The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-18
WEARY SOL0NS
CLOSE SESSION.;
GO BACK HOME
Legislature Closes in Most
Spectacular Finish.
Bitter Resentment Shown
Toward Administration.
HARDEST FIGHT EVER STAGED
consolidation Bill Is Badly
Battered.
Legislators Stood by Guns Two
Days and a Night.
Bitter Resentment Shown
Toward Administration.
HARDEST FIGHT EVER STAGED

The Kansas legislature, which went
YEARLY to the trains Thursday night.
closed the 1921 session IN one of the
most spectacular finish Nights the
state has ever known. Bitter resent
Tnent against the state administra-
tons trading policies. mingled with a
fighting determination % hold the
lines against an extra legislative day.
The combination was the wall which
stopped Governor Allen and his forces
in their final drive.
Many Bitter Remarks.
No state legislature ever heard more
bitter and scathing remarks than
those which came from senate MEM
bers who condemned and defied the
governor. No harder fight was ever
staged than the one which was organ
lied to block every move to force an
extra legislative day. In consequence
tired and worn solons sat in constant
session two days and a night and re-
fused to quit the battle until an adj
1ournment was forced.
The Consolidation Bill.
Interest in the wreckage lies en-
tirely in the governors battered con-
solidation bill. The measure never
came from the committee. The senate
agricultural committee stood six to
three on a final poll for killing the
demanded. Two members wanted a
mo recomm enGlation report. One mem
Der wanted a favorable recommends
Stion. There is slight chance-in view
of the first hand stories of trades and
deals to secure passage of the bill
that the senate would have given seri-
Gus consideration to the measure had
it come from the committee. The sem
ate opposition was set and rarin' to
fight.
Reward Many Workers.
! Out of the work of the session the
governor rewarded numerous workers.
Others are yet to receive plums. But
the return which came to the admin
istration thru these trades is negligi-
BILE. Few governors with party con-
4tral in both house and senate ever re-
Aceived less favorable consideration OF
their legislative program. The indus
trial court divorce and the dormitory
bill are really the dominant measures
which passed bearing administrator
trade marks. 1t is quite probable that
the divorce bill would have been
beaten in both houses had it been IN
the mill during the last week of the
session.
Administration resentment toward
opponents of the governors program
was in evidence until the last hour of
the active session. Retaliation was
shown in the smash which was made
against administration pets. Because
of the bitter feeling which developed
in the final days of the session. it is
probable that new lines will be drawn
particularly in the senate-which
will reflect new organization lines in
the coming campaign and in the 1928
Session.
Slash Appropriations.
One. of the final moves of the ways
and means committees was to slash
the agricultural appropriation when
the consolidation bill died. The COM
nittee cut out appropriations for the
annual farmer meeting. This appro-
priation has been allowed at every
session of the legislature in almost a
half century.
On the other hand the attorney gen.
erals office and the state highway
commission-bothb bearing administra-
fion signs-were slaughtered in al
Iowa noes. Their budgets were cut far
below the requests and former allow
ances.
Failing to secure repeal of the civil
service law the legislature took the
next most desirable course to end its
activity. The appropriation was cut