The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-09
Special Session Stares Kansas
Legislators in Face.
Both House and Senate Stand
Up for Own Appropriations.
BITTER FIGHT IN LOWER HOUSE
Speaker Stone Charged Vicious
Pork Barrel Methods.
Rep. Martin Said He Was Will
ing to Resign and Go Home.
SENATE CONFEREES EXPLAIN IT
Declare House Wouldn't Listen,
Even to Cut Expenditures.
Senator Porter Says He'll Ask
Tents for Pittsburg Normal.

The senate this afternoon passed a
resolution providing for the appoint
ment of IA new conference committee
TO settle appropriation differences be-
tween the two legislative bodies. 1t
is now up to the house.
shortly after noon today. the house
by vote of ~ to 46 rejected Il mo-
ton from the minority for a new con-
ference committee on appropriations.
The house will late this afternoon
originate IL resolution to adjourn. Ad-
ninistratiOn members admit they are
trying to force an adjournment and a
special session unless the senate ac-
cedes to the house demands.
Unless a new conference program
can be worked out this afternoon, the
house and senate are hopelessly dead
locked on appropriations The house
wants to quit and go home. The SEN
ate is willing to make concessions and
try again. With the senate blocking
an adjournment, it is impossible to
QUIT business. Should the two houses
get together on an adjournment. with
out passing the appropriation bills,
special session will be called.
After three hours of debate this
morning. the house voted down a res
olutiOn to appoint a new conference
committee. A motion by Doerr of
Pawnee named the conferees. But
later the minority leader accepted an
amendment by Martin, Republican, to
permit the speaker to name the new
committee. Even this motion failed
of a majority and the house hurled
back to the senate the challenge to
accept it's appropriation bills or moth
ing. In the meantime the senate sat
the lid and kept down the houses
effort to recall the final adjournment
motion and force a special session.
Hot Words Exchanged.
Hot words were exchanged by
house members during the discussion.
Six Democrats jumped ranks and
voted with the Republicans.
AS many Republicans joined the
Democrats Everyone was charged
with playing politics. The follies of
Democracy in the state and nation
were freely discussed. The sins and
errors of the Republicans from Unit
ed States senator to road OverSeer
were pointed to and shortly after
noon vote was had on the conference
committee motion with everyone peev-
iSh and exhausted
On the floor of the house Martin of
Reno. Republican. led the Republican
revolt. He said he wanted the Iegis-
lature to play ball. He couldn't af-
ford to neglect his business affairs and
come back. he said.
If we adjourn without making
these appropriation l will forthwith
send my resignation to the governor
declared the Hutchinson lawyer
ME, too" shouted half a dozen
members, both Republicans and Dem
ocrats, who were thinking Iongingly
of the dear ones at home.
Speaker Stone fought the motion
for new conference. He charged
that the senate was being overridden
by the board of control and board of
administration and had made up an
appropriation pork barrel
Pork Barrel. Says Stone.
This is the biggest pork barrel
ever coopered in a Kansas Iegisla-
ture.' Stone told house members
Stone said the senate was weak and
had yielded to the demands of the
school lobby. Il don't charge corrup-
tion,'' he said. but utter weakness
and the house cannot meet them be-
cause they have magnified their de-
mands and responsibilities. They
have thrown a challenge in our teeth
"a challenge that they will hold up
the salaries for state, executive and
judicial officers unless we accede.
say there is your challenge at your
feet. We will go to the people on
this issue"
Tom Moxcey and A. A. Doerr led