The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-03
1919 Legislature Today Entered
on Another Stage.
All the Main Bills in Soon
Except Appropriations.
INTEREST NOW IN BIG PROBLEM
Outcome of a Constitutional
Convention Uncertain.
Both Sides Claim Strength VIII
Stand the Test.

The legislature convened today for
fourth week of the 1919 session. It is
believed that by the end of the present
week the big grist of bills for the
present session-excepting general ap-
hopper.
Legislative interest in Kansas nat
urally centers in the action of the
house and senate on the constitutional
convention resolution. In view of the
fact that the senate may force a sec
ond stand by the house in event the
present resolution is beaten, there is
ample opportunity for speculation as
to the final results. House members
planned to resume consideration OF
the resolution in committee of the
whole some time this afternoon. A
roll call is expected Tuesday or We'd
nesday.
Plans of administration friends TO
force roll call on the resolution in
the senate, revived hopes of admins
tration- followers. When the house
suspended convention hostilities Fri
day afternoon, the resolution was in
tact but its supporters were badly dis
organized and apparently beaten. If
the house defeats the resolution on
roll call this week. interest will then
center in the action of the senate.
Should the upper house decide to play
politics and pass the resolution, Gov
ernor Allen and his friends might find
time to reorganize their forces and yet
win a victory which last week looked
like defeat.
Threatens Aliens Program.
Something more than the mere
adoption of the constitutional conven-
ton resolution lies behind the interest
in the pending legislative action. Loss
of the fight on the dominant measure
in the governors appeal to the legisla-
ture. now threatens loss of the mai jor
portion of the governors program.
Passage OF the resolution this week
would unquestiopably give the admin
istration new confidence and strength
for the big fights to come.
None of the big issues in the gov
ernor's program have been finally test
ed. Not one Nof the administration
policies have been enacted into law.
The proposed constitutional amend
| ment permitting the state to engage
in highway building. is practically
ready for consideration. But the farm
| tenantry plan, tax reform, short bal
lot and county and state government
reforms have not seen daylight. In
fact the farm tenantry proposition
has not been submitted and the coun-
ty and state department reforms have
come before the legislature in only a
general way and not in the concrete
form proposed in Governor Aliens
message.
Friends of Governor Allen spent a
busy Saturday and Sunday in an effort
to win votes for the constitutional con-
| vention. The success of their efforts
will not become evident until the res
olution is reported from the committee
! of the whole and a final roll call taken
| in the house. Administration support
| ers contended that the opposition was
| weakening. On the other hand the
opposition claimed it's strength was
cemented and would hold when the
test came.
Pass Antitrust Bill Soon.
| Passage of the Montee-Barrier bill
| giving the attorney general inquisi-
/ tional power Ia trust and price fixing
investigations is expected this week
The bill is already thru the house and
the senate will probably take actor
! in few days. ,-.-
None of the big appropriation bills
will come before the legislature for al
committees are originating origina
bills and a split by the two house.
! concerning the support to be accord
ed state institutions and department:
may threaten a deadlock later in the
! session. This situation confronted the
le gislature of 1915 when conference
committees we're unable to agree ant
| the house and senate refused to yielt
| on financial matters.
The present week will doubtless SCI
the bulk of proposed legislation safel,
in the hopper. After this week tht
introduction of bills will probably b.
comparatively light. 1t is evident a
with the smallest introduction of bill
in a number of years. Two-thirds o
| the bills introduced at this session ar,
tied up in committee rooms.