The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-18
Little Hope for Repeal of Elec-
ton Law Now.
Election Committee of House
Ready With Axe.
ARBITRATE LABOR DISPUTES
Lawmakers Behind the Pro-
gram to Settle Troubles.
Bills Rushed Thru House in
Less Than 26 Hours.

The fight for repeal of the primary
election law is to be smothered in
house committee rooms. Members of
the elections committee of the house
today announced that the Noble bill
providing for repeal of the law would
be strangled before it is sent to the
reading desk. Action of the commit
tee doubtless means an end to the eff
fort radically to change or repeal the
primary law during the present ses-
sion of the legislature.
Mobiles bill was offered for the pur-
pose of securing a vote on the meas
ure. A number of members who
quietly admitted their sentiments
were against the primary measure, also
candidly admitted that if a vote were
forced they would think first of the
folks at home and vote to sustain the
law. Even the Labette county mem
Der doubted his ability to force thru
the repeating act at this session. But
he wanted record and declared he
was not afraid to meet the issue and
fight the primary in the open.
Since the measure went to the cleo
tons committee, many house mem
bers are said to have indicated to COM
mittee members that an adverse re-
port on the measure would be per-
fectly satisfactory The fight was to
slaughter the bill in the committee and
prevent a record. Under this plan the
committee report will stand and mem
bers will not be compelled to return to
their constituents and explain their
vote
"a report on the bill would have
raised all kinds of trouble in the
house, said Representative Samson OF
Cove county, chairman of the COM
;nittee 1T would have meant lot
of argument and erandstanding on the
floor without producing results The
mouse doesn't intend to repeal the
primary law and-~there is no use
dumping the bill on the floor to take
up a lot of time that can well be used
for other purposes"
And that is all from the committee.
1t is the final rites for Mobiles first,
last and only pet bill and doubtless
means an end to the fight to repeal
the primary at this session
Settle Industrial Disputes.
1t is very probable that the Kansas
legislature will make some provision
for settlement of all industrial dis
putes by arbitration. The plan OF the
lawmakers behind the program is to
block possibilities for lockouts, strikes
and other industrial trouble. In a de-
gree the industrial dispute bills before
the house and senate are prepared
with consideration for proposed fed
eral lePislation.
EVERY LEGISLATIVE SESSION. III year .
has dealt with the disputes of labor
organizations in their campaigns for
new laws and amendments to old
ones Now the legislature will be
asked to provide commission for the
settlement of all industrial disputes
the state.
House Makes Record.
House committees made record
this week in the handling of bills. Not
only did the committees MAINTAIN a
high batting average in the slaughter
of bills, but they nearly broke speed
records in returning bills for consid-
alton on the floor. Measures intro
duced at the house session Tuesday
morning. were read a second time
Wednesday morning, referred. con-
sidered by committees, reported back
at a late Wednesday afternoon session
and appeared on the calendar this
morning ready for consideration.
Measures up for third reading this
morning in several instances made the
trip thru the house in less than
twenty-siX hours.
More Pure Weddings.
F. o. Stone of Lyon county contin-
ued his struggle for the publication
of matrimony. He offered house
bill providing that only ministers Ii
censed for that purpose shall be al
lowed to pronounce a wedding cere-
uted to the publication of matrimony
with a bill which provides that mar
riage intentions must be published in
an officially designated paper at least
three weeks preceding the wedding.
Sewers believes his bill will lessen
competition in long distance court
ships reduce the available supply of
town gossip and provide a new reve-
nue. for the country papers. A similar
bill has made several trips to the legis-
lature. but always encountered mis-
fortune.
Herndon Out of Race.
w K Herndon of Wyandotte
county, Republican. has withdrawn his
contest for the seat from the Ninth
representative district. Herndon's
withdrawal gives the seat to Sam
Clasen. Democrat, who was elected on
the face of the returns. The Republi-
can candidate withdrew from the con-
test when the house elections commit
tee refused to go into the allegations
of fraud. irregularities and misconduct
after granting a recount of votes in
contecfad nrecinctS