The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-24
BIG BILLS UP SOON
Administration A Measures Due
in Legislature This Week.
Expect Fight on Piper Capital
Punishment Measure.
BOTH HOUSES BEGIN TODAY
Many Stnmittees Visit at State
Institutions.
Industrial Relations Message
May Come Up Soon.

AsAA
May Come Up Soon.
Some of the Dig administration bills
are due to reach the legislature this
week. There is also a possibility that
the house and senate ways and means
committee may give some indication
as to the course which will be fol-
lowed in state expenditures. The con-
gressional reapportionment muddle
and the prospect of big fight on the
Piper capital punishment bill are
high spots in the weeks legislative
events.
Both Houses Begin Today.
Members of the two houses re-
turned to Topeka today after a week
end with the home folks. They came
back with the home town reaction on
last weeks course in passing the Lam
bertson resolution and in the shifting
combinations which threaten to throw
a majority of the farmers in an organ
ization against the administration.
The effect of that weekend visit may
be reflected in the course of the legis-
lature in the next few days. If it
doesn't change its ways, it is quite cer-
tain that the members feel secure and
have been assured home support. If
there is a bolt to beat back. it is most
probable that the folks at home were
not entirely pleased.
Both houses met this afternoon.
The house convened at o'clock after
an adjournment over Saturday and
Sunday. The senate goes into action
at o'clock. The upper house ad-
journed Thursday.
Week End at Institutions.
Many of the big legislative commit
tees spent the weekend at state in
stitutions. A majority of the mem
bers, tho, went back to their home
towns to tell of doings in Topeka sand
to gather local thought and inspira-
ton. Fewer members remained in
Topeka than at any time since the
session started.
1t looks as tho both houses will get
down to serious work this week
There is prospect that the proposed
new workmen's compensation bill will
be ready for introduction before the
end of the week An effort may be
made to present the measure as a
committee. ---@-'s--9s ~
-. Governors Special Message.
Governor Aliens special message
covering his plan to divorce the court
of industrial relations and recreate the
public utilities commission may be
sent to the house and senate soon.
The special message has not yet been
drafted, according to word from the
governors office. Special CO NUM-
cations covering the court divorce bill
and the farm tenantry proposals have
been promised during the session. The
governor may go before the legislature
personally with these messag ges-
Just at this time it looks as tho the
legislature will be conservative in two
things-the use of public money and
introduction of freak and useless bills.
During the first two weeks of the ses-
Si t0ta Of n ta1
in the two houses. 1t is a minimum of
proposed legislation for the first two
weeks of a Kansas session.
Piper Bill Up This Week.
This week the house will lead the
Piper bill onto the floor for an open
fight on the capital punishment issue.
The fact that the bill came from the
mendation for it's passage has attract
ed much attention. A big show is in
prospect when the measure is brought
before the committee of the whole
house.
Some of the big institutions will be
given hearings this week before the
ways and means committee. The
couse which the committee takes in
these hearings will doubtless define
the policy of the committee and the
legislature regarding general appro-
priations at this session Refusal OF
the house to approve any plan for
state aid for hard surface road build
ing at this time, was not accepted as
an indication that the lower body
would back up on generous appropr1-
ations for various institutions and de-
partments. However, the ways and
means committee hearing room in the
secretary of states office, will be
closely watched this week with a view
of determining the probable policy of
the law makers.
Proposals Being Made.
Proposals under the new congress
sioual reapportionment plan are al
ready being made. The new con-
gress!onaI act reduces the Kansas rep
resentation from eight to seven mem
bers. There is a real row in prospect
when the legislature seeks the elm
nation of one of the existing districts
and retirement to private life of one
of the eight Republican congressman
A joint bill will probably be
worked out The present congress
sional reapportionment committee in
the senate may be enlarged to sixteen
members, giving each district a repre-
sentation of two. The house commit
tee has not been named. AS soon as
it is appointed. it is probable that joint
sessions will be arranged and pro-
posals submitted by persons inter
ested in political affairs in the state
and by friends of; members of the
Kansas delegation in Washington