The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-08
Been A BIC WEEK
Democrats Made Headway
With Pledges.
Five of Them Passed Both
Houses.
MUST AG2EE IN CONFERENCE
Then They Will Go to the
Governor.
Big Fights in Committee, Not
Floor of Chamber.
MUST AG3EE IN CONFERENCE

With 21 of the so working days of
the 1913 legislative session already
gone, Governor George H. Hodges has
signed just seven bills. But that does
not fairly tell the story of the work
that has been jammed into the mill in
the three weeks that the members of
the house and senate have been in To-
peka. Already there are $50 bills in the
hopper in the house, the committees
have killed 122 measures and the house
has actually passed an even so bills.
The week just closing has clearly
been the feature of the session to date.
At the close of the previous weeks
work, the administration forces were
dragging in their efforts TO redeem
platform pledges At that time Gov
ernor Hodges was dissatisfied and he
did not hesitate to say so. There was
an undercurrent of dissatisfaction and
a clear lack of team work and leader
ship among the Democratic members
of the two houses. This week, though
the legislature took a new brace, the
Democrats have caucused and are ap-
parently in shape to redeem practically
every pledge, even the sacred L. ana
r. and recall seeming almost certain
in view of the action of the senate in
reversing it's former decision and put
ting the initiative and referendum
across by a big majority. And now
Hodges is pleased.
This week will perhaps stand as one
of the record weeks of the session.
Platform pledges have gone into the
mill and come out safe and sound
The consolidation of the departments
of labor won easily. Both houses
adopted the bill calling for the crea-
ton of a central board OF management
for the educational institutions, the
Massachusetts, ballot law pledge was
redeemed and the house Friday after
noon passed the bill providing for the
publication of school text books by the
state. Then there was the cheertui
reversal of the defeat of the l. ana H.
in the senate and members of The leg
islature who went home to visit over
Sunday with their constituents, LETT To-
peka with a new hope in their hearts.
The record of the session to date has
been one of work. Probably less actual
noIitics has been plated by the MEM
hers in the first 21 days than in any
similar period Of n Kansas legislative
session in Is years. There have peen
but few sore spots to heal and the
members have gone to work with an
apparent view of making good
ONLY on straight party issues has
there been a very determined stand or
a clear definition of party lines. Even
in the fight to redeem many or thelr
pledges. the Democrats have had the
following of a number OF Repupicdhs'
nXD
Tn the house only one bill has been
beaten on third reading since the ses-
sion opened. But five measures nave
been defeated by the house members
in the committee of the whole. InaC
is great record in view of the fact
+ba+ 69o hills have been offered. To
he sure many bills are still in the com
n,ittee rooms and there are 75 bills on
the calendar under general orders.
Rut it was in the committee rooms
that the real fights have been Waseo:
In former years a bill was dumped
onto the floor of the Legislature ana
the members were invited to fight 1t
ont This year it has been different.
When a bill didn't look good to the
committee members, that committee
promptly knocked 1t IN the heao anu
there were but few subsequent cere-
monies. A total of 122 bills have been
renorted adversely by the house com
mittees since the session opened me
committees have acted on less tnan
500 bills. That means that one Dill IN
everv four has failed to see the light
Of day. With the loaded calendars,
but few bills have as yet reached the
governor's office. The seventh bill to
receive the governors signature was
returned to the Legislature today with
the chief executives o. K. There have
been no vetOeS.
In his office today Governor Hodges
smiled confidently as he talked of the
work of the present legislature-the
first Democratic legislature backed by
a Democratic governor in the 81 years
Kansas has been state
1.-The work this week has been n
complete reversal of form over the
work last week. said the governor.
.'Things dragged last week and the
session seemed to lack life and a fight
ing spirit But this has been a great
week and / am now more certain that
the administration pledges will be re-
deemed than at any time since the ses-
sion opened Several Democratic eau
cuses held this week seemed to put
new spirit into the members and do
not think there is any occasion for
alarm as to the future of the ses-
SION
With characteristic optimism. Speak
er w. L. Qron Jaw) Brown vowed
that the legislature would stay in To-
peka all summer before returning
home without making good its prom
ises. He is proud of the work to date.
There isn't the least occasion for
alarm" said Brown. THE Democrats
are working together harmoniously and
will put over every pledge that re-
quires only a majority vote. L think
we will pass the initiative and referen-
dunn and the recall, but if we don't
il will not be because the Democrats
do not support the measure. We will
check the matter squarely up to the
opposition and if this legislature should
fail to adopt these resolutions and to
submit the amendment to the voters
next year, the Democratic party can
not be held responsible"
Brown is right in the midst of every
fight He is not only ruling the house
with a firm hand. but he is the ad-