The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-15
HOUSE BITESAT
COURT DIVORCE
Big Holes Torn in Appropria-
tiOns for New Commission.
Rep. Mack of Harvey Wanted
to Kill Entire Act.
RED HOT FIGHT IN The HOUSE
New Public Utilities Commits
sion Under Heavy Fire.
Bill Will Go to Conference,
1t Is Said.
RED HOT FIGHT IN The HOUSE

House members to-day threatened to
annul the industrial court divorce de-
cree. After tearing enormous holes
in the appropriation bill for the new
public utilities commission, Mack of
Harvey moved to kill the entire ap-
preparation act.
During the afternoon session Repre-
sentative Mack withdrew his motion
to strike out the enacting clause and
the bill went to third reading and was
passed with a reduction of over $780,
600 for the utilities commission ap-
preparations.
This means that the utilities COM
mission measure will go to confer
ence. The members of the house indi-
cate that they will stand pat on action
taken to cut down the expense of the
commission.
In Red Hot Fight.
In red hot fight on the floor this
morning the anti-administration crowd
won on almost every test. Defiance
to the new commission and the di-
vorce plan came to the surface again
with renewed strength and energy.
After Slaughtering many items in the
appropriation bill and voting to reduce
the salaries of the three commission
ers, Mack forced test which was to
determine effect of legislative action
several weeks ago in granting the di-
vorce decree.
Martin of Reno, and Jones of Lyon,
led the fight on the appropriation
items. The old fighting crowd which
made travel slow and tedious when
the original divorce plan was under
consideration, went into the battle to-
day with new strength.
Knock Out $4,000 Salary.
One smash at the appropriation bill
knocked out the salary of $1,000 a
year which was to be allowed Judge
A. E. Helm as commerce counsel for
the commission. Martin explained
that the interstate commerce commis-
sion had taken over rate making pow
ers and the office wasn't needed.
I'VE haven't any money to throw
at the BIRDS" Martin said. I'VE have
just as much need of a moon expert
as a rate expert
Thereupon the item went out of the
bill.
Cut Off Much Expense.
Then the house voted to bump off
two of the four $1,000 a year stenog-
raphers. A few minutes later they
| cut $1,000 off the $4,000 item for a
chief accountant and two assistants.
| The bill gave all the work to the chief
accountant who shall receive $4,000 a
year.
On every test the commission's ap-
| preparation was coming down. The
railroads, the packing houses and kim
dred interests simply couldn't tell the
| house a thing about the method of
reducing salaries. The house wanted
economy that was spelled with capital
| letters. And they were getting it.
Then Martin put another crimp in the
| bill.
"I move that in line 8. section L.
the figures $1,000 be changed to read
| $3.000," he said.
/ That was the salary item for the
utilities commissioner.
| Didn't the gentleman from Reno
say recently he would be glad to take
this job asked Mack of Harvey.
| Yes, indeed" replied Martin You
give me the job and that $4,000 and
| I will agree to handle the work single
| handed and clean up the docket in
sixty days. 1 know all the candidates
for these places and they are $4,000
men,
Cut Off $1,000 Year.
| Jones of Lyon moved to substitute
| $4,000 for $4,000. His motion pre-
vailed, thus cutting $1,000 a year off
the salaries of each of the commits
sioners.
The house was simply stepping all
over the appropriation items. And it
wasn't wearing bedroom slippers,
either.
"I move that all after the enacting
| clause of this bill be stricken out,
said Mack, who until this time had
supported the ways and means com
divorce to begin with and am willing
to vote to set aside the decree now.
Endres moved a recess and house
members went outside to appear in a
movie film and to buy some food.
Chance to Rally Forces.
! Attitude of the house today was the
occasion of real concern in admins
tration camps during the noon hour
Endres' motion to recess unQueStlon-
ably gave them the opportunity to
rally their forces and if possible save
the bill Had the Mack motion gone
to a vote at the time. it is quite likely
it would have passed.
| At present the new court and COM
mission bills are under lock and key
/ in the secretary of states office They
were withheld from publication at the
personal request of Governor Allen
The new laws become effective upon
/ publication in the official state paper.
/ Appointments Wednesday.
Charges in the legislature have been
to the effect that publication of the
bills was suspended in order to delay
appointments and to keep expectanr
i legislators in line. The appointments
must be made Wednesday. The first
evidence that the administration lines
were breaking under the strain of long
delays was shown in today's house
! action.
The unexpected house fight on the
| utilities appropriation bill withdrew
legislative interest from the agricul-
tura1 consolidation bill. 1t centered
| concern and aroused new comment in
the possibilities of house and senate
action regarding divorce policies in
iclosing hours of the session.