The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-15
HOUSE HAPPENINGS
Short Stories From Kansas Repre-
sentative Hall.

Municipal ice bills are going into
the legislative hopper from several
sources tbs winter. One of the pet
bills of Samson of Cove is for an en-
actment that will permit second and
third class cities to own their ice man.
ufacturing plants. Samson's home
town of Quinter. encounters an ice
famine every summer. Surrounding
towns are never able to meet the de-
mand: there is never enough water in
the community in winter time to
freeze q supply for the next summer.
So Samson wants a law in the matter.
L. E. F'rizell of Pawnee also has a
municipal ice bill.
The c;garet legislation will proba-
bly, get start in the house at an early
date Cox of Butler. who on his first
appearance, shows signs of becoming
most likely new member, is dead
sot against the present law. John
Edwards of Greenwood, who intro
duced the original anti-cigaret bill.
has written to Cox asking him to be
merciful But Cox is after blood and
| he promised his home folks to fight
for the repeal of the law. Collins of
| Graham and Graham of Jackson are
sworn and life long enemies of the
coffin nail They will lead the oppo-
| sition to any measure Cox may intro
duce to repeal the law. Cox. Incl
dentally, is a Democrat, while Graham
/ and Collins are Republicans.
Direct STATE appropriations for local
and county fairs will be asked by the
Aouse. Several members from the
1 western counties are anxious to secure
state aid for local agricultural and
! stock exhibits and a general bill will
probably be introduced during the
session.
! 1t is probable that the w. c. T. L.
| enthusiasts will declare public jolli-
fication for representative hall Friday
| night because Kansas was the twenty
ninth state to ratify national prohibit
fled over the passage of the bone dry
Law.
The womeh's lobby in the house
! plans for further and more extensive
reforms. Now that the liquor prob
lem and suffrage are safely out of the
way, Kansas is 10 be further purified.
10 lowing conference with Prof.
william y. McKeever. the lobby will
lprooably urge a bill against smoking
in public eating places Professor Nc
Keever is also after the side shows at
tho fairs A number of women are
said to have agreed to support the bill
prohibiting dining room smoking.
Vic L. Harris, who comes from
Hamilton county, is not at all pleased
with the present system of government
ownership and management of public
will offer a resolution placing the leg
islature on record as opposing govern
ment ownership.
Speaker Lambertson is now paying
the price of his victory. 1t is estimat-
ed that the 124 legislators have made
an average of four trips each to his
office. And all because the legisla-
tors are anxious that the new speaker
make no mistake regarding the COM
n.jttee assignments. There are about
dozen really important spot light
committees in the house. 1t is prob
able that not to exceed eighty of the
l24 house members now in Topeka
have asked for these places.
Organization counts. Because of
his familiarity with the work and
needs of the house, Clarence w. Mil
Ter, chief clerk, has arranged the
work of his department in such a
manner that he expects to be able to
absorb spots encountered in the or
ganization of two years ago It was
by the application of his experience
as chief clerk of the 1917 session that
enabled Miller to arrange the legisla-
tive work in such manner as to be
prepared il advance for any frenzied
introduction of bills.
r. H. Timmons of Wichita, represent
Ing the Kansas Gas & Electric COM
pany, claims the distinction of beinG
| the OIlIy loDDylSt IN topeka VINO Is GO
ing before the legislature asking for
the passage of bill who is not seek
ing to hide his purpose or the fact that
the bill will benefit his company. He
seeks laws permitting indeterminate
franchise in cities in the state for pub
lie utilities.
The bill for which Mr.. Timmons
asks will be introduced into the house
and senate this term. 1t will be a
change from the issuance of a fran
chise for stated term of years
The idea of the company. as Mr.
J. Timmons has it, is to spend something
like s15.000,000 in improvements ir
2 its electric service in southeastern
Kansas. where it supplies Wichita, Ell
dorado, Towanda, Chanute, Coffey.
Vile and other cities. 1t asks thai
y the law provide that a city may pur'
chase the utility at any time that the
1 company fails to live up to the term o.
/ its franchise.
I'VE are going before the variou!
r cities affected and telling them exact
n ~ what we want, then we are going t.
the legislators in the same open man
ner," Mr.. Timmons said. "All who
a have committed themselves are will
u.s.