The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-05
Legislators viii Ask the State
for an Increase.
Resolution for Constitutional
Amendment Is Planned.
IIIAln nIIna rnn THE crccInM
LUMP SUM FOR THE SESSION
Compensation To Be Placed at
$500 or $500.
The Fifty-Day Limit Also
Would Be Removed.

Legislative members will seek to IN
crease their salaries or per diem under
& concurrent resolution to be o1Iereo
in the senate this winter by Senator
O. w. KanavaI of SedgWlck county
Senator KanaVal stated today that ne
would ask for constitutional amend
ment increasing the pay of legislative
mem bers from SO a day for f1fty Gay
session to $500 or $500 for the session.
Twice an amendment has been SUD
mitted providing for an increase IN
the salaries of legislative members.
Each time the amendment failed to
secure a sufficient number of votes
when submitted to the people In
view of the present high cost of living
and the fact that the average legisla-
tive member spends several hundred
dollars more than his salary, Senator
Kansas believe the amendment will
carry.
''Unskilled laborers receive more
money than members of the legisla-
ture.''' said Senator Kanaval. 81 really
don't believe the people want their
legislators to work for less than their
actual expenses. Yet the average
man who comes to the session spends
more than his salary for fifty-day
session. My resolution will provide
for a straight salary of $500 or $500
for the session, without restrictions as
to the length of the session. Such a
plan will prevent the slipshod method
of trying to wind up the states bust
ness and go home when the fifty days
have expired"
A number of the new legislative
members came to Topeka today.
Most of the members devoted their
time to an effort to find suitable quar-
terS for the session. The real milling
in the hotel Hobbies is not expected to
begin until Saturday.
Senate Caucus Monday.
Senate members today planned to
hold their caucus in the senate cham
Der at o'clock Monday afternoon.
At that time the senate will settle dis
puteS concerning the distribution of
patronage and election of a secretary
Senator Huffman of Cherokee county
is generally slated for president pro-
tenn. He is the senior member of the
upper house in point of service
w. Y. Morgan, lieutenant governor
Will voluntarily relinquish his rights
to the appointment of committees and
distribution of jobs. He will ask the
senate to appoint its own committee
on committees.
a M. Keene of Fort Scott, who
Claims the house speakership nominal
ton by clama ton will come 1To7a
lieKA SafufdGs morning, as VIII Walter
A Layton of Osborne. candidate for
speaker protein. The speakership
caucus will be held in representativ ?
hall Monday afternoon.
Representative Hart of Meade coGn-
~ would add to rather than decrease
he judiciary. Hart came to Topeka
today. He declared he would intro
duce bill in the session providing for
an Industrial court to dispose of all
controversies between labor and en-
ployers.
Senator /. NJ. Mahin of Smith coun-
ty. who is contesting for his seat from
the Fortieth district. came to Topeka
this afternoon. Other members who
arrived today were: Representatives
Coolidge, Smith. county; Hart of
Meade; johnson of Norton Schmidt
of Rice, and Senator ]. H Millfgan
Anderson county. Probably half OF
the members will report for the mill
ing in the hotel Hobbies by Saturday
night. a full attendance of house and
senate members is expected by Sunday
night or Monday morning