The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-26
House Members Weaken and
Promise to Meet Senate.
THEY GOULD ADJOURN TUESDAY
Now an Admitted Fact That
Figures viii BE Raised.

House Democrats nave pieuSeu
themselves to stay by the senate on
any reasonable" appropriations. In
addition to the sudden attitude OF the
house minority, it is claimed that sew
eraI Republicans have weakened in
their stand and are willing to approve
the same reasonable" increases In
allowances for state institutions ana
departments. With 1t all Is growing
desire to go home that each day be-
comes more pronounced.
II the big appropriations were out
Of the way, there is no doubt but that
the legislature would adjourn and quit
business Tuesday. the end OF the reg
ular session. But it is admitted that
these appropriations will probably
hold the legislature for at least an
other ten ays-possibly longer.
Several times within the last few
DAYS house and senate Democrats have
been in conference regarding appro-
priations. The attitude of the major
ity members Of the house ways and
means committee in framing up ap-
propriation bills without conference
with the senate committee and adding
insult to injury by preparing bills
without consent or approval OF Dem
ocratic members Of the committee. is
having its effect. This action has not
intensified the desire of the Bour-
bops to back up the house committee.
IF the Republican member OF the
COu1tn1tteC 1eIt yuStillCu
the policy OF the house, Democrats
urge that they might now assume the
responsibility of passing the bills.
Will &c on the Job.
When the big educational appropri-
atoms come to the house from the
senate, or when the house ways and
means committee attempts to Substi-
tuto their bills for the senate bills,
senate Democrats will be on the job.
Their work will he to direct the mi
nority forces in their fights and to
block if possible the wholesale
slaughter 4 the state institutions.
1T will probably be impossible to
prevent the passa ge of these bills I'M
less we succeed in holding in line con-
siderable aid from the Republican
side" said one Democratic member
today. But I think the people of
the state are quite awake to the situa-
ton. They have a we'll defined idea
that the house is playing politics at
the expense of the state institutions.
The policy of cutting the apprOpria-
tions for the sake of making a show
ing in the next campaign is not as
popular as a few weeks ago. 1 be-
iieve that the Democratic members
will approve a reasonable increase in
appropriations and that a number of
Republican and Progressive members
will vote with them"
Will Increase Them.
Most members admit that the house
appropriations will be materially in
creased by the conference commit
tees or the senate will fatty refuse to
concur in the reports. And there is
anything but general protest from
the Republican side of the house The
members want to go home-the SOON
err. the better. they urge. But they
do not want to leave town without
making real effort to make the nee
cssary appropriations. Next Tuesday
the pay for members of the legisla-
tIrc will stop. In fact, the members
have drawn their final pay before ad-
journment. There is faint hope that
the several hundred bills on the cal
cndars of the two houses will be en-
acted into law. So there is little to
warrant continuance of the session
The action of the house Democrats
VIII be to approve reasonable in
creases i'm appropriation items. They
may not put their approval on all OF
the senate bills. In fact it is known
that several of the Democratic mem
bers are openly opposed to some OF
the items. But the minority is plan.
ming TO take a definite positive stand
aud the belief of close observers is to
the effect that the house bills will be