The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-29
LEGISLATIVE RECORD.

General orders Observation-Disclosures. 2I
Third reading ....,......,... 3
Senate bills passed by house. ... :
The legislature has worked three
weeks and passed five laws-three of
them bills to pay legislative expenses
and expenses of presidential electors.
When the legislature adjourned to-
day a total of 510 bills had been pre-
sented by the solons. 1t looks as tho
the legislature may wade thru the
| session and win medal for conserva-
ton of space in the session laws.
Hold Saturday Session.
For the first time since the legisla-
ture convened. a Saturday session
was held today Many of the mem
| berS wanted to adjourn and hold
whisper caucuses with the Kansas
| Day crowd and the newspaper folks.
| But there was a majority which felt
| that sacred responsibility of n s3 a
day Job was greater than the need of
suspending business for celebration of
the states birthday.
House and senate committees will
! begin their heavy work with the meat
1axanext week. They have a total of
326 bills stored away for attention
Some of them are already neatly in
! dexed, wrapped in crepe and given a
| somewhat decent but painfully unim-
| pressive burial. Other bills are due
to come back in few days with for
nal and proper funeral announce
| ments.
| Only FortyNinc Bills Killed.
| To date the legislative committees
have succeeded in slaughtering but
forty mine of the bills-a trifle less
than 10 per cent of the total intro
duced. But with the 326 in reserve. it
looks like a big slaughter day soon.
/ Governor Aliens Industrial court
divorce bills are out on the calendars
of both houses. The battle which
started in the house Friday will grow
warmer next week when the court
judges appear on the floor to tell of
the high pressure under which they
| are forced to work. This session OF
the house with the court judges prom
| ises to be the biggest indoor festival
of the winter. Under plans of the
legislators, the labor court judges will
| appear Tuesday.
The new compensation bill has been
drafted and is now ready to go to the
legislative mills. 1t is probable the
bill will be introduced Monday in both
houses.
No Action on Farm Tenantry.
No action has been taken affecting
legislation under the farm tenantry
amendment. The Finney- -Minnich bill
4 extending provisions of the amend
4 ment to cities to enable the organiza-
tion of home building program, is
the only measure offered at this ses-
tchange. Governor Allen indicated at
the opening of the session that he
would send a special message to the
lawmakers regarding his tenantry
plans. This measure has not been pre-
pared.
Good Roads In Doubt.
Final decision of the legislature re-
garding hard surface road building
is a matter of doubt and speculation
House members have shown no ten
) dency to back down on the Lambert
son resolution declaring against state
aid. On the other hand there are a
number of farmer members who en-
| dorse the committee bill allowing use
of motor license funds in counties in
which the funds originate.
Many bills covering road and bridge
building have been introduced during
the session. In the senate, tho, there
has been no test of strength. Just at
this time the policy and purpose of the
, upper house regarding general legis-
.lation is a matter of much doubt and
, speculation. None of the administra-
ton tests have been made in the SEN
: ate, and only once has it shown its
, teeth on a bill of general interest TO
, the lobby That was when It smiled
and bowed graciously to the ladies'
| lobby and voted not to change the la
: and provide for equal sex representa-
: ton of county political committees
subcommittee have filed report.
3 regarding recent inspection of state
q institutions Bat none of the big In
stitutiona1 appropriation measures
have come from the committees
Many committee members are spend
4 ! ing week ends at the state schools
l. hospitals and penal institutions. But
II the course which these committees
S will take regarding general apsropria-
/: ton policies has not been outlined.
e Both houses are getting down tc
: hard work. Next week will be ths
;. heaviest and hardest grind thus Ear II
/; the session. Calendars in both house.
o are beginning TO show effects of corn
: mittee action. and there will doubt
= less be enough bills returned from
). their trouble trips to keep the legs
: iature working full time.
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