The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-07
-FOUR OF Them
The Bills Hodges Wanted That
Didn't Go Through.
House and Senate Couldn't
Agree on Them.
TOOK A TWO-THIRDS VOTE
The /. and r.. Has BraVed Ef-
forts Two Legislatures.
Judicial AppOrtiOnment, Mini
mum Wage, Inheritance Tax.

At least four measures in which the
administration feels keen interest,
seem doomed for this session at least.
They include the initiative and refer
endum, the judicial apportionment bill,
the minimum wage for women act, and
the collateral Inheritance tax law. I'm
der present indications none of these
measures can now be put through at
this session.
On all except the collateral inherit
ance tax law, the Democrats came to
Topeka in Januar. to enact in fulfill
ment of their party pledges. Like all
other parties, the Democrats were
pledged to the submission to the voters
of constitutional amendments for the
recall and the initiative and referen-
dunn They eclipsed the work of the
Republican legislature of two years ago
by putting over the recall BUT tne
I and r encountered too many STUMP
ling blocks and is now apparently oeao
for this session, although the placing OF
the blame is uncertain. Democratic
members however claim that their
position is clear and consistent and
have for a week refused to back up on
their stand. And Republican members
vow that they have made a perfectly
consistent record and are wiling 10
abide by the results.
Trouble over the I. and r. came when
the house and senate played for posi-
tion. when each enacted its own resolu-
ton and the constitutional provision
went to a conference which could not
agree Then the house conferees re-
ceded and yielded ground to the DEM
ocrats only TO have their report re-
iected by the house Republicans, VINO
declared that they would support the
original house resolution and none
other. But the house measure has
never come back for reconsideration
nIOah
Then there is the judicial reappor-
tionment bill, which is in accord and
keeping with the Democratic plat
form planks. The house passed Dill
which Iegislated six of the "a district
Judges out of business. Over in the
senate this bill didn't give satisfaction,
The session was late and no time was
wasted on undue oratory. Senate mem
bers simply voted to kill the bill.
There was the minimum wage for
women bill 1t was put out of business
by the action of the senate after the
house had passed a measure which
gave perfect satisfaction to the people
behind the proposed new law. But hke
the judicial reapportionment OIL. II old
NOT curry favor with the upper branch
of the legislature and the reception it
received was far less cordial than the
one accorded Kittie Gordon.
Another measure which the admins
tration wanted and wanted very badly
The Democrats were pledged to repeal
the old inheritance tax law and they
made the fulfillment of that pledge one
of their first official acts But just
when it was most popular to Jump on
tho inheritance tax law with both feet,
the legislature repealed all laws aIecl-
ing a tax on legacies and wlndta us
Governor Hodges frankly admitted
that he didn't like this procedure. 80
the next day a brand new 1nherltance
fax law was introduced in poth
branches of the legislature. 1t eX-
e,,,n+ed direct heirs. just as the Demo-
Gratis had promised, but provided Tor
+ax ON inheritances of indirect heirs
THE house passed the Dill, put IL IS ny"
g., n nrecarious condition in the senate
and may not reach the statute oOoNS
when the session closes
House members voted Thursday ar
ternoon to keep intact the SoO'uoO ap-
Tropriation of the 1911 session 1or tne
s+atlishment of a tuberculosis nos
S:.aI ITn5er the bill which has pass
"a the house as an appropriation meas
re the new hospital for tuberculosis
t-ictimsS viii be located in the big
Sixth district
In his arguments IN 1aVor OF ths
hin Sneaker Brown virtually admitted
a. rise of ''pork barrel tactics in the
Consideration of measures before the
1913 legislature.
ssT am going to vote to put this hos
nitaI in the Sixth district although l
On, a resident of the Seventh district,
aid brown in advising the house mem
Tars of his stand on the bill. THE
Seventh district has received what it
asked for and the Sixth district mem
bars helped us and we won't forget
it."
Robert stone. of Shawnee county,
was on his feet instantly.
IT want to ask the speaker shout
cd stone. "if his statement is an ad
mission of the use of pork barrel
methods
Not in securing the Hutchinson
state fair said Brown
in the galleries caught the cue and
appIause followed the clever action of
the Shawnee member in revealing the
pork barrel policy.
Kansas is to have a state fire mar
shal law if the bill which has been
agreed upon by a conference committee
of senate and house members is ac-
cepted by the legislature. The senate
and house passed separate fire mar
shal bills After Il two-day confer
cepted the house bill. which is admit
tedly the stronger OF the two meas
ureS.
The bill which has been reported to
the legislature and which will proba-
blv be enacted into law. provides that
the state fire marshal shall have auth
ority to hold inquisitions concerning all
fires and that the county attorney.
llpon advice of the marshal shall call
desired and that these persons shall
- ooropoIIod fO Give sworn taStirnonV-