The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-04
1T is CLEVER MOVE
Administrations Plan for Pet
Bills Is Effective.
Policies Are Pushed Thru the
Legislative Committees.
DODGE The EARLY ATTACKS
This NecesSitates Defense Only
on Floor of House.
Advancing of Measures Has
Proven Successful.
DODGE THE EARLY ATTACKS
BY A. L. sHULTZ.

Governor Aliens method of advanc-
ing bills for consideration on the floor
of the legislature may be the fore
runner of a change in policies of legis-
Iative procedure by future admins
trations. With the opening OF the
legislative session this winter Governor
Allen adopted policy of pushing ms
pet policies thru house and senate
committees. The new practice saved
much of the grief which came to Tor
mer state executives.
In former years policies urged by
the governor have been taken up py
individual members. AS a result the
honor of introducing the big admins
. tration bills went to select leader-
shin in the house and senate. After
bills reached the legislative hopper,
tho. there were frequently long decays
and often committee references "HiTH
endangered favorable reports on pllls
and even threatened their passage
once they reached the floor
This year, tho, the administrator
shifted its attack. 1t didn't attempt
the introduction of individual bllls-
Instead it entered the organization
game and put its trade marx on sew
eraI of the big house and senate com,
nnittees. These committees originated
lust as drawn by administration lead
ers-frequently under the dictation OF
the governor himself. The bllls WERE
then introduced and placed on the cal
endar for discussion.
Escape Early Discussion.
The new plan has enabled the state
administration to escape carry ulscuI
sion which is always attendant win
I,resentation of new state policies IN
70 state
leaders were not required to unfolu
their arguments before a commlttee
and took up discussion only when the
hills were called up before the mousse
or senate. III. 80
House members antagonistic TO
measures have complained bitterly
but ouite fectively-against tne
new policy. They sought to send the
industrial court divorce DIS Dach W
the state affairs committee because
that body had admittedly given put
half hours consideration to the meas
Ires. Opponents of the admlnlstra-
ton argued long and loud. Ihey IN
sisted the state affairs committee was
hand Dicked, that it had given no no
tice of hearings and had orlgihateu
the bills without permitting a dlscuS
sion of their provisions. But the DIS
were out on the calendar and the pur-
nose of the administration in escap-
ing long and heated preliminary dls-
cusaion-possibly defeat of the meas
ures in a. not too friendly committee
had been accomplished.
A Disturbing Element.
The new plan of originating bills in
the committees has been disturbing
clement in the legislative action. IL
has bothered and distressed anti-ad-
rninistration forces who have hau
found rrany of the old avenues of at
tack closed against them. But the
plan of advancing bills for consldera-
tfor has nroven successful-even if not
ALWAYS entirely popular-and may be
a vaIuablo suggestion to future gov.
errors. With the DAYS of the 1871
session neor an end all of the admin
istration bills are out on the CALENDAR
prd are certain to receive hearing
on the floor before the lawmakers go
horne.