The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-11
Committee Members Come Out
With Yelled Threats.
They Dare House to Turn Down
Their Recommendation
WOULD FIGHT "PET" BILLS
Gilman Scents Danger and Raj
lies to Committees Support.
More Than 800 Applications
Are Made for Positions.

New members of the house almost
precipitated a legislative row for the
entire session today when they sought
to upset the report of the employees
committee. Smarting under restric-
tons suggested by house members,
committee members and their friends
gave back yelled threats of a fight on
all important committee reports dur
ing the session. J. NJ. Gilman, of
Leavenworth, administration floor
leader. saw the danger sign and led
fight that resulted in support of the
committee after a red hot fight had
been LAUGHED.
The report of the employees commit
tee was submitted by Chairman Tay-
Tor, of Wabaunsee county. 1t provided
that rea ding clerks should be named
by vote of the house and that employees
should not leave their posts for periods
of longer than one hour. The house
amended the report to provide that
employees should not be absent longer
than fifteen minutes.
Then the fight started. Coolidge, of
Smith county, moved that the commit
tee designate the residence of all en-
ployes. Graham, of Jackson county,
told the house he had asked for two
jobs for friends and received none.
Other members found fault with the
report. For time it looked as tho
port, even to the extent of asking for
a new committee.
Chairman Taylor said the report had
been made from nearly 500 applica-
tons from job hunters. He said jobs
had been distributed in consideration
of congressional districts.
No Pic for Travis.
Then Frank Travis of Allen men,
toned that his county had not landed
at the pie counter, altho it was one
of the few Second district counties
which gave Hughes a plurality. More
complaints came. Several members
had brought sons to Topeka. They
wanted them placed on the pay roll as
pages. But there were too many can
didates and the committee could not
find enough jobs for the youngsters.
Then there were doorkeepers, clerk
ships, stenographers' places and other
jobs where members were disa ppointed.
| 1t looked as tho the Committee had the
right of way straight to trouble.
| Gilman saw the trouble and prob
badly threw the switch.
IF you reject this report, you have
simply started row that will last all
winter and tie up legislation and cause
contention on every committee re-
port" said the Leavenworth man. The
members saw the point and finally
voted to approve the report.
Amend Automobile Law.
F. o. Stone of Lyon county today
introduced a bill which would reduce
the amount received by the state from
automobile licenses. He would pro-
vide SO cents to the state department
| from every motor car license instead
/ of Z 5 cents under the present law. He
would not change the motorcycle Ii
| cense provision.
Another clause in the Stone bill pro-
vides that counties in which cars are
owned must spend the license fund for
! hard surface road building. For every
dollar received from motor licenses
to appropriate an equal sum for hard
surface road work.
State to Pay Conyicts.
Under bill in the house today by
Nick johnson of Franklin county, the
state will pay to dependents of state
convicts sum of not less than rs
| cents and not more than S / day. The
money would be paid to families of
men in the state penitentiary and state
reformatory for labor performed
while serving sentence.
Compulsory Pension Law.
w A S Bird of Shawnee county
today introduced the first compulsory
mothers and widows pension bill of
! the 1917 legislative session. Bird s
bill removes the present optional
clause in the law and compells pay
ment of a pension under a proper
showing in the Juvenile court The
money would be paid to widows and
mothers of dependent children. In
event county commissioners refuse
payment, a hearing may be had in the
juvenile court, where county commits
sioners may dcfepd their action.
Would Stop Prairie Fires.
Two bills in the house today-one
| by Samson, of Cove, another by
Heath, of Wichita county-provide
penalties for starting prairie fires.
The Samson bill provides a fine not
exceeding $500 and Jail sentence of
not more than three months for start
ing prairie fires. Heaths bill makes
a maximum fine of $500 and Jail SEN
tence not exceeding six months.
! Western Kansas counties have suf-
fered heavily from prairie fire losses
during the last year. Many of the
fires have beer started thru careless
ness or in an effort to burn the gra SIS
from limited strip of ground.
Wants Majority Jury Verdict.
Holland of Russell county today in
troduce a bill in the house providing
for majority verdicts by juries in civil
cases, where issues in cases are not
determined by the jury in twelve
certain cases a jury of eight men may
be selected to try the case
More Passes for Lawyers.
1 Brown of Greenwood county today
| offered an amendment to the anti
pass Jaw, providing that where a Law
firm represents railroad, that passes
may be given two members of the
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