The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-20
Frantic Effort to Win Educa-
tional Institutlon Budget.
LAMBERTSOn CLOGS WHEELS
Brown County Senator Called
Shouse ON Reconsideration.
Rumors Special Session Loom
On Before Administration.

ing the big Duo&ot9 1OF e0ucallOudA
institutions was introduced in the
senate last night perforce. because,
in the absence Of six Of its friends.
the original had been killed by a vote
of 20 to IA at the Friday afternoon
session. Under q suspension OF the
rules the budget was sent in once
more by the ways and means commit
tee and was advanced to second read
ing for consideration in the commit
tee of the whole by common consent.
The failure of tho ways and means
committee to find q majority vote on
its big school budget precipitated an
Intensely dramatic situation in the
senate Just before the hour Of after
ators had been excused to go to Leav-
enworth on official business connected
with the penitentiary appropriation
bill soon to come up. and among them
were at least five who would have
voted for the bill.
There had been a fight on the big
appropriation items for new buildings.
totaling 100000. recommended by
the senate ways and means commit
tee. It's opponents included at least
five Democrats and nine Republicans.
On both sides was q small nucleus OF
strongly partisan voters, but the di-
vision was in no sense made on party
lines.
Couldn't Reconsider Vote.
When 1t was discovered that the bill
would fail of q majority Senate Jouett
ShOuse, chairman Of the finance COM
mittee which had drafted the bill,
changed his vote from AYE" to mo-"
for a reconsideration. Senator W. p.
Lambertson of Brown county, who had
insistently opposed all the building
items. then sprung the surprise by dig
ging up a. rule which prohibits the re-
consideration OF a vote on an appro-
priation bill which has once been lost.
Talk OF Special Session.
Democratic senator's. glad Of a
chance to embarrass the administra-
ton, declared their willingness to let
the appropriation bill stay dead. Fail
ure OF the legislature to pass an ap-
preparation for stare schools would
mean a special session of the legisla-
ture. The usual decorum of the up
per house was forgotten as the realiza-
would follow the enforcement of the
rules dawned upon the members Of
the body.
''we'n hold a special session."
shouted Senator ]. w. Howe. Demo-
crat.
YES. it's all right with u.s. vecif-
Grated Senator Carney.
The Republican side 81 the senate
was silent.
Chairman Shouse Of the ways and
means committee reminded the senate
that his committees work on the bill
had finished when it was delivered to
the senate.
'"The matter of an appropriation for
the educational institutions Is now in
the hands Of the Legislature said he.
Under our rules, the ways and means
committee is prohibited from drawing
nv hi ~ r.S,f
There il no reason to criticise any
senator for his vote. Each has a right
to express his own beliefs I know,
however, that the six senators who
are absent this afternoon would have
supported the appropriation BILL
There's no use to get mad about
this" declared Senator Noah L. Bow
man. one of the Democratic senators
who refused to vote for the building
items. I'VE have q right to vote our
opinions and 1 voted mine. No one
has a right to charge any member
with bad faith. I'm willing. to come
back for a special session, but don't
be bluffed into supporting this bill.
I move we adjourn"
! Lets adjourn until we cool off,
suggested a Republican who had sup
ported the appropriation.
Cool Heads Prevail
Cooler counsel during the recess foI
supper approved the plan Of reintro-
ducing the appropriation bill by un-
animous consent, which was done by
Chairman Shouse when the evening
session convened. With a bare quorum
present for night session. the ways
and means committee BILL under q
new number, was advanced through
first and second readings and referred
to the committee of the whole senate
where it will receive consideration in
the coming week.
House Has No Educational Budget.
|. When the senate's educational
budget had been killed yesterday the
legislature of 1915 faced the situation
of being entirely without an appro-
! priation bill, for none has been drawn
in the house Of representatives.
Probably one-half Of the Republi.
can side Of the senate stood behind the
big building budget yesterday and arr
! expected to line up for it in the sec
ond fight which will probably mani
i fest itself in the coming week in al
effort to eliminate certain items OF thu
bill