The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-25
MAY BACK UP NOW
Leaders Not So
Sure About Budget.
Wake Up When Capper Offers
to Submit Estimate.
CONCEALED SMASH At STONE
Feud With Governor Is Show
ing Itself Daily Now.
Stumbling Blocks Piled High in
Legislative Path.
CONCEALED SMASH At STONE

Governor Cappers pet campaign
hobby-the executive budget system
did not look so tempting when sud-
denly applied to his own administra-
ton In a special message to the leg
islature, the governor took a carefully
concealed smash at the jaw of Robert
Stone of Shawnee, author of the res
olution inviting the governor to pre-
pare a budget. Then the governor
explained that if the legislature SIM
ply demanded it, he would prepare
and submit a budget under certain
conditions and with certain restric
tionS.
Administration members in the
house had found time to take a Sec
ond look at the Stone resolution be-
fore the governor sent his message.
The program which looked so bright
and promising when applied to future
Kansas governors didn't seem the
least bit inviting when suddenly tried
on the present governor, altho he
might be champion of the program.
Echoes of the reading clerks voice
were still rafting in the galleries and
corridors when Walter A. Layton of
Osborne county, speaker pro TEN,
made clear the plan of the administra-
( ton. Layton who had voted for the
Stone resolution when introduced
now moved a reconsideration of the
i vote by which the measure was passed.
Some sudden change had come over
! the member from Osborne county,
who on the previous day had support
| ed the Stone measure and displayed a
note from the governor himself in
which he stated that he would accept
the Stone invitation to prepare bud
get for the present legislature lay
tons motion laid over a day under
( the rules.
Governor Capper's message explain
| ed that he was willing to submit a
/ budget if the house and senate would
| concur in the Stone resolution He
| also stipulated an agreement that the
| legislature should not increase his
| budget. Then several additional STUN
bling blocks were piled in the path OF
the legislature. Yes, the governor
| would cheerfully try out the system
which he recommended for future
| governors
! IF and But
The legislature should remember
that the house and senate ways and
means committees have already as
signed their work. The legislature is
now in its third week. An executive
budget under the Stone resolution real
ly isn't the plan the governor had in
mind in his campaign speeches and
message to the legislature. The budget
really wouldn't be binding if submit
ted. Anyway the budget at this time
couldn't be given the attention its i'm
portance, demands. Again, a budget
under the present plan, wouldn't be sc
satisfactory as the budget which the
| governor had in mind when he wrote
| his message. In fact it would be bu
| slight improvement over the present
committee system of handling appro-
priations.
But I have no desire to shirk re
sponsibility," says the governor in thu
closing paragraph of his message
land both houses concurring, L shall
be pleased to submit a budget at tn,
earliest moment that will admit O
the consideration which the numer
Gus items of such a bill require, anC
with the express understanding tina
the appropriation items submitted
may be reduced but shall not be in
creased by the legislature
And with all the enthusiasm whicl
the governor displayed in respondin,
to the budget call, the administration
members Immediately paved the wa.
to back up on the Stone invitation.
Pension Law Has Bad Day.
House members who for an hou
indicated they would favor compul
sorry mothers pension law, took al
the teeth out of the measure befor
recommending the Bird bill from th,
committee of the whole. The pc
clause in the bill providing a shall