The Topeka state journal., 1919-12-10
SPECIAL SESSION
TOLAST 6 Weeks
INDICATION NOW
Practically Every Legislative
Member to Put Bill In.
To Deal With Labor, PrOfiteer-
ing, Banks and Welfare.
REVIVE LAST SESSIONS BILLS
Return of Wire Companies Give
Lawmakers New Diversion.
Administration Bills Already
Being Drawn at State House.

That Kansas is to have a wide open
session of the legislature next month
is indicated in the general tone of
letters sent to Topeka since Governor
Aliens special call Prac ctically every
member of the house and senate is
coming to town with one or more bills
carefully prepared In the main, the
measures deal with labor, Industrial
profiteering, public utilities. mining
banking, insurance and welfare pro-
visions. A number of bills from the
regular session are to be introduced
When the legislature met IN special
session for one day in June. its policy
and purpose was outlined in advance.
Even before the call was issued, Gov
ernor Allen was assured that a ma
jority of the members wanted to ratify
the national suffrage amendment and
go home. This time. tho. there were
no "feelers." The governor wanted
certain laws enacted and believed that
in view of general distress and suffer-
ing following in the wake of the mine
workers strike that he was justified
in calling the law makers together. He
has defined the course which he de-
sires the legislature to take. After
that, there is free rein.
Long Session, Belief
It is the general belief of observers
that the legislature will be in session
session might be reduced. On the other
hand. there is ample ground for as
sumption that the time of adjourn
ment might be extended.
Bills creating an industrial court.
regulating the wide open and shut
strike rights of labor and the lockout
rights of capital are dominant pro-
visions in the special session call.
Profiteering bans. creation of a state
employment agency. payment OF pris-
oners for work beyond their assigned
tasks and state bonds for dormitories
at state schools and a new compensa-
tion law. are included in strictly ad-
mnistration bills.
But the legislature won't stop there.
A number of bills which for sundry
reasons didn't quite pass last winter
are to be brought to the attention of
the lawmakers again. Among these
bills will be several insurance meas
ures which were lost in the haste of
the legislature to close its books and
go home.
Wire and Banking Laws.
The fact that the telephone and tele-
graph companies are removed from
federal control has provided an in
spiration for various members. Sew
eral changes in the state banking laws
are forecast as a result of the Salina
bank trouble of last summer.
1t is also probable that a real fight
passage of a drastic anti-smoking law.
With such a bill would doubtless come
its companion in crime-the cosmetic
bill.
Administration bills are now being
drawn at the state house. These bills
do not include appropriation measures
which will be framed, doubtless. after
the legislature reaches Topeka. They
will include expenses of the state re-
ceivership in the coal fields. the move
ment of national guards and prospec-
tive shortages of funds for state in
stitutions and departments.
When the suffrage session was held
in June a number of members urged
the calling of a special session some
time this winter. The fact that the
call is made for but one week in ad-
vance of the date when the regular
1919 session convened, has brought a
thoro belief that the house and senate
may decide to settle down and work
out problems in its own way. In that
event the legislature may spend jan
uary and a considerable portion of
February in Topeka.