The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-27
Executive Council Decides Kan
sas Must Obey the Law.
The Capitol VIII Be PatrOlled
: by Fire Guards.
TOBE NO CENSORING OF FILMS
Until All Legal Requirements
Are Complied With.
Bids for Removing Rubbish
7 Will Be Asked For.

Rubbish piles in the state house
sub basement are to be cleaned up
The building is to be patrolled by tlrc
guards. Pictures will be censored in
fhefstate house only when proper fire
projection IS afforded. Those were
decisions today of the state executive
council. Members of the council near
" missed their MONDAY lunch IN de-
cfding the issues. but the vote was
final and Immediately effective.
Five of the six members of the state
executive council sat during today's
session and the idea that the state
should observe a few of her own laws
,ves apparent in expressions Of several
of abe members. There was unani-
nous vote among the members when
a Broposition was submitted to clean
up- the sub-basement OF the state
house and to dodge as many fire risks
as possible. The only question was
an1Dle funds with which to do the
work Members finally agreed that
funds of the council would be used
possibly Governor Capper will himself
draw on his contingent fund-and the
clean up crusade will start imme-
diately.
For an hour. though. members OF
the council fought over methods of a
fire patrol. Under an electric alarm
system. night Watchmen are expected
TO register from each of the nine boxes
each hour. 1t means an hourly climb
floor of the building ard S. NJ. Young
ana c. W Miller, watchmen, threat
ened 20 resign if the order were en-
forced. They simply could not stand
the work. they declared. Besides, it
waS urged, the state house had never
precaution at this time seemed I'M
reasonable and entirely out of the
question.
Hours Were Too Long.
The original plan provided that reg
istrattons be made each hour from 10
o'clock at night until 6 o'clock in the
morning. The working schedule pro-
vided that the watchmen give 10
hours service to the state seven days
in the week. 365 days a YEAR 1t was
too much and the watchmen complain
ed bitterly. The council was sorry
Finally they reduced the time to
eleven hours a day-starting at six
o'clock and quitting at 5 o'clock.
Earl Akers, state treasurer, pro-
posed that the watchmen register ev-
cry two hours. J. T. Botkin, secretary
OF state, voted with Akers But the
Akers- Botkin combination could get
no further strength.
W. f. Davis, state auditor, offered a
substitute to provide for hourly regis
tration from fire boxes. w. D. Ross,
state superintendent of public -instruc-
ton, seconded the motion. Governor
Capper, who presided, voted for the
substitute and the old order with the
original program prevailed-less two
hours a day for watchmen.
Members of the council spent 20
minutes in a discussion of the propos-
ed quarters for censoring motion pic
lures. superintendent Ross denied
that he was trying to force inspection
of the films in the sub basement of
the state house without adequate fire
protection. 1t was then admitted that
$500 would be required to equip prop
er quarters. Some of the mem bers
objected to this expense. AS a result
the inspection of films in the state
house is yet a matter of uncertainty.
One. thing is certain, however: The
state has decided to observe her own
laws if the work is done under the
capitol dome.
It is probable that S175 or 5000 will
be spent at once in cleaning up the
sub basement. Bids on the work will
be asked at once.
s NJ Brewster, attorney general, did
not attend the meeting. He is in COT
feyVille.