The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-06
WALSH MAY OPEN

Continued from Page one.I
duties and get down on their knees
and kiss the flag. Then we might
hear them
Trouble Over Compensation
While the decks were being cleared
today for sthe real big fight of nation
wide importance to labor and en-
ployer, the incidental troubles of the
session took a good start. The plan
to sidetrack a new workmen'S COM
pensation act at this session encoun-
tered trouble. Ben S. Hegler of Sedg-
commission, demanded introduction of
a measure in spite of the agreement
of employers and employees that the
matter should rest another twelve
months.
In view of the agreement of the
little probability. tho, that a new COM
pensat ton bill will be passed at this
session-in spite of the message of
Governor Allen checking the matter
up to the commission. Reports were
current today to the effect that a pro-
posed compensation bill would come
from individual members if not re-
ported by the commission. Such a
measure would doubtless be destined
to early death unless it bore general
approval of the special commission
appointed to draft q bill.
Members were today reticent in
forecasting the date for adjournment
of the session. There is a general be-
lief that under no circumstances can
the work be disposed of before the
end of next week-maybe not until
the end of the following week. A
general introduction of bills is ac-
cepted to mean a four weeks session.
Favor Labor Court Act.
Temper, of legislators clearly favors
passage of new labor court act of
some nature. Only a long drawn out
fight would endanger the bill on final
passage, observers believe. On the
other hand, an attempt to rush the bill
thru to third reading might meet
with the sad, sad results which accom-
panied the attempt to adopt the COR
stitutional convention resolution in
fifteen minutes during the regular
session of last year.
Many amendments are to be offered
to the governors new measure abol-
fishing the public utilities commission
and placing the work of that body in
the new court. A general defiance
was in evidence. tho, when legislators
discussed the possibility that labor
, union leaders would storm the ses-
sions- Members generally favored a
fair and respectful hearing for the
labor interests-but no foolishness.
Lists of employees in both houses
have been limited for the special ses-
sion. 1t was a sad hour for the culled
constituency when employees commit
tees reported. And when stenograph-
ers were sought. the legislators found
there was a short crop of dimpled
typfsts. Trouble is also being en-
countered in securing machines.
To Committee in Senate.
Public hearings on the industrial
court bill may be permitted by the
senate judiciary committee in whose
hands the bill was placed five minutes
after its introduction this morning by
Senator Francis c. Price of Ashland.
But the senate will not now consider
| it in the committee of the whole.
| Our methods of handling inter
ested persons desiring an audience has
not been decided upon" said Price to-
day. TT depends upon the desires of
members of the committee
Price predicted that the bill would
appear on the senate calendar for
| third reading probably the last of this