The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-26
House Gives Administrations
Budget Scheme Black Eye.
Haryey of Clark Iniects Amend
ment That Kills Measure.
STONE LEADS IN BIG FIGHT
Ia Condemns Practice of Max
ing Blind Appropriations.
Party Platform Plea Made in
~ Effort to Save Bill.

asack of organization in the house
AIDED another defeat today to the
sting of reverses which have met
ADMINISTRATION forces in the state leg
isfNure After saving the resolving
clause in the Mack provision for
constitutional amendment for an eX-
ecntive budget system, Harvey, of
Cark county, injected an amendment
wkfeh practically killed the measure
aI8obert stone of Shawnee county,
LISTED as an administration anti, led
thu fight for adoption of the Mack
Amendment. In his fight he poured
viSfiol in the open wounds of the Cap
peg crowd. None the less he directed
a R7eVer. ingenious fight, but at the
he'd of a cause that was unorganized
a ID wabbled, wavered and broke on
eSA1y issue, only to plunge in the
d itth at critical moment. stone
ssFsed a final white chip when he
changed his vote on the Harvey
Amendment that he might move a re-
consideration.
Moore. Of Cowley, and Gilman, of
Leavenworth, majority floor leader,
objected the fight against the Mack
resolution. 1t was enc of the prettlest
legislative fights of the session. From
the first tap of the bell the opposition
was after the budget plan with botn
fists A majority of the Democrats
went with the opposition to the meas
ure and Mack's pet was in trouble
every minute of the way. One of the
first moves was 20 strike out the re-
solving clause. That laid open the
entire proposition. 1t was saved-but
wffh "A vote so far from the constitu-
tional two-thirds as to make final
passage most uncertain and improb-
able.
Stones Arguments.
6a1 IN
inIhe constitution Kansas may have
house like this one-one which wants
the budget one Gay and repudlates 1t
the next" was the shot from Robert
StSne of Shawnee. Except among
Members of the ways and means COM
mfttee, no member knows whether the
university needs a new building or
whether a state hospital is crowded or
has more room than it needs. be-
lieTe these matters should come be-
fore the whole house. But thru the
passage of a mere bill, you affect only
the existing legislature. The next ses-
sion may vote to repeal the law.
I'VE spend days talking about the
trimming of hedge fences. We argue
thruout the session about paving and
local bills. Then we spend a few
hours in passing appropriations which
vote away more than ten million dol
lars of the peoples money. We do
that in a few hours and know nothing
about what we vote"
jackson of Anderson, pointed to the
party platform. 1t was the first time
the platform has been waved in the
face of house members during the
session.
Il ran on that PLATFORM said Jack
son. SO did the governor. So did a
lot of you fellows. When we go home
and try to explain our vote on the bone
dry bill and the good roads bill,
think we will need something to point
TO. L expect to favor this resolution"
Moore of Cowley wasn't bit wor-
rled about the party platform planks.
He didn't believe in the proposed
amendment and he wasn't afraid to
say so.
This Real Wolf.
Every few days we hear the cry
OF wolf on this floor" said Moore
RMS is real wolf-one which would
tear out the vitals of our state govern
ment. This means arbitrary DEPOT
ISM in the matter of appropriations.
What. more right has a governor to
limit appropriations than he has to
limit taxation or other legislation or
anything he may desire? This pro-.
vision Gables the legislature to hire
as many janitors and stenographers
as it desires. But it says it can't
put a brick in a state building unless
the governor recommends it.
Let me tell you this legislature
should retain to itself the authority
which the constitution gives. We can
not expect that we will elevate to the
governors chair m9N of higher intel
ligence, higher integrity or higher
purpose than the men who serve on
our ways and means committees"
Il am positively opposed to the
limitation of power to one man, be he
governor or any other official. who
may dictate to this legislature what it
shall and shall not do" said Gilman,
administration floor leader He de-
clared the measure was an absolute
violation of the principle of repre-
sentative government
Bill Sure of Defeat
On the vote tc strike out the re-
solving clause, 81 members voted for
the motion and Sc against To pass
the resolution would require 81 votes
or all of the nay votes and all ex-