The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-22
Been 932 Bills Introduced, 14S
Passed.
KILLED BY COMMITTEE, 2S9.
All the Appropriation Bills
Pending.
/. and R.. the Recall and 4-Year
Term Yet to Pass.

dav night but nine working days of the
so day session remained in which the
legislature has yet to redeem many
pledges and take final action on many
bills. The situation which confronted
the house this morning was a record
of 932 bills introduced, 143 passed, 70
defeated on the floor, 2S9 adversely re-
ported by the committees, 257 pending
on the calendar and 21S tied up some
where in the committee rooms. Cover
nor Hodges has signed SO bills. Figur-
ing that one-half of the pending bills
are reported favorably by the commit
tee and that no new committee bills
would be introduced, the house must
in nine days wade through, consider
and debate 1893 bills if they would go
home on time.
AS members talk of going home,
there is little cheer in their hearts. A
realization of the pending work brings
no smile from the member who is
tired of it all and wants to quit the
eats at the hotels and lunch counters
and go back to his own dear people.
And yet in nine working days the
house must consider and take action
on more bills than have been voted
on in the Al days of the legislature
already gone A few days ago it was
hoped that the legislature might ad-
ter the pay checks stop. But to clean
up the calendar, dispose of the little
local measures that are close to the
hearts of the members such a plan
now seems improbable
When Will They Adjourn?
Usually, before entering on the last
ten days of session, a resolution set
ting a date for final adjournment is
adopted. OF course that date is often
advanced as the work in the last hours
of the session multiplfes. But this year
there has been but little said regarding
adjournment and it is quite possible
in fact really proba ble-that the SeS-
sion will continue for ten days after
the date for which members are paid
for their services.
This morning the members drew
their fourth pay check. There is but
one more check to be received. And
of those final ten days, two days are
Sundays. The so days end Tuesday,
March 4.
Have Hard Work Ahead.
And now consider the work that
must be handled. On the calendar are
many bills of state wide Importance.
Many bills in which the voters are in
terested are still buried somewhere in
the committee rooms. Not only must
the members on the floor work over
time until final adjournment, but there
are many hours of hard, tedious worF
for the men on the committees. Those
21S bills must lie disposed of. If rec
commended for passage, they must be
considered on the floor. Perhaps some
of them will go to conference. And
that means more trouble.
That the committees in the house
have worked hard, is evident. They
have to their credit, the absolute kill
ing of 2S9 proposed legislative enact
ments-nearly one-third of the total
number introduced-and many more
yet to consider. In fact of the bills
on which the committees have taken
action. 40 per cent of them have been
killed. Or, only three bills of every
five introduced, have so far found
place on the calendar.
Appropriation Bills Pending.
One of the really serious things
pending is the disposition of the big
appropriation bills. To date, the
house has passed less than dozen
general appropriation bills. Those af
fected principally charitable institu-
tions. The appropriations for the ed
ucational and penal institutions, for
the state executive and judiciary de-
partm ments, are yet to be considered.
No legislature would dare to close
shop and go home without passing
these bills and there has been no inti-
nation that this legislature even con-
templates such action. In fact it has
rather shown dogged determination to
for the people at home is finished.
Then, too, there are just few bona
fide platform pledges which the Dem
ocrats will try to put on ice before
they go home. Many of the platform
planks have already been nailed
down, but this is the first chance the
Democrats have had in many years
and lest some of them might not be
sent back two years from now. they
want to do a nice. neat job while they
are here.
Many Big Bills Passed.
While it is true that the legislature
true that they have put away many
important bits of legislation. Here
are some of the platform promises
which the Democratic legislature have
made good:
Massachusetts ballot law, passed
both houses and signed by the gov
ernor.
Bill placing educational institutions
under administration board, passed
and signed by governor.
Changing boys and girls Industrial
school from supervision board of
control and creating board of correc-
ton.
Provision for state publication of
school books, passed both houses by
adoption of conference report.
Repeal inheritance tax law.
Ratification amendment to constitu-
ton United States for direct election
United States senators.
Consolidation labor bureau, bureau
mines and employment agency into
one state department.
Removal deaf and blind schools
from supervision board of control and
go. ,,ol 10