The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-16
Power to House Members in
Committee Selections.
Freeman Would Give More
Power to the p. {. c.
REPRESENTATIVES BAR LOBBY
A Administrations S-HOur, WOm-
ems Bill Is in Hopper.
Senate Resolution EulOgizing
Roosevelt Is Passed.

For the first time in the history of
a Kansas house of representatives, the
members will have a voice in the Sc
lection of permanent committees. On
his own motion and without previous
announcement, Speaker Lambertson
today decreed that chairmen would be
consulted in the selection of the COM
mittee personnel The rule will ap-
ply for all standing committees except
ways and means. The speaker will
name this entire committee.
Heads of eight of the big house
committees were announced today. All
will be called into conference regard
ing the naming of committee mem
bers. Announcement of the innova-
ton in making committee selections
brought applause from house mem
bers. Lambertson will proceed with
the selection of committee heads until
the work is concluded early next week.
The big ways and means committee of
the house will be named at the open
ing of Friday mornings session.
When Lambertson's opponents de-
clared for a house committee on COM
mittees last week, the Brown county
However, his action today was the
| farthest step ever taken by the pre-
| siding officer of the house in releas-
! ing the power which is extended under
! the statutes. Each committee chair
man will have a voice in the selection
| of members who shall serve with him.
| BardweII on Roads.
Three of the committee chairmen
| appointed today were members of the
| 1917 house. Foster of Ness was given
| the craftsmanship of the committee on
| assessment and taxation. while Bard
we'll of Riley-one of the Lambertson
speakership opponents--was placed at
| committee. Whitman of Pratt was
named chairman of the railroad
committee.
Mrs. Minnie Grinstead, the woman
! member from Seward county, was
placed at the head of the public well
fare committee. Fowler of Russell. a
member of the senate in 1909-11. will
be chairman of the house banking
committee. Burdick of Atehison. an
| inspector in the state livestock sani-
ltary department, was named as chair
man of the livestock committee.
| Ridgeway of Wyandotte, one of the
strong administration members of the
house, was appointed chairman of the
insurance committee. McDermott of
Cowley, q new member, was named as
chairman of the fees and salaries
committee.
More Power to T.. L. c.
!. Freeman of Wyandotte is lay.nesout
| a big job for the state public utilities
commission. His bill of Wednesday
providing that the state commission
shall referee strike troubles. was sup
plemented today with another bill pro-
, viding that the commission shall ad-
just compensation differences. The
Freeman bill makes number ot
changes in the present workm ems
: compensation act and in many re
, spects is an administration measure
One of the big changes which Free
; man would make in the compensation
! law, however, provides that the pub
: lie utilities commission shall act a:
: board of arbitration in adjustment o
: disputes under the workmen's com
4 Epensation act.
| House Bars the Lobby.
: The house today followed senate ac
ton and provided for a ban tn,
t lobby. Under q resolution by Gilman
2 of Leavenworth, the house will restric
| floor privileges to mem bers. state Off
= cials. newspaper men assigned to leg
islative work. regular employees anC
members of the families of state Off
n cials and legislators.
Eight Hours for Women.
Ridgeway. of Wyandotte. offered al
i administration bill in the house toda,
| in a bill providing for a maximum o
: eight hours a day for women worker
| in all Industries in this state. The Bill
: fixes a maximum of forty-eight hours
q ! work in any one week as the STANDARD
1Or employment OF Ien1dl6
e Governor Aliens MESA ge urged bet
ter hours and working conditions 70
r women. Ridgeway's bill is considere,
an approved administration measur
!, and will probably be considered on TIL
# floor as one of the Allen legislativ
policies.
Exams for Mechanics.
Amos. of Shawnee, slipped his frs
s. bills into the house hopper today. H
offered a bill providing for examina
tions for mechanics in machine shop
e. and garag ges and placing strict regu
: lations over employees of such labol
The responsibility for efficient help 1
v machine shops and garages is place
! directly on the shoulders of the en-
ployer. Provision is also made ths
=, garage and repair shop keepers ma
d secure a lien on motor cars to cove
! unpaid repair bills. another bill b
Amos provided for taxation limita
Y, tions in cities of less than 10000 pot
ulation.
D. Speed Limit 40 Miles.
Kansas speed bugs must drive ne
8 more than 40 miles an hour if the bi
introduced today by Paul. of Marshal
becomes a law. Paul wants the pre-:
ent speed regulations and law revise
q, and places on the car owner the n
sponsibility of driving carefully an
is slowly where traffic and highway col
ditions do not warrant maximum
speed.
n Protect Banks From Gossips.
" Village goSsips who spread fall
statements concerning the financi
ra condition of banks and business inst
tutions would be fined or sent to ia
under a bill by Representative Finne
a The Sumner county member wants
If | law which will protect banking inst
ry tutions from persons who spread fal
ar news regarding banks or repeat stori
ill tending TO destroy the business
ar credited of any bank. firm or corpor9
70 ton.
IL T. Il. Resolution in House.
ar The =. use today passed the sena
IT. resolution eulociziug the late c.
Continued 0u Page TwoD