The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-12
LEGISLATIVE RECORD.

With prospects that the ground hog
was all wrong this year, Kansas legis-
lators are beginning to hear the early
call Of spring.
1t is but little more than month
until time to plant potatoes. Letters
from home assure the lawmakers that
the early spring plowing will be a bit
earlier than usual this year. In con-
sequence the legislature is serving its
first notice that if the state really
needs anything in the way of legal
remedies, cure-alls, reforms or instant
relief. II should speak promptly. In
PRODUCTION of individual bills is prac-
tically certain to stop in both houses
. next wcek-the house has fixed We'd
nesday az the dead line. And with the
stopping of introduction of new bills,
there is an increased tendency to
sharpen the legislative ak and smite
large percentage of measures already
PR -ented.
Not one of the big administration
hills has as yet reached Governor Al
len for his sigma ture. The industrial
court divorce proposal and the bill re-
creating the public utilities commits
sion have gone to conference. There
probably will he an agreement as TO
PROFESSIONS of these bills some time next
week.
Accept Compromise.
Rumors in the state house today in
d.cate that administration friends in
both houses favor a change in pro-
visions of the bills as amended by the
house. That Governor Allen will ac-
cept compromise on the house
amendments is the general impression
of legislative observers. If the plan to
fix legal qualifications for industrial
court Judges can be changed to apply
TO the public utilities commission. it
is reported the governor will not op-
pose the shift. Both houses indicated
this week that they wanted the new
measure to define qualifications for
the new tribunals. altho the senate
asked for a conference in an apparent
effort to effect a compromise
Neither house has taken action re-
garding proposed changes in the state
constitution. These propositions must
be taken care of before the legislature
goes home Some of them may fur
nish few red hot sessions.
Constitutional Suggestions.
Propositions to resubmit the tax
. amendment-defe by 47,OOO in
: the November election-a proposal to
make legislators ineligible to civil ap-
pointments during their term. crea-
tion of state department of educa-
ton. three fourths jury verdict in
civil cases and increased pay for men,
bers of the legislature are the impor-
tant constitutional changes proposed.
The legislature can submit but three
propositions to the voters at any cleo
ton.
Efforts may be made to take up the
constitutional questions some time
during the next two weeks. They will
probably be made special orders and
the bars let down for debate.
In the meantime the workmen s
compensation bill has not advanced
beyond first base. And governor Al
lens farm tenantry has not been to
bat. Just when they are to have an
inning is a matter of speculation.
Five Weeks of Session.
Five weeks of the session are out of
the way. 1t is only a short time when
the legislature will begin serving the
state as a matter of patriotism. Their
salaries of IS a day are in keeping
with some of the economy propose Is
which have come from the commit
tees. And even tho the house and
senate speed up their work on re-
manning bills. there is little prospect
that the session will end until ths
members have spent little time in
Topeka at their own expense Just
now it looks as tho the session NAV
END March 10.
High Mortuary Record.
No definite date has been fixed fol-
final consideration of bills or adjourn
ment- AS soon as the house and SEN
ate agree as to introduction of indi.
vidual bills calendar committees will
be named to direct revision of the
dockets and manner in which meas
ures will be brought up for considera-
tion. That means a sorrow time foi
u.