The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-20
Legislature Plans To Speed the
Allen Program.
Bring 1t Before Both Houses in
Next Ten Days.
TO LOOK OVER LOCAL BILLS
This VIII Be Done While Com.
Inittees Are at Work.
Then Heavy Artillery viii Be
Moved Into Action.

An effort is to be made to bring
practically the entire state administra-
ton program before the legislature in
the next ten days. With the opening
today of the second week of the 1919
session, Allen supporters in both the
house and senate were confident ad-
ministration bills would be given the
right of way over other proposed laws
Efforts will be made to bring the con-
stitutional convention, state highway
bill, land tenantry and other big bills
to a vote before the middle of Febru-
ary
1t is apparent that the Allen organ
ization N the legislature will be ce-
mented early in the session. Some of
the force of the administration drive
has already become apparent in the
change of position on the question of
constitutional convention. Several
strong senate and house members who
two years ago fought the constitu-
tional convention resolution and aided
IN blocking its adoption in the senate
are this year for the project. But the
administration men will take no
chances. They will stay on the job
and seek the earliest possible intro
duction of all bills covered in Cover
nor Aliens inaugural and legislative
message. Once the bills return from
the committee rooms. efforts will be
made to advance them to special Or
ders.
February n Busy Month.
February will be a real busy, fight
ing legislative month. There will be
but few of the big bills ready for con-
sfderation before the end of next week
Both house will spend the next ten
days looking for holes in the local
measures and the state wide bills of
minor. concern. 1t will be two weeks
before the heavy artillery can be
moved to the front and the real Ieg:s-
latiEe war started.
Speaker Lam bertSon announced this
morning that he would clean up COM
mlttee assignments before the end of
the current week. Then. he asserts
the house will begin to break speed
records in organization and action on
pending bills.
Already the house ways and means
committee is ready for service. They
Will begin the holding of meetings in
the next few days and within a month
will probably be ready to report the
big state house budget. It is probable
that the house and senate committees
Will meet jointly on a number of bills
this winter and that many of the vital
appropriation measures will be orig
~
the house and senate committees split
because of Jealousy over questions of
power. Some of the state institutions
and departments are still paying the
fiddler.
Look Over Bank Bill.
OF Importance almost equal to the
dominant features of the Allen pro-
gram is the state reserve bank bill
This bill may call forth the really big
fight of the winter. Governor Allen
mentioned a reserve bank in his mes
sage. But he failed to give it direct
endorsement. He intimated that the
project sounded feasible in some ways.
But he didn't invite the legislature to
jump at it without first looking for the
hook. Just now the bill. ready for a
senate committee, has not appeared in
the house, and may not be considered
by either body until some time next
month.
1t is probable that little If any OPP
position will be encountered in the
plan to feature the administration
bills. BY giving these projects spe-
cial order positions. the decks will be
cleared for action in advance and due
notice will be given concerning the
reasons. If q strong organization
should appear in opposition to the ad-
ministration program. the wise Allen
leaders desire to give the governor
ample time to tram ana instruct ms
| forces. Viewed as a purely 1egisla-
| tive matter and entirely free from the
element or touch of politics. the early
| debates on administration bills enable
| the LEGISLATORS to give more time to the
| big appropriation bills which come UT
near the close of the session.
| Both houses started the second
| week neck and neck. Last week the
house held a short Friday session
while the senate loafed and waited fol
the house to complete its organization
| This afternoon both bodies convene al
4 o'clock. 1t is probable, tho. thai
| the senate will again adjourn Thurs
| day night or Friday noon. Speaker
| Lambertson has asked for Saturday
session of the house
GIUCC ALIEN CpEEnH