The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-17
Introduces Drastic Anti-Com-
bine Bill in House Today.
Measure Aimed at Brick Max
ers, Millers and Packers.
INVESTIGATIONS BY ATTY GEN'L
First and Last Long Recess Is
Taken by SOlOns.
LambertsOn Appoints Chair
men OF Committees.

Kansas legislators are after the
brick and paving combine, the pack
ers, the millers and the general flock
of alleged combine makers and price
fixers Barrier of Greenwood laid in
u full winter supply of trouble for
the Kansas trusts and combinations
today in a house bill extending the
power and scope of Investigations of
the attorney general. A bill which he
offered gives to the attorney general
the right of inquisition in all anti
trust Investigations.
With the railroads, the telegraph,
telephone and express companies un-
der the wing of the federal govern
ment, the state legislature will be able
to devote much time and attention to
the alleged price fixing organizations
which do business in Kansas. In a
usual session of the state legislature,
a new member has been Jealous to
ride to fame and glory among his con-
stituentS by teetering on the wish
bone of the railreads or one of the sun
dry public service corporations. Con-
sequently the more or less scattered
flock of combination makers have
spent but few restless nights. Barrier,
however, has decreed a new day.
Barrier After Scalps.
There is no secret as to the intent
Of Barrier. He wants the scalp of the
brick and cement combination which
is declared to have used money quite
freely in extending its operations in
Kansas and is declared to have Or
ganized system of Understandings"
almost if not entirely equal to those of
the days of harvester and bridge
trusts. Passage of the bill by Barrier
would give to the attorney general
right to subpoena witnesses and re-
quire presentation of books and rec
ords in inquisitiens preceding prosecu-
tions.
Recent revelations of exorbitant
charges for paving materials in Bar
ton county is declared to have been
| one of the reasons for the new bill.
The activities of miller and grain deal
ers in fixing prices of foodstuffs and
stock feed. is another thorn in the
| flesh OF Kansas legislators. A num-
Der of members are known to favor
the provisions of the Barrier bill and
| a similar bill by Senator Montee will
be pushed in the upper house.
First, Last and Only Rest.
When the house adjourned TODAY.
| 1t adjourned to meet at d o'clock Mon
| day afternoon. 1t is the first, la st
and only big. long rest for house mem
bers. Speaker Lambertson urged that
| the house begin Saturday sessions
next week and continue the six-day
grind until the end of the session. Dur
ing the adjournment period, Speaker
Lambertson will confer with house
| cha1rmen regarding committee assign
| r1ents A number of members will
| stay in Topeka and prepare bills for
next weeks introduction Other men,
bers will go home, and still others
| Wen, they will just take a rest after
the first weeks grind
New Contest Bill.
! Representative Lydick today intro
duced bill in the house providing
for new method of primary and gem
i er~i election contests. He would pro-
I vide that contests for election as gov
! ernor, lieutenant governor secretary
of state, auditor, treasurer, attorney
general, superintendent of public in
struction and justices of the supreme
court and district judges, shall bring
hearings before the state senate. No.
tices must be filed with the secretary
OF the senate between the sixth and
tenth days of the session, setting forth
claims for contest. Any eIector in the
state or judicial district may file no
tice of contest. Primary contests shaI
be brought before the supreme court
not less than twenty days preceding
the general election.
Names More Committees.
Speaker Lam mbertson today an
nounced chairmen of a number a
duullloHdI mouse committees and an
pointed his entire ways and mean n
committee. The ways and mean,
committee is the only one which tn,
speaker viii dictate, he has an
nounced.
Matt Weightman of Topeka wa
placed at the head of the big hous,
committee on public utilities Lace
NJ. Simpson of Mcpherson was named
as chairman of the ways and mean
committee, with Paul of Marshall. vic
chairman. Other members of tn
committee include: Snyder. Norman
Bolinger. Jackson. Robinson. Piper
Barrier. Ireland. Farrell, Lamb. Fow
Ter. Samson, Cloud. Garvin- Frees. Glib
} bons. Campbell of Sedgwick. johnson
of Nema ha, Slower and Sullivan. Sew
en- of the members of the cornn1itte
sat in the house of 1917. johnson
Stover and Sullivan are minority mem
) bers of the committee.
Committee chairmen appointed to
day included: Evans of Mitchell. ed
ucational: Gorham of Finney. count
lines and county seats: Geddes of But
Ter, oil and gas; Weightnan of Shaw
inee. public utilities: Howard of Cow
4 ley. cities Of the second class: TrOu
of Phillips. hygiene and public health
Wilson Of Hodgeman. irrigation; Tay
r IoF of Wabaunsee, claims and ac
E counts
Members Of the house committee i
f charge of the Roosevelt rnemoria
ceremonies were also announced. The
s include Freeman of Wyandott,
= Martin of Reno and Brooks of Char
L tauqua-
Hear tlac Complaints
n Washington. Jan. 17.-Charges {