The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-14
Consolidation Bill Pretty Piece
of Politics, 1t Is Charged.
Say $3,OOO,OOO Revenue Meas
ure Was the Bargain.
MAY Be EXPOSED IN SENATE
Senator Van De. Mark Says
He'll Tell Entire House Deal.
Killed Revenue Bill to Make
Consolidation Supporters.
BY A. L. SHULTz.

Defeat of the production tax bill
4 was the price which the state admin
istration forces in the legislature paid
II for passage of the agricultural con-
Solidation bill thru the house last
week, according to statements made by
legislators today The administra ton
agreed to kill the bill which was to
bring to the state a revenue estimated
at $3,000,0 900 a year if enough votes
We're first delivered to pass the con-
Il sohdation bill thru the house. it is
] charged. The votes were delivered.
II The tax bill was killed.
II negotiations on the trade were
Z, pending almost from the hour when
the consolidation bill was made spe-
& ciaI order in the house last week it
IS pointed out. Many times during
sthe three days presiding roll call
Alaereements were made and broken.
Finally-less than eight hours before
the house voted on. the consolidation
s=bill-a- trade agreement was reached
which held. the Legislators declare. In
AfeDnsequence the merger measure went
thru the house with three votess to
8pare. Less than six hours later adj
r rninistration forces Joined in killing
The bill which placed a 2 per cent tax
RI on all mineral produced in Kansas.
ms- Both Administration Measures.
Both bills were administration meas
Anres. Both were urged by Governor
~ Allen in his inaugural address and in
= his message to the legislature. Both
tBere in danger of defeat in the house.
- In an effort to save as much as pos
Nsible from the wreckage, the admin
s-1stFation forces conferred their fight on
The consolidation bill. At no time be-
t-fore the final trade was made, tho,
lswere more than 4S votes registered
esfor the, merger on a test in committee
i-Of the whole. When the bill finally
sol 4I1saA
10 Tuesday. morning. following a hard
.1light for the eonsolidation bill in the
mouse, Chairman Foster of the rouse
Ecomnaittee on taxation, went to Gov
9tirnor Allen's office to talk over the
4Qroposed trade, it is said. At that
slime the demand was for the admins
f4Fation to strike the tax measure from
the calendar. Foster, who was author
tof the tax bill, wanted his pet brought
Fppto the floor. Consequently when the
conference ended, the tax bill still
Flfyed and the deal was off.
& Wednesday negotiations were re-
Asumed. This time the plan was to
ssend the tax bill to the judiciary COM
mittee for decent burial. The action
was to be taken before roll was called
ON the consolidation bill. Chairman
Foster was to make the motion to re-
rrefer. This deal also blew up, was re-
yived and died again.
- Agreement to Kill Tax Bill.
4S1sEarly Thursday morning an agree
.ment was reached which meant death
TO the tax bill and assured passage of
lIhe consolidation measure in the
house The administration had agreed
TO kill the tax bill on the floor. it is
declared by house members. There
wasn't a hitch in the program. Per-
sens in touch with results of the
nights work knew Thursday morning
mat only an unexpected slip would
Defeat the merger measure. When it
went thru they knew that death of the
1a'K bfll would be formally announced
As soon as the official coroner arrived.
YIhcy were not mistaken. --s'
srtWhen the tax bill was called up,
The Proceedings may have looked like
NRFesular fight But it wasn't. Chair
man Foster explained his bill and told
needs of tn state in regard to new
reyenue laws. Tho bill before the
house had been estimated to produce
4300O.00O a year from the oil, gas,
coal and other mineral outputs.
No Fight Against 1t.
kEG of Butler moved to strike
oct the enacting clause. The house
visitors who had become familiar with
lights on administration measures,
waited for the accepted administration
Supporters to take the floor in oppo-
sition TO Goddess motion. But they
never spoke. A half dozen speeches
were made against the bill Then
M1thout a closing speech by Foster the
motion to kill the bill was put to a
, viva voce vote. Foster and Thomas
OF Harper were apparently the only
Members who voted for the bill.
The house trade was one of the big
bits of gossip in hotel Hobbies and
lesislative halls during the week end.
There was seemingly no attempt 70
deny the story which is verified from