The Topeka state journal., 1919-02-11
The Senate Acts Favorably on
Shorter .Day" for Firemen.
Thompson of Hutchinson il
Vigorous Kick, However.
SCHOCH SETS A FAST PACE
Throws q Half Dozen New
Bills in the Hopper.
Would Buy More Land for Boys
Industrial School.

Will s. Thompson, state senator
from Hutchinson, is not exactly
Damon and Pythias friend of city fire
department men. He recognizes that
they are something of necessary evil
and that it is essential for cities to
have them, but he is not in favor re-
ducing their pay loafing hours. When
the senate was considering house
bill by Hegler that would not require
firemen to remain on duty more than
IL hours a day, Thompson made
vigorous kick.
For days all a fireman has to do
is to borrow a chew of tobacco and
play seven up. Thompson said. II
do not see any reason for reducing
fireman's hours in face of the fact
that such a reduction will increase the
tax levy in every city where it will
force the employment of more men"
r Nighswonger, of Wichita, supported
the bill and stated that it would not
necessitate a double platoon system
and would require only the addition
of about one-third more men to a
citYs forces. He admitted that the
employment of firemen who do moth
ing most of the time is a necessary
evil, but stated that if the firemen
were required to work all the time
1t would be necessary to give them
four-hour day. He brought out the
fact that there is no employment $
hazardous as that of a fireman and
quired to answer calls at every hour
of the day and night.
Recommended For Passage
Schoch, of Shawnee, was not sure
whether or not he was in favor of the
Hegler bill because he thought it
might permit cities to force other en-
ployes besides firemen and policemen
to work more than eight hours. The
bill was finally recommended for
passage subject to amendment and de-
bate.
The senate when it began work this
morning had its calendar in excellent
shape. When it finished work Mon
day evening there were only seven
bills on third reading and only thirty
one left under the heading of general
orders.
Schoch of Shawnee continues to set
! the pace in the number of new bills.
| Monday afternoon he placed six in the
| hopper, the majority of them apply
| ing to insurance companies. One pro-
| videS that a life insurance policy hold
| er who has borrowed money on his
| policy shall not be required to forfeit
the policy because the interest on the
money borrowed is not paid.
More Land for b. /. S.
Another of the Schoch bills would
permit the State Industrial School fol-
! Boys at Topeka to purchase twenty
seven acres of land between the schoo
and the Rock Island tracks for $1,000
| Another of his measures provides fol
the payment of $4,000 to George E
Jones who was injured while en-
ployed at the state hospital
Senator Nixon of Sumner wants the
state to pay more attention to the
health of its school children while edu.
eating them. A bill introduced by
him would permit the use of schoo
money in employing nurses and il
correcting physical defects of children
Senator Satterthwaite of Butler
wants some kind of an understanding
about the constitutional amendment.
the senate and the house will seek t.
have submitted to the people. In
concurrent resolution introduced b,
him he provides that a committee o
twelve made up of five senators anC
seven representatives be appointed t,
recommend to the legislature tn,
amendments to be submitted in 1920