The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-15
Sixth Period Is of Vital I'm
portance to Administration.
Serious Consideration of Appro-
priatiOn Measures.
But Both Houses Still Have
1000 Bills on Calendar.
Ten Hours . Day Is Program
for Kansas Legislature.

Ten hours hard work each day is
the program OF the Kansas legisla-
ture this week in the fight to clean up
the heavy calendar and adjourn as
nearly on time as possible. Today
marked the opening of the sixth week
and the thirty-fifth legislative day of
the 1915 session.
When the house convened today, it
began work on the old non-union
schedule o'clock morning session
with probable adjournment at 1890
or IL o'clock at night. This program
means at least ten hours hard work
each day for the legislative members.
Because OF the slow progress that has
marked the work of the law makers
in their five weeks effort. it is prob
able that the night sessions will soon
be extended to read from 1880 p. m.
ers went home Saturday for the week
end. they found just 20 measures ac-
tually enacted into law and more than
1000 bills on the calendar and in the
committees awaiting final action.
The session this week is of vital i'm
portance to the state administration.
Tuesday afternoon the house will de-
clare an open season on appropria-
tions for state institutions. There is a
million dollar margin between the
budgets approved by the senate COM
mittee and appropriations recon-
will come when the house will be
asked to endorse it's own committee.
An effort will be made to keep appro-
priations away from conference
committee. To do this, it is probable
that the house will in some way make
concessions to the senate and slightly
increase its original appropriation bills
in the hope that the upper house may
concur in the amendments without
asking for a conference. A confer
n iof q
tie up of legislation and make certain
q late adjournment.
Adjourn March 20.
AS for adjournment. there is little
discussion of that question at this time.
A number of the members have ex-
pressed a desire to go home, but there
will be no haste regarding a final adj
journment until the members have
seen their pet bills safely out of the
committee rooms and on their way to
final passage. March 20 is generally
believed to be the probable date for
adjournment, but that matter may not
be considered for another week.
Final introduction of original bills
and resolutions ceased today in both
tn, house and senate. The house has
extended to the ways and means COM
mittee the remainder of the week to
close it's hearings for heads of state
Institutions and departments and will
permit appropriation bills as late as
Many important bills are sched-
uled for consideration this week. The
senate will probably take up the
Stone bill to abolish the state penal
board and may take action on consti-
tutiOnal provisions which found Their
way through the house last week.
In the house has been a rumor OF
n new committee resolution for an
initiative and referendum. The mat
ter is still uncertain. Even though q
compromise measure might be intro
duced. it is believed that there are
enough members positively opposed to
the reform to defeat its passage.
The big fight in the house this week
will be the effort of the administration
steering committee to advance party
measures to special orders and to pu
through the lower branch of the
legislature at least a few of the pro.
visions in the Republican platform Of
last fall. Under a caucus agreement
no Republican members will figh
platform policies on the floor, al
though the right is accorded to eacf
member to vote his own convictions
which virtually means no caucus gag
As yet none of the party pledges hav,
been written into law and the admin
Istration looks to the house to make
showing. The real test on party is
sues may come before the end of tn,