The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-01
up TO SENATE NOW
Next Move on Constitutional
Changes From Upper House.
Lower Body Taking COnserva-
tive Safety First Stand.
THINKS IT KNOWS ALLEN NEEDS
Grants Them-But SHES at
Several Things He Wanted.
Passes Resolution for Six Char
ter Changes at Once.
THINKS IT KNOWS ALLEN NEEDS

House members are trying to trail
along with Governor Allen-in con-
sentative, cautious way. The appar-
ent trouble is that the governor and
his advisers won't slow down or stop
| long enough in one place for'the house
to catch up.
In one day the house gave the gov
ernor three constitutional amend
ments. They were not exactly the ones
| Governor Allen selected, but they are
| proposed needed repairs of the con-
| stitution just the same. The house
| played true to anticipations. 1t chloro-
| formed the farm tenantry amendment
and placed a headstone at the spot
/ where the constitutional convention
/ fell.
| But the house is willing that the
constitution shall be fixed-if it really
needs fixing. Only the house takes a
safety first viewpoint. 1t wants the
constitution handled with gloves in
stead of v meat AK. The governor
wanted the bars thrown down for a
| free pitch ina table stakes game
and repairs from the cellar to the at
| tic. The house wants to play cautious
| ly. If the Kansas voters are guessing
badly IN some general election.
| the house wants some of the sacred
provisions established by the fore
| fathers saved for an overhauling in a
better year.
| Allow Six amendments.
BY a vote of So to IT, house mem
bers went on record to allow the voters
| to vote on six amendments in single
| election instead of three under the
| present provision. Thru this method,
| 1t was argued, the state might fix it's
! constitution to meet immediate de-
mands. At the same time the house
would save the state charter at this
critical period of reconstruction
against general reconstruction by
an uncertain convention. Authority
would still remain in the legislature
to determine whether a demand for
constitutional changes was genuine
article and from the voters or from
the politicians and Missouri news
papers.
In the space of a few hours the
house placed its o. K. on three pro-
posed changes to the state constitu-
ton. Then it declared its work well
done and went quietly about the bust
ness of passing few laws regarding
cemeteries, jack rabbits and bonded
Indebtedness of school districts.
Next Move From Senate.
The next move must come from the
senate. House members have selected
the three amendments which in their
judgment should go to the voters next
year-state highway building, classifi-
cation of property for taxation and an
Increase in the number of amendments
which may be submitted. There are a
few other amendments yet on the
house calendar-three-f ourths jury
verdict in civil cases, a new con-con
and more pay for the law makers, but
these will wait until the senate speaks
| In the meantime the house is
proud of its work. 1t has met the
demand of the governor for some
changes in the constitution. Possibly
Governor Allen is not so well pleased
But the house, being thoughtful
serious minded body, gave the gov
ernor the things which they thought
were good for his administration and
the state and not the things he wanted