The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-13
Senator ]. w. Howe Would
Abolish Kansas Legislature.
He Introduces Bill Providing
for Joint State Assembly.
FOR 4 MORE WELDY BODY
Only Two Members From Each
Congressional District.
And Meetings Gould Be Held
Every Three Months.

The Howe concurrent resolution. in
troduced by Senator J. w. Howe of
Abilene today, calls for the abandon
of legislature and the creation of a
legislative assembly consisting Of two
members from each Of the congress
81 nal districts of the state, with adj
dit nal members If congressman are
elected at large Four-year terms
with salaries of $1,000 per annum are
called for. The assembly would meet
every three months unless called to-
gether oftener by the governor or by
a majority of its own membership.
In most essential respects the
sembly would be the same as those of
the present legislature. The fire.
quency of its meetings. the narrow
ing of responsibility for legislative
acts and the wieldy character of its
size as contrasted with the present
legislative enrolment of 165 members
in both houses. are arguments in ia
vor OF the change advanced by the
author OF the resolution. For two
years the proposal to abandon the
two-house legislature has been dis
cussed In Kansas, it having been first
proposed by Governor George H.
Hodges soon after he entered Office
in 1913. 1t has been made the SUBJ
ject Of a special report, embodying the
criticisms Of statesmen and Journal
lists throughout the world, compiled
Under a legislative resolution Of two
years ago.
To Amend Constitution.
1t is proposed to submit to the vot-
ers of Kansas a prope .tion to amend
the constitution by striking out the
W ole of Article two, sections 119 to
In rrGivy
tn sections containing the changes
outlined above. AS amended the
state constitution would contain the
following provisions relative to the
assembly:
The legislative power to be vested
in a legislative assembly.
Membership to consist Of two rep
resentatives from each congressional
district and two additional members
for each congressman at large.
Assemblymen to receive $4,000 q
year and travelling expenses when Wis
iting state institutions.
Members must be residents Of and
voters in districts from which elected.
Election to congress or appoint
ment to federal Office automatically
to vacate holders seat In assembly
No person convicted Of embezzle-
ment or misuse of public funds to be
allowed to have a seat in the assem-
bly,.
Members must take oath to support
constitutions Of federal and state gov
ernments.
majority OF the assembly to con-
stitute a quorum and the assembly to
be judge of selection and Qualifica-
tons OF its own members.
All vacancies for unexpired terms to
be filled by election. provided. should
majority OF the members resign or
be disqualified. the governor shall I'LL
such vacancies until a special election
can be called unless such vacancies oc-
cur within sixty days of a general cleo
ton.
must be entered Immediately upon the
journal Of the assembly. which latter
must be published.
Every member to have right of pro-
test which must be entered Immediate
ly upon the journal.
To Originate Bills.
Bills shall originate in the assembly
and may be amended or rejected by
A majority of the members elected
to the assembly voting in affirmative
shall be necessary to pass any bill or
resolution.
Bills may be passed over the veto of
the governor by a two-thirds vote.
They shall become effective even
though not approved by the governor II
not returned by him within three days.
The governor shall have right of partial
veto in appropriation bills.
Every bill must be read on three sep
arate days, except in emergencies
No member of the assembly may be
arrested. save for a felony, while 60
ing to, coming from or engaging in a
session nor shall he be served with any
civil process during session or for fif-
teen days before.
All terms shall begin the second
Tuesday in January.
II the last mentioned provision is car
ried out members would be elected at a
special election following the 1916 cleo
ton when the amendment would be
submitted to the voters of Kansas.