The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-14
Continued on Page Five.)
HOUSE SESSION
Representatives Sworn in al
Noon Today.
Speaker Brown Will Name
House Committees.

Promptly at noon today Secretary
of State Charles Sessions pounded on
the speakers table with a brand new
gavel and brought to order the 1913
session of the house of representatives.
Following prayer by Rev Charles M.
Sheldon, Associate Justice Rosseau A.
Burch administered the oath of Of
flee to the 125 members of the house.
James w. Orr, of Atchison was call
ed to the chair and the organization
of the new legislature was completed.
The big clock behind the speakers
desk had just registered high noon
when Secretary of State Sessions
stepped to the speakers stand and
announced the formal opening of the
new legislature. Following a brief
statement, Sessions called on Rev.
Charles NJ. Sheldon to open the new
session with prayer.
Then came the inaugural ton of the
new members of the house. While Chief
Justice William A. Johnston was ad-
ministering the oath to the senate
mem berS, Associate Justice Rousseau A
Burch performed the function in the
house. In groups of twenty members
each, the men who are to participate
in the 1913 house session were called to
the front of Representative hall to sub
scribe to the oath of their new posi-
ton
AS Justice Burch administered the
oath to the last group, Secretary Ses-
sions again stepped to the presiding
officers chair. He asked the legisla-
ture whom it would have for temporary
chairman and James w. Orr was again
called to the chair and completed the
formal organization of the house.
The proposition for committee on
committees in the house was defeat
ed Immediately following the final or
ganiZation. This action came when
the senate unanimously adopted a
w of
calling for the adoption of the 1911
house rules.
Republican members held second
caucus just before the noon hour to-
abide by the old house relies, permit
ting Speaker Brown to name the
committees. 1t was this action which
tended in large way to prevent a di-
vision of the Democratic members
concerning the committee proposition
and to bring about a general agree
ment permitting Brown to divide the
patronage.
At today's caucus the minority mem
bers nominated Robert stone, of Shaw
nee, as their candidate for speaker
and at the same time Stone was made
minority floor leader. Clement L. Will
son, of Greeley county, was made mi
nority candidate for speaker pro tenn.
Other minority nominees were: Clar-
ence Miller. speaker pro tenn;
"A
J: N Yates, sergeant at arms; Tom
Frazer, Russell county, doorkeeper;
Rev. George w. Durham, chaplain;
Mrs. Edna Crow, postmistress.
Associate Justice Clark A. Smith
administered the oath of Office to the
new officers of the house. BY a vote
of ~ to 81. Brown was elected the
speaker of the 1913 session over Rob-
ert Stone of Shawnee in the formal
organization; and the same vote that
ha l-nT
was ordered cast for the following of
fcers. who We're then declared elected
and formally given the oath: Miles
H. MulrOy, Ellis. speaker pro tenn;
Fred Snyder, Smith Center, sergeant
alarms; George S. Clark. Wichita,
chief clerk; James Cassin, Pittsburg,
postmaster; Rev. c. A. Finch, Topeka,
chaplain.
Republicans on the north side of the
house for the first time in many legis- |
lative sessions
The senate had but few minutes
previously notified the house that it !
was in session. but because the formal
organization had not been completed, |
the message was temporarily tabled. |
In the preliminary organization Miles
Mulroy of Ellis acted as chief clerk
and w. w. Gordon of Wyandotte Off |
ciated as assistant chief clerk. /
Then came the final organization |
and at few minutes before , o'clock, !
Carroll of Leavenworth offered reso-
luton notifying the senate that the |
house was ready for business.
In their organization the Democrats
had retracted in their original plans |
for committee on committees. And |
then they set another precedent. Per- !
hapS for the first time in the history |
of Kansas legislative session. there |
was applause following prayer Rev |
Charles NJ. Sheldon who offered pray |
er for the house members. solemnly |
hoped that the members in their legis- |
lative deliberations would fear God |
rather than their constituents. 1t was |