The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-06
Senate FayOrs Commission Sug.
costing Names of Receivers.
Debate Over Measure Warns to
a Hot Verbal Fight.
GETTY LEADS THE OPPOSITION
He Calls Commission ~GOlden
Calf of Gov. Capper.
Bawling of Calf Confused With
Voice of People, He Asserts.

At the end of the first really spirit
ed debate of the 1917 session the SEN
ate Monday afternoon passed by \
vote of 81 to the bill introduced by
kimball. of Labette, authorizing the
public utilities commission to recon-
mend" to the court suitable person
for appointment as receiver of a de-
funct utility.
That was after Senator Getty, Of
Wyandotte, had attacked the public
utilities commission fore and aft and
had opened it up wide with the idea
of showing the rest of the senate what
makes it go. The contingent fund,
Senator Getty indicated, is the mo-
tice power.
Getty's attack followed an amend
ment offered by Terrell, of Chau-
tauqua, removing from the bill that
paragraph even permitting the COM
mission to suggest the person the
court should appoint as a receiver
The moment the amendment was or
fered the friends of the measure
flocked to it's defense, explaining that
the Terrell amendment struck at us
very vitals.
Il suspected as much when 1 Of
fered the amendment" said F'errell@
The amendment and the fact that
Senator Paulen, who was in the CHAIR
was lenient gave Senator Getty his
opportunity.
when the proper time comes l intend
to move that this bill be referred back
to the senate with the recommends
ton that the enacting clause pc
stricken off"
The nearest friends of the measure
gasped. Such a motion, if carried,
meant instant death.
When" demanded Getty, has the
public utilities commission ever dem
knowledge of utilities or any special
qualifications for the appointment or
receivers for utilities?
Governors Golden Calf.
This public utilities commission
the most expensive, the most luXur-
iously quartered department of the
whole state, gentlemen, is the govern
or's golden calf to which he would
have this senate bow down and wor-
ship.
Some one up there on the fifth
floor of this building sees and under
stands the Importance of keeping
things moving; some one wants feed
for the golden calf. The interstate
commerce commission and the higher
courts of the land have. prescribed the
limits of this big, expensive commits
sion ana its business has been reduced
frightfully.
1T is my opinion that this bill is
merely an effort to provide feed for
the golden calf. Picking has become
slim. The feed bill has continued I'M
abated, hence a measure of this kind,
which certainly ought to make it pos
sible to make a show of business.
And the governor-an honest,
careful man-has been misled, He
has been made believe there is a need
for a law like this. He mistakes the
bawling of the calf for the voice of
the people. He is midled.
so often, gentlemen. have 1 seen
things of this kind used as vehicle
by some one who wished to transport
himself to some higher plane of pub
lie life. 1 have no ambitions of that
character. 1 am opposed to this mea-
sure
Senator Getty talked for fifty five
minutes along this line, drawing upon
his fund of sarcasm and ridicule. Only
slight attention did he pay to the
amendment upon which he was sup
posed to talk. After he had COM
pleted, the chair served notice that re-
marks must be held more closely to
the motions made.
J Senator Schoch. of Shawnee, oppos-
ed Senator Getty for the first time
since the session began. They have
been together at practically all times.
Courts Not Bound.
IT have never been a defender of
the public utilities commission" he