The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-27
But It's a TOothIess, BOneless,
Spineless Measure.
1t Gives Governor No More
Power Than He Now Has.
USE QUESTIONABLE TACTICS
Administration Leaders JuggIe
Much to Get Votes.
Several Members Switched
Their Votes Back and Forth.

After being held in deadlock near
ly an hour, the house by a bare con-
stitutional two-thirds vote and by
questionable legislative tactics today
passed the emasculated, meaningless
administration executive budget reso-
luton. A changed vote was whispered
/ to a clerk, transmitted to Speaker
Keene, was unannOunced and a call
of the house lifted by a misleading
statement of facts before opposition
members had an opportunity to an
nounce changes that would have prob
ably beaten the measure.
1t was the final. desperate, dying
effort of administration supporters
to save something to which they
might point as a record of alleged
accomplishments The reform which
Governor Capper had urged for his
successors, but which he declined to
observe during his own administra-
ton, had been amended until it car
! ried little except a resolving clause
amendment to the constitution was
explained by Speaker Keene before
the roll was called in an apparent eff
fort to rally votes to its support.
When the roll call was completed,
the measure had received 10 votes
l short of the necessary two-thirds
A call of the house was demanded
and held nearly an hour. During
that time Speaker Keene mentioned
the names of various members who
could be relied upon to support the
resolution. A number of absentees
were called before the house and sew
eral members changed their votes.
Several Switched Votes.
With a vote needed to put the reso-
luton across, Bird, of Shawnee,
! changed from no to yes. Three other
members who had voted yes, prompt
Iy changed to no. Then Two more
| votes were added for the resolution.
One vote was needed to put the meas
ure across. A desperate effort was
made to find Bardwell, of Riley,
whom Speaker Keene asserted would
vote for the resolution
! From the opposition came the re-
port that several affirmative votes
were ready to go to the negative II
another yea vote was registered. The
opposition was merely holding the
line. Both sides were in earnest, serl-
Gus caucus in the most spectacular
fight of the session.
Then Kline, of Trego, a Republican,
walked to the reading desk with sew
eral members. He had voted against
the resolution. He announced his
the press ia able, Immediately below the
reading clerk desk. 1t was the vote
needed to put the resolution across
unless there were other changes. But
| il Kline S change was ever announced
| no one seems to have heard it.
| Robert Stone, of Shawnee, working
for the amendment, that he might be
consistent in the introduction of his
resolution earlier in the session. had
| forced the holding of the house call
AS Kline whispered his change, stone
secured the attention of the chair
! Il don't wish to hold the he use in
| a call beyond a reasonable length OF
time and I move that the call of the
house be now raised" said stone 1t
was accepted by the opposition as
meaning that the administration had
abandoned its fight. Speaker keene
| hurriedly put the motion, which was
| probably heard by less than half of
the house members. 1t was declared
to be carried. Then the speaker read
the vote which put thru the resolu-
/ ton.
Piper Switched Twice.
AS the speaker started to put the
motion to raise the call of the house
! Piper, of Montgomery, sought to ad-
dress the chair. He had voted in the
negative, changed to the affirmative
and Just advised his friends that he
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