The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-08
FOR FINAL ACTION
Industrial Court Divorce Bill
Due in House Today.
None But Lawyers May Serve
as Court Members.
AMENDMENT WILL STAND
Passage of Measure Is Gen
orally Forecast by Leaders.
May Take Definite Action on
Public Utility Act.

House members are due to take
final vote on Governor Aliens indus
trial court divorce bill today. AS
amended in committee of the whole,
the measure make ineligible number
of persons mentioned for appointment.
If these amendments are accepted by
the senate, there will be an absolute
prohibition against appointment of
other than lawyers as court members.
Must Be Lawyers.
When the divorce bill was under
fire in the house last week Represen-
tative Martin injected an amendment
requiring Of the court judges qualifi-
cations similar to those demanded of
a supreme court judge. And that quail
ification is admission to the bar and
five years practice. The amendment
many house members believe the
lower legislative body cannot grace
fully withdraw from its position.
While the public utilities bill was
suspended in mid-air last Friday the
Martin crowd and administration
forces agreed that action on both the
utility and divorce bill would be de-
ferred until today. Passage of the bill
Is generally forecast. In fact there is
little organized opposition to the meas
ure as it now appears. That efforts
will be made to remove the Martin
amendments in conference. tho, is the
belief of many persons in touch with
legislative action.
Consider Local Bills.
Local bills only were considered
when the house worked in committee
of the whole Saturday and Monday.
Today, tho, the membership was suf-
ficiently large to permit calling up of
general measures. Final action on
the public utility bill-the administra-
ton bill recreating the public utilities
commissioners on the slate for the
day. 1t is probable that Martin will
make further efforts to place his
home rule provisions in the bill. He
won this fight last Friday, but within
an hour the house changed its mind
and voted to remove the amendments.
Legislative leaders have expressed
the belief that. the administration will
not push the remainder of its program
until the four industrial court and
been finally acted upon. Welfare
bills, the proposed new workmen's S
compensation act ana the co-opera-
tive banking bill are due to furnish
house entertainment as soon as the
pending mills have been removed from
the calendar
When the house reached third
reading this morning Leader McDer-
mott moved to pass roll call on the
divorce bill. He explained that he did
not want the bill taken up for final
passage until the public utilities bill
came from committee of the whole
house.
Consideration of the utility bill was
due late this afternoon. When the
house recessed until 2:30 there were
fifteen local bills on the calendar un-
der third reading. 1t is probable that
passage of these bills will hold up fur
ther house consideration of the utility
measure until a late hour this after
noon. Martin of Reno appeared un-
certain as to whether he would seek
to regain the ground he iosr last week
in his fight for home rule amend
ments.
For Final Passage Wednesday.
Tt appears that both the divorce and
utility bills will come up for final pas
sage in the house Wednesday. Unless
the house membership should have
serious trouble over further amend
ments, the utility measure should be
reported before adjournment tonight.
Forecasts on the divorce bill today.
were that it would pass on third read
ing with a safe majority The utility
bill is also expected to pass.
No poll has been made of the house
during the last few days. 1t is be-
lieved, however, that not more than
forty members will vote against the
two bills unless there should be a SER
ious tie-up over home rule provisions