The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-02-09
Senate Enters Hot Debate on
Brick and Cement Question.
HegIer Amendment Resolution
Killed in Upper House.
NOTHING TO TRUST TALK
Senator Snyder Says 1t Is Eos.
tered by Publicity Seekers.
Taylor Declares Reno County
Was Stung on Roads.

The question of whether there ex-
lists in Kansas a brick and cement
trust, or not. and if such a trust does
exist. who is responsible for It's crea-
ton, was argued vigorously in the
senate Tuesday afternoon in the pro-
cess of killing the Hegler resolution
providing for constitutional amend
ment which might empower the state
to enter the brick and cement manu-
featuring field in accordance with the
suggestion embodied in the governors
first message to the legislature.
/, Senator Snyder, of Leavenworth, de-
clared that the talk of the trust is AL
bunk" and that it was being fostered
by senators who want to get their
names in the paper
Says Reno County Was Stung.
Senator Taylor, of Hutchinson. on
the other hand declared that Reno
county has been 'stung" for more
than two million dollars on road build
ing in that county, thru the opera
lions of a trust in the material bust
ness, which controlled the county
commissioners and forced the con-
tracts for the roads onto the people
who did not want them.
Taylor dragged the grand jury
question back into the discussion. He
unsuccessful
get the grand juries brought back into
the judicial machinery of the state.
and has still another bill pending on
the same subject.
Action Against Trusts.
He declared that one of his objects
in working for the return of the grand
jury was to get action on the enforce
ment of the law against trusts, assert
ing that it is impossible to get private
individuals now to testify as to the ex-
lstence of a trust, without a grand
jury. He also took occasion to urge
the adoption of another resolution
which he has pending for the appoint
ment of committee of five senators
TO investigate the cost of producing
brick and cement at the present time
Taylor declared that unless some
means of enforcing the antitrust law
is discovered, the people will demand
the entrance of the state into COM
petition with the trusts as a last resort.
Says NoTrust in State.
Senator Finley of Chanute. arguing
against the adoption of the COMMITTEES
report, declared that no trust exists in
the state, and that the specifications
or the engineers in charge of the road
building projects are responsible for
the nigh prices of the material He
urged that the material which is being
produced in the private brick Yards
and cement plants of the state is
plenty good enough for the purpose of
building roads, but that the engineers
specifications are unreasonable and
that the producers of the materials
cannot sell what they have manufac-
tured. IF there were a trust and we
can't control it by law, it's futile to
try to control it by state competition.
he declared
Senator Finley asserted that prices
are coming down within the next year,
cltlng the prices of farm produce and
OF other commodities. Senator Badger
Immediately asked whether the prices
or brick and cement had vet started
down. and Senator Finley said that
they had not, but that they were sure
to do so in the near future.
senator Price, opposing the motion,
after signing the majority report,
which was for the killing of the reso-
luton, as chairman of the committee
which reported on it in the first place
said that whether or not there exists
trust. there iS.no excuse for the state
entering the field of private business
He cited the clause in the constitution
which prohibits the states assistance
in any internal improvement and said
that it remains to- be proven whether
the amendment which permits of state
aid for roads is wise, let alone the en-
trance of the state into the manufac-
turing field.
3.
TT means there is a horrible weak
ness in our government if we must
enter a fight against trusts, by COM
petition, after We have appropriated
100000 to the contingent fund of the
attorney general of the state for the
express purposes of fighting the trusts
with the laws which we now have"
Senator Price declared. There are
laws against them now. What we need
is enforcement of the laws
1t was following the speech by Sena-
tor Price that Senator Taylor declared
that the law could not be enforced at
| the present time and with the present
machinery.
Senator Kyle, of Dickinson county,
declaring that he desired to 'tget out
from under this flow of oratory."
moved the previous question, and find
| ing four other senators of the same
! mind, the vote taken killed the mi
nority report and ended the possibility
of the people of the state being asked
| to decide whether they want to go into
tho brick and -caraenf business