The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-24
In TEST FOR ALLEN
Continued from Page one.l
statute, were unable to meet the com
petition from private corporations.
Consider Reserve Bank Bill.


petition from private corporations.
Consider Reserve Bank Bill.
Several really important bills will be
considered this week in advance of the
debate on the big appropriation meas
ures. The senate will tackle the state
reserve bank bill, according to present
dope. The indeterminate franchise
bill-placing public utilities On good
behavior during term of franchise and
permitting of municipal ownership TN
der a certain showing-wilI also come
up for consideration in a few days.
Both houses will also try to work cut
a revision of the highway and bridge
laws. The paternity bill, the bill pro-
viding for a state board OF labor and
industry and a revision of the work
mems compensation laws, will be dis
posed of by legislative committees this
week.
If the bills of Importance which are
now before the committee succeed in
finding places on the house and senate
calendars, there are several days of
warm debate in sight. None of the
bills are really administration meas
ures, altho several of them are of
statewide Importance and concern.
Allen Day Wednesday.
The big day for Governor Aliens
administration comes Wednesday when
the house takes up proposed amend
mentS to the state constitution. 1t is
probable that ten or dozen proposed
amendments will be debated. There
are really three amendments of vital
concern to Governor iAllen-and the
chief of these is already dead. The
two remaining amendments - farm
tenantry and revision of the taxation
system-will command the attention
of the house orators Wednesday. Gov
ernor Allen also-wants the amendment
providing for state highway building.
A big fight has already developed on
this resolution.
Should the administration succeed in
securing the passage of resolutions
providing for farm tenantry, taxation
reform and state highway building, it
could well lay claim to something
more than half a loaf from the pres
ent legislature. Yet once these meas
ures are thru the house, they shave
merely reached the halfway post. They
must then make their way thru the
senate.
During the six weeks of the session
just passed, the fighting has all been
in the house. For the first time in
many years a Kansas house has re-
fused to be bossed, led or directed. It
has permitted individual leadership
one day and bitten and snapped at the
same leader when he sought to direct
legislation the succeeding day. No
one knows what the house will do to-
day. tomorrow or next week-not even
the house membership.
How Will Senate Perform?
On the other hand no one has so
much as a faint idea as to the manner
in which the senate may perform I'M
der the administration leash. State
senateS in former years have been
known to complain bitterly when ad-
mInistration influence sought to direct
its action. Governors Hoch, Stubs.
Hodges and Capper might easily tes-
tify as to the Notwithstanding
arrogance and resentment-of the up
per house. Governor Allen. whose
forces have battered the house inde-
pendence without gaining an inch,
may win in the senate. And the SEN
ate, once commanded to jump thru
the hoop, may be even more ferocious
than the wild and unruly house.
The Kansas legislative observer,
tho, will keep his eyes glued on the
house during the next few DAYS If
the house shows a tendency to repent
and to back up. there is chance that
Governor Allen may win his fight
But the house mem bership has made
no audible, professions of sorrow or re-
morse because of its former course.
There is the possibility that the caucus
leash may be tried before the house
takes up its special orders Wednesday
morning. There is the possibility that
Governor Allen may seek conciliatory
methods-possibly special MESA ge.
There is always the possibility that
the house may on its own motion seek
a new course.
1t is the final week of the test of
strength. The legislature will Yield
before the end of the week or Cover
nor Allen will look over the record
sometime in March only to find that
Santa Claus was here. but forgot to
put anything in his stocking.