The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-17
Legislature Determined To Act
on Important State Measures.
Action by Committees on Soon
Com and Bank Bill Promised.
CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES UP
All New Bills Must Be in House
and Senate Thursday.
Session viii Last Three More
Weeks, Probably Four.


Grimly determined to write some
important state laws, Kansas legisla-
tors today started on the sixth week of
the session with a heavy docket. but
few measures of general concern for
consideration. Most of the really big
bills are tied up in the committee
rooms. Many of them may not see the
light of day. Several administration
policies are not on the calendars.
Governor AIlen's friends, tho, will seek
to advance these bills and resolutions
before the end of the present week.
Many legislators spent the week end
preparing their final bunch of bills.
All original bills except appropriation
measures must be in the house and
senate hoppers by Thursday night.
That is the dead line for introduction
of bills. Both houses have adopted
the resolution shutting off introduction
and legislative leaders are determined
not to reconsider the resolution or to
extend the date.
Some of the really big law making
wars of the week, tho, will be staged
in the committee rooms instead of on
the floor of the two houses. Final ac-
ton is to be taken this week regard
ing the state reserve bank bill. The
senate Judiciary committee will decide
whether it will dump the con-con res
tracted debate. The house labor COM
mittee Will fight out several big issues
among them the fate of the present
state bureau of labor. Members of
the joint committee on elections will
make final effort to prepare the bill
providing for the nomination of
I United States senator congressman
and state officials in a convention.
Take Up Constitutional Changes.
Not until the ways and means COM
mittees of the house and senate COM
. plete their work on appropriation bills
VIII the decks be cleared for general
I action Then the two houses will take
up the constitutional changes pro-
posed at this session. Such measures
as are to be considered will probably
be advanced to special orders. 1t is
probable that the house as we'll as the
{ senate will decide to set aside special
! days for debate on proposed amend
ments.
I Calendars VIII be revised both up
wards and downwards before the end
of the week. With the final introduce
s ton of bills both houses will probably
. announce revision committees.
Appointment of revision commit
: tees means much to the Individual law
Z mal-eTs. 1t means their pet bills will
( have a hearing or will die somewhere
between the reading clerks desk and
! ll-rd readtnS-probably on the caleh-
Z dafs Next week, perhaps. the COM
. m'uees will report On all bills which
( nave not received action. Then will
. come the mad scramble for calendar
& poslton-the decisioHf which means
{ tfat the members bills will be consid-
4 cred or permitted to perish.
see Three More Weeks.
Three weeks more of the present
Z session is generally predicted How
{ ever, the legislature may go to war
over the appropriations and the salary
IN In hot
weeks of hebsession is quite certain
4 Iost of the individual members, tho
4 want TO go home They want to settle
2 the appropriation and salary problems
: ana take action on the administration
Dllls so fSr as the average member
Is concerned other proposed legisla-
z ton can wait until some time in the
+ session of 1921.
This week will probably witness the
i first really long hours of the present
4 session. The senate has been working
& part time during the entire winter,
j me house has operated under a pol
s Icy which has permitted the commit
Z tees to slaughter the bills and thus
save floor time Under this program,
i the house has convened at 10 each
! lnorn1hGs and adjourned at in the
afternoon. And the house committee
mas made good showing. They
nave killed practically 100 bills. The
4 senate committees have engaged in
Z pot-shOoting. They have strangled
Z. more than $50 proposed laws and anx-
4 lously awaited a chance for more prey.
II House members went to work this
morning. In keeping with their es-
! tablished weekend policy, senators
i went horne Friday afternoon The up
= per house will begin its weekly grind
2 at this afternoon. 1t is estimated
Z that 200 to 500 bills will be offered in
( the house and senate during the four
1 days before the introduction ban is en-
y forced.