The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-01-16
LEGISLATURE IN
DEADLOCK over
INDUSTRIAL BILL
This Is Prospect Between House
and Senate Today.
PrOfiteering Amendment Is
Troublesome Feature.
IT. MAY GO TO CONFERENCE
Believed That Senate Will P TX
on Wide Powers.
Simpson of Mcpherson in Great
Fight for Farmers.
PrOfiteering Amendment Is
Troublesome Feature.
IT MAY GO TO CONFERENCE
Believed That Senate VIII p TX
on Wide Powers.

For the first time since the special
session convened, trouble is beginning
to appear for the industrial court bill.
A deadlock of the house and senate is
in prospect today as a result of house
action in seeking to incorporate an
anti-profiteering era ctment~ in the la
boz court law. Observers believe the
senate will reject the house amend
ments and throw the bill into a con-
ference with prospects of deadlock.
Lacey NJ. Simpson OF Mcpherson, a
born fighter and with the vision of the
Kansas farmers. burned in his soul. led
the fight for the profiteering amend
ment. When Frank L. Martin came
to his rescue, there was a rally
around the flag boys" movement and
the movement was in the direction of
the Simpson amendment. 1t was
hard fight, but the farmer strength in
the house stood the test. Simpsons
amendment collected So votes as
against 81 for the opposition.
Check 1t Up to Senate.
It is now seemingly the purpose of
the house to check final responsible
tty up'to the senate. The Simpson pro-
vision Is sufficiently broad to include
all manner of proflteering and to give
to the new court the double barreled
power of adjusting wages and fixing
prices. The court is empowered to
make a fishing trip into the books of
the retailer and the jobber and to de-
termine whether his profits are rea-
sonable or excessive. This power Is
extended in addition to all the present
authority for rate fixing by the pub
lie utilities commission and all of the
privileges conveyed to the labor court
under the original draft of the bill.
Endanger Acts Validity?
II is asserted by several authorities
that the Simpson amendment may af-
feet the validity of the act. In any
event it is the first time since the bill
has been under discussion that an
opening wedge had been made in the
measure. Adoption of Simpsons
amendment carried no joy to admins
tration forces Should the senate pass
the bill as approved by the house
committee of the whole, it means only
trouble In the attempt of the admins
tration - curb and regulate the re-
taller and middlemen. But beyond
all of that, the validity of the bill may
be endangered.
There is a firm belief in legislative
circles that the senate will reject the
Simpson amendment. In that event
the house will non-concur and de-
mand a conference, Should the Simp-
son forces control the conference COM
nittee - and Speaker Lambertson
voted for the Simpson amendment
the two houses may be tied up for at
least several days over the bill. IL is
the first evidence of trouble which
has come with the consid grafton of
ithe measure. Rejection of the Simp-
son amendment in the senate and re-
fusal OF the house to change its plans
to look over the profits of the Kansas
retailers and Jobbers, will mean a
deadlock which will bring no pleasant
dreams to administration leaders.
At any rate, the legislature will be
here next week.