The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-19

committee-he would give 1t its fair fight
ing chance. upon the floor. This promise
Frizell made to the presiding officer of the
senate and this promise was the considera-
ton upon which the friends of the bill
agreed to its reference to the agricultural
committee.
FrizeIl Didn't Keep Word.
LAS it became apparent that
the bill had n majority of the senate SEN
ator Frizell apparently decided not to keep
his word of honor He refused to allow an
opportunity even for the views of a minor
ity to be reported to the senate. Under
the rules of the senate, the majority In
from the committee because it requires Il
two-thirds vote. When Senator FrizeIl was
and promised fro mhour to hour that
he would have final meeting of his COM
mittee, which he never intended to have.
He deliberately smothered the bill. All
its friends were asking was that it be given
a fair chance of the floor.
"Those who are interested In the good
of this state will remember the disinter-
ested patriotism of men like Senator Wolfe,
of ottawa, and Senator Burdick. of Atchi-
son. One of them is a member of the
Agricultural society, interested in the privi-
leges which that society enjoys with the
state treasury. The other is member OF
the livestock sanitary commission. which
would have been brought under the regu-
lation of the state government II this bill
had passed. Both these men held that the
broad interest of the state should be SUI
perior to any personal interest which rose
out of their present connections with those
two societies.
Senator Frizell says that he was APP
preached by emissaries with the assurance
that If he would favor the bill he might
have the post of commissioner of agricul-
ture at a salary of Sc, 900 year. Since the
bill carried an appropriation for only $500
year. 1 am inclined to think that Senator
Frizell is exercising his Imagination on this
matter.
FrizeIPs Imagination.
Il do not think it will be necessary in
the future for anybody to deny Senator
word is now rather well known. He is per-
haps the only man in the history of this
state holding the dignified position of state
senator who ever deliberately broke his
word of honor TO the presiding officer of
his own body when that word given as
consideration of proper legislative pro-
cedure.
mo promises were made by the friends
of this measure to anybody affecting pa
tronage. Every friend of the bill realized
that the very language of the measure pre-
vented anybody from giving any promise
of patronage under the act, since the entire
subject was under the control of an adj
visory committee chosen by the agricul-
tural interests themselves.
Charge Is Absurd.
mo more absurd charge could be made
than that of the trainers of this law were
seeking to gain political advantage, since
the bill took out of the executives hands
lot of the most effective patronage which
now exists. For instance. it placed the
grain inspector. with nearly 200 EMPLOYEES
under bureau created by the commits
sioner of agriculture and approved by the
advisory committee. 1t also placed under
the agricultural bureau the fish and game
warden, which collects 100000 in fees an
nually.
THE bill took from the executive depart
ment the control of large number of in
spectors of various kinds and placed them
under the direction of the bureau of animal
husbandry. 1t added nothing to the patron
age of the governor and took away direct
supervision over more than 200 employees
and several important heads of depart
ments. There was no way in which politics
would be dictated to the advisory commit
tee since this committee would be made VI
by the members of the agricultural societies
themselves.
1T is believed by those who studied the
bill that it would have saved 100000 to
the taxpayers of this states. In addition to
this, it would have guaranteed the proper
expenditure of the money which is now
being thrown about without any necessity
to account to the state for its expenditure
THE bill would have become a law il II
had ever reached the senate floor. 1t had
behind it leaders of the house and senate
who thought more of the state interests
than of any other interests. 1t is very re.
grettable that selfish, personal equations
kept from the statute book a law which Is
needed for the larger interests of tbs
great industry of agriculture"