The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-19
Kansas Legislature Comes to a
Close This Afternoon.
At 1880 O'clock All Business
Was Out of Way.
SINE DIE DEPARTURE FRIDAY
Hooray Party just Before
Cleanup on Appropriations.
School Funds Taken From
Board of Administration.

The legislature has adjourned.
House members quit work at 1:1S
this afternoon. Ten minutes later the
senate adopted a final conference re-
port on appropriations and quit busi-
ness. Sine die adjournment comes
Friday. All legislation for the 1919
session, tho. is out of the way. The
remaining time is given Governor
Allen for the signing or veto OF bills.
Both houses worked this morning
in recess session. Official records will
show adjournment Tuesday night at
10 o'clock.
Only appropriation salary bills and
conference reports were considered to-
day. The staid. conservative senate
maintained its dignity TO the last
Riotous and bubbling with fun and
wit. the house broke loose before the
session really started this morning and
staged a show all its own. Conferences
reports were interspeTsed with song.
original solos. poetry and oratory. At
noon the house members and en-
ployes invaded the senate with song
and cheers A negro Janitor was
placed on the senate press table and
sang "Oh Lord. Use Done" The SEN
ate cheered-conservati dignified
cheering-and the house workers
went across the hall while the senate
executive and judicial budgets.
Trouble In Keeping Quorum.
Trouble was encountered in the
house in maintaining a quorum during
the final two hours Of the session.
Practically the entire senate remained
on the job. on final roll call OF the
big state house appropriation bill. the
house mustered but 81 votes for the
bill-a margin of one over the re-
quired constitutional majority. The
senate was always on safe soil.
There will be no mill tax for the big
state schools, under action Of the leg
islature in the final hours. The house
backed up on the proposition to place
millions of dollars at the disposal Of
the state board of administration dur
ing the next two years. Under action
of the two houses. all appropriations
are made in separate bills and sIi
funds for state nanagement--except In
special use Of fees-wIIl be raised by
direct taxation.
Salary Increase Goes Thru.
State house employees were kept On
, the anxious seat until late this morn
ing. The fee and salary bill which
has travelled rocky road in the leg
fslature. went to conference Tuesday.
Its report was upset in the senate
Tuesday night in a row over the sal
airy of Frank l.. Travis. state superin-
+ tendent OF insurance. The trouble was
ironed out by second COMMITTEES
when "A compromise was made on the
contingent fund item. The bill passed
both houses this morning. Then the
, clerks and stenogra pliers breathed a
sigh of relief Department heads
smiled wan. tired smile and every
ones especially those included in the
salary hike-was happy
Appropriations at this session Of the
legislature broke all records. Several
hundred thousand dollars was appro-
priated to care for deficiencies incurred
by institutions and department In
/ meeting wartime expenses under the
administration of Governor Capper
Some Of the deficiencies dated back
three and four years ago.
Is si4.2OO.OOO Session.
Total appropriations at this session
are nearly sl5. 100000. as against
about S11.5OO.0U0 two years ago. Ex-
act. figures have not been tabuiated
by the clerks Of the ways and means
F., committees Both houses Originated
appropriation bills this session. This
action did away with the established
joint sessions and tended to the delay
in final adjournment.
Long, tiresome delays crmc today
I in receiving conference reports and
I the session which recessed after mid
night last night dragged thruout the
morning and lunch hour. While many
members had started for their homes.
7 the remaining house members unads
merry in their own way and furnished
! the customary JOY meeting preceding
final adjournment OF a Kansas legis-
I lature
The few remaining members Of the
/ two houses Will meet at Q o'clock
| Thursday morning to receive messages
I from the governor. Another session
! will be held late in the afternoon. fol-
lowed by two sessions Friday Then
Z the story of the 1919 legislative session