR~AMM