The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-02-28
HIS APPEAL IN Vain
Governor Capper Couldn't
Swing Legislative House.
Visit in Person Failed to Save
the Receivership Act.
CAMPAIGN LITERATURE FOR HIM
Martin of Reno Charges Gov
ernOr With Senatorial Boom.
Members Rap SO-Called "Unin-
vited, UnannOuncedo Speech.
CAMPAIGN LITERATURE FOR HIM

Frantic and desperate in an effort
to save something from the legislative
wreck, Governor Capper rushed UNI
invited before the house of represen-
tatives with an appeal for the public
utilities receivership act which had
been killed by house members. The
governors action was in violation of
all established precedent. His appeal
bore no fruit. 1t merely brought the
bill back for four-hour debate in
which the house upheld its former
action and again struck out the en-
acting clause.
Governor Capper's extreme and I'M
usual action brought resentment from
many house members. The resent
ment was intensified when the exec
utive was asked to declare his posi-
ton on the Massachusetts ballot act,
under consideration at the time of the
governors interruption of the pro-
ceedings The motion was properly
seconded, but was never put before
the house While adminiStra ton
members called for the regular order
of business, Governor Capper left the
hall.
Every wheel and cog in the state
administration machine was placed in
action in effort to put thru the
bill which was to be offered to the
utilities. receiverships. Following the
defeat of the measure in the house
committee of the whole, George R.
Allen of Wyandotte, champion of the
measure in the house. rushed to the
governors office accOmpa MED by a
representative of the governors pa
per. Later Governor Capper, unin-
vited and unannounced, made his ap-
pearance on the floor and from the
speakers stand addressed the house
in plea to reconsider action and
pass the bill.
Now that the governor has SO
kindly expressed his views of the re-
ownership bill on which the house
has already taken action, 1 move that
he now express to the house his
sideration, said HerShberger of
Kiowa county.
L second that motion" said Hol-
land of Russell
Regular order. regular ORDER
clamored Bird of Shawnee, who has
rushed to support anything and every
thing which anyone intimated to be
favorable to the governor, the wom-
ems lobby or the uplift generally.
Regular order" prevailed In fact,
HerShbergerS motion faS never put
The vitality important Massa chusetts
ballot bill then under consideration
was never mentioned But the tooth
less, colorless. ineffective receivershin
measure which had been amended by
the senate to mean nothing in par
ticular, had called the governor be-
fore the legislature and precipitated
a fight that continued half the night
Speak of Gas Case.
Rising from the committee of the
whole, Allen moved to reinstate the
receivership bill by eliminating it
from the report. He finally won his
point by one vote. Not, however, I'M
=; d i
that if the bill was placed back on
the calendar for consideration, he
would tell few plain, simple, un-
vanished facts about the gas case
1t was the gas case to which admin
istration members constantly referred
IN speaking of the alleged merits Of
the pending bill. Yet the bill did not
permit the utilities commission to APP
point receivers nor to direct their af-
fairs nor to limit restrict salaries
of attorneys and receivers. In an eff
fort to save the bill, tho attorneys and
en- ployes from the offices of the utili-
ties commission rushed to the legisla-
ture to confer with their friends or
lend their presence in the lobby.
At the might session, tho, Governor
Capper's desire to save few mean
ingless measures from the legislative
| wreck was displayed on the floor of
the house. Republican and Democrat
members of strength and prominence
Jumped on the receiVerShip mea sure
with both feet. Efforts of the admin
istration to hold the house Republi-
cans in line failed utterly. Governor
Capper's speech and efforts of his
| supporters made little if any change
| in conditions and such Republican
leaders as Gilman, Martin, Moore
and Geddes carried the fight against
| the governors program.
Il nave the highest regards for the
governor as a man." declared Gilman,
administration floor leader but no
man ever proposed SO many measures
that disturbed or upset the three CO.
| ordinate principles of government
! Campaign Legislation.
| This is a campaign before this
| legislature for campaign thunder for
next year" said the sarcastic Martin
| of Reno county. For one, 1 am sick
and tired of it. This stuff dragged
| before us is just material for editor
I lals for certain newspapers and for
speeches by certain politicians. Let's
| wind up our business and go home
and quit trying to make an issue for
someone to- run for office
Let me say that this is an insult
to every mans intelligence on the
| floor of the legislature said Geddes
! of Butler. in a denunciation of Gov
| ernor Capper's unlimited visit to the
house to direct reconsideration of leg
islation. Maybe 1 don't understand
| the game of politics but where is the
demand that this legislature rescind
its action to pass a law that means
nothing?''
Holland and Caudill, Democrats
aided in the fight ga inst n raoo,-,5