The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-04
Platform Planks Of Republican
Party Under Special Orders.
Leaders in House Win Have
Opportunity to Test Strength.
OFFER "PROMISS0RK NOTES.
Capper and Majority Leaders
Planning Their Fight.
Nearly Fifteen Constitutional
Amendments Are Inclnded.

Administration PLATFORM pledges
will come up for consideration under
special orders in the house next week
and Republican leaders will have their
first opportunity to determine their
ability to redeem the party's promis-
sorry notes Of 1914. At least q dozen
measures, all urged by the governor
in mis- message or inaugural speech, or
incorporated in the Republican plat
form last fall, will be given a hearing
on the floor of the house next week.
All Of the dozen or fifteen proposed
constitutional amendments will be
dragged before the lower house for
inspection. Last week the house spent
half day looking over the stock of
constitutional propositions. When the
o'clock bell rang, the house washed
its hands of responsibility for that day
and gave the measures a place on the
calendar under special orders. The
order was to have been called up this
morning, but there are several consti-
tutional provisions in the hands OF the
committee. For that reason the men,
bers will inspect all amendments at
the one sitting and select the three
that are most promising.
The field day for constitutional
amendments is now on the calendar
for 10 o'clock next Wednesday morn
ing. Here are a few Of the amend
n1ents that may be considered at that
time:
Initiative and referendum.
Constitutional convention.
One house legislature.
Permit state to engage in building
highways.
Self government for cities.
Permitting submission six constitu-
tional amendments at single election
Nonpartisan election county and
township officers.
Nonpartisan state ballot for certain
officers.
Increasing pay legislative members.
Provide for cooperative agricul-
tural extension work
Three-fourths jury verdict.
Under Special Order.
Those are among the really import
ant constitutional provisions that have
been offered at this session of the leg
isiature. All such measures reported
by the committees will be on the dock
ct for consideration under the special
order
Speaker Stones bill to consolidate
the board of control and the board of
corrections will be given a. special Or
der position for 9 O'Clock next 4A1e1dxy
f<HlteFnoon.-=As originally draHn.. flfe
Stone bill provided for the taking over
of the Democratic board Of control by
the penal board. The economy and eff
f1c1ency committee amended the bill
to provide for the abolition OF the
penal board and permitting the pres
ent board OF control mem bers to serve
the remainder of their terms
Bills to abolish the board of irriga-
ton, live stock sanitary commissioners
office and the office of agent of the
free employment bureau. are also
pending. They may be out of the COM
mittees in time for special order pro-
vision during the coming week.
The child hygiene bill will also come
up next week. An effort was made
to secure special order position for
the bill, but was voted down. The bill
originally provided for a $4,000 ap-
preparation, but came from the COM
mittee with the appropriation item re-
moved.
All of the bills under special order
are Of vital concern to the state ad-
| ministration :. and a number of the
| measures were platform promises of
one or both of the dominant parties
in the recent campaign.