The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-14
Not q Dull Minute i'm Morning
Fight Over Rules.
FierceSt Battle of Session All
Over Power of Speech.
GAG RULE FREELY CHARGED
And Some of Members SwOre
Right Out Loud.
Speaker LambertSOn Lines Up
Farmer vs.. Lawyer.

Maybe it is the effect of the wild
winds. Maybe it was an indigestible
breakfast. But this afternoon there is
scarce a house member who could
secure the verbatim publication of his
opinion of his neighbor. About $500
worth of perfectly good state time was
squandered this morning w1fen the
house unlimbered its big guns and
fought the fiercest battle of the legis-
lative session over n proposal to
change the speaking rules In commit
tee of the whole
Soft and soothing words were of no
avail. Then the members resorted tot
everything from Billingsgate to honest
to goodness profanity. Speaker LAM
bertson himself took the floor to sup
port the recommendations of the rules
CT mmittee. And it was the speaker
who sought to pit the farmers-sixtv,
of them-against the fifteen house
lawyers. 1t was Brooks of Chautau-
qua who revived the old speakership;
row and charged the speaker with AMI
attempt to force farmer legislatioRs
without regard to legal and constitu-
tional Interpretation.
Not Dull Minute.
There wasn't a dull minute in the
two hours of debate. Members who
have serenely and quietly refrained
from conflict, today became crusaders
Members who speak in kindly Chris
tian spirit on ordinary occasions, be-
came extremely personal When
recess finally came the vital speaking
rule remained just as it was originally
adopted at the opening of the session.
But the house orators were still
bubbling and sputtering and the dis
cr ssion bordered on the noise which
accompanies the opening of a hundred
million cubic foot gas well.
Gag Rule Charges.
committee, offered the new recon-
fnendations. Immediately Harvey OF
Clark, charged that an attempt was
being made TO destroy the intent and
purpose of the committee of the whole.
Gag rule charges were hurled by OPP
position members and Speaker Lam
bertson went on the floor to defend
the committee. Under the proposed
new rule each member was allowed
to speak but once on each issue and
author of a bill was allowed twenty
minutes for opening and ten minutes
for closing debate.
I'VE must look after other business
in fifty days than the mere art Of
speechmaking," declared Lambertson-
Harvey and Showalter Jumped all
over the proposed rules. Then Piper
came to the rescue of the new pro-
visions.
81 know there are men here who
cans say all they know in ten minutes
or all they guess in fifteen minutes"
he said. But / am opposed to this
| looseness of speech. This thing OF
wanting to talk is merely an excuse
/ to exercise the lungs-and i rather
think 1 pass a pretty good lung test
myself, But 1 don't want to stay here
until the flowers bloom in May to hear
some of your long winded fellows
! talk,
Naughty Swearing.
/ i
tend time of speech, but the motion
was beaten. Then Finney tried an
amendment removing the provision
against more than one speech on any
! subject by a member.
Yount, of Cherokee. was opposed to
the new rules. And he told the house
| about it.
| when 8. measure of importance to
my people is under consideration" he
shouted. there is not any rule that
will gag my mouth. My constituents
sent me here to use my common sense
if have any. And any man who
can't talk more than ten minues has
no business here" ,"
Bollinger of Allen, usually meek.
quiet and submissive. jumped into the
fray.
1T is costing this state more than
/ $1,000 q day to listen to this stuff he
declared. And most of the time we
have heard just this stuff"
u IHlS ueOate is educational" said
Showalter of Thomas. I'VE need It
I want everyone to speak as often and
as long as he likes and I resent the
attempt to throttle this house with
| rules"
Appeal TO Farmers.
Finney's amendment won by a vote
OF 80 to AZ. But later Speaker LAM
il bertson questioned the action of the
house.
! Il appeal to you farmer members
who came here to work to vote down
these amendments said the speaker
IN talking to the farmer members
you should vote down the attempt OF
CONTINUED or Page Twoj
Lightning Strikes STATING