The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-31
Legislative Interest Centers i'm
Industrial Court Fight.
Houses May Meet in Joint Ses-
siOns to Hear Judges.
DORMITORY BILL IN TODAY
Issuance of $1,OOO,OOO in State
Bonds for Schools.
Session May End With Intro
ductiOn of 1000 Bills.

Legislative interest this week will
center in the big industrial court fight
which is due to break loose in the
house Tuesday and in the course of
the administrations new compensa-
ton bill. Both the house and senate
meet at O'Clock this afternoon. In
both houses there is a tendency to get
down to hard work and the fourth
week of the session will doubtless wit
ness passage of a number of new
laws.
Calendars of both houses are now
beginning to show effects of committee
work. Many additional bills will come
from the committee rooms in the next
day or two. Results of committee
sessions Saturday and this morning
were to be announced late this after
noon or Tuesday morning. The new
grist will keep the mill grinding at
capacity speed most of the week.
Plans of the house members to go
Immediately into Governor Aliens pro-
posal to divorce the industrial court
and create new public utilities COM
mission, will direct public attention
to the lower legislative body this week.
The house has already asked for rule
calling the industrial court judges be-
fore them for statement as to the
work performed and time actually
spent on the job. 1t is merely one
of the first guns to be fired in the big
observer is seemingly convinced that
the administration will make its big
test of strength on the new court pro-
posal.
Into Joint Sessions.
Today there were rumors that the
senate might recess to hear statements
of industrial court judges. Such ac-
ton would bring the two houses into
joint sessions for these hearings.
Whether the senate will move to visit
the house without first receiving an
invitation to join in a session with the
lower body is quite doubtful. Several
senate members tho, have expressed
a desire to hear the discussions
The administration compensation
bill will go to the house and senate
hoppers during this afternoons ses-
sions. The. bill was drafted by a spe-
eial committee appointed by Governor
Allen. A special bill urged by w. E.
Freeman, president of the state fed
Grafton of labor, is due to come before
the Legislature later. Freeman re-
fused to join in the sessions when a
new bill was discussed, altho he had
been named as member of the COM
mittee.
There is little probability that the
compensation bill will be out for con-
sderation on the floor until the mid
die of February. Passage of a new
compensation law with more liberal
strongly urged by Governor Allen.
The bill, which is due today. is the
accepted administration document.
Dormitory Bill In.
Introduction of the dormitory bill
is expected during the days proceed
ings. The bill in it's present fern is
said to carry plan for issuance of a
million dollars worth of state lsonds
for new quarters for students at state
schools. Mrs. Minnie J. Grinstead will
present the bill in the house. Senator
Rolla w. Coleman of johnson county
will probably father the dormitory
bill in the senate.
With but few more than 500 bills
introduced in the two houses during
the present session, it is probable that
the session may end with a total of
not more than 1000 to 100 bills
lThe previous low record was 1885.
In 1915 the legislature broke ALI rec
ords when more than 1900 bills were
presented.
Proposals for new laws this year
have been very largely on a conserva-
tive basis. There have been but few
freak bills and these have met bitter
| discourage in the committees
and on the floor.
A six-day session will be held this
week in each house. Starting with
this afternoons. proceedings, the house
and senate will stay on the job until
some time SATURDAY. Full l1me service
will be given until the end of the ses-
sion.
Short sessions were made necessary
during the early organization that
committees might work on bills. Now
with a daily production of proposed
new laws, the legislators will find the
war time labor scale has been wiped
out 1t means a hard. steady grind
until quitting time in March
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