The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-02-08
POPULIST THUNDER.
The Proposed Law Relating to
Personal judgments
HAS ALREADY PASSED THE SENATE.

Endorsement or Republicans In
Guiding some Republican EditOTS
Who Used to BE Afraid of "KuAn1nS
the Credit OF the state"
1t is doubtful if any measure has been
advanced at this session of the leglsia-
ture equal in importance to the state d.
large with the bill by Senator Dennlson
of Ell Dorado, Is. B. No. $685. in relation
to judgments.
The cry which has recently been
sounded by at least one Topeka news
paper, "Make the property mortgageo
satisfy the debt" is not new one.
1t was one of the proposed measures OF
the Populist party and one which brought
down the most abuse on their heads
They were accused of running the credit
of the state BY the Republican press and
such an cutlery was made, that they were
prevented from putting through the
measure. Now we find few influential
Republicans anxiously pushing TINS
scheme which would have ruined the
credit of the state" if the Populists had
put in through, but which it appears will
be a most benefcent reform at the hands
of Republicans Such is the blindness
of partisanship. Not but that such Dill
might not be useful and desirable in it.
self, and may yet rightfully become a
law
Constitutional lawyers say this pro-
posed legislation cannot be done directly
without coming in conflict with the
United States constitution which declares
that mo state shall enact any law i'm
pairing contract obligations" The Den
nison bill seeks to do indirectly what
cannot constitutionally be done directly
1t affords practically the relief which
judgment debtors want This bill pass
ed the senate this week by non-parti-
san vote and is now in the house The
bill has received no notice in the paper
loudest in its demands for the bill, pos
sibly because it was introduced by a
Populist. or be because its reporters
did not comprehend its Significance.
Senator Dennison said to a JOURNAL
reporter regarding his bill:
There has been a demand among all
our people and it has been voiced by the
Capital and other papers that the prop
erty mortgsged shall pay the debt This
is clearly in conflict of the provision in
the United States constitution which
says that no state shall pass any law i'm
pairing the obligations of contracts.
This act and the redemption law of
1898 together will go long ways toward
accomplishing indirectly what the con-
stitution will not permit to be done d.
rectly Our people ought to interest
themselves in this measure and see that
it passes the house and becomes law"
Senator Dennison has had a great
many demands for the bill which he has
been unable to answer as almost the
whole number printed has been used.
For the benefit of the public the bill is
here presented in a condensed form:
SECTION ALI judgments shall be
listed for taxation by the owner or his
agent, in the county in which they are
rendered.
"SEc. 2-Al judgments heretofore
rendered which have not been listed for
taxation, within one year after the tax
ing effect of this act, and all judgments
which may hereafter be rendered, which
shall not have been listed tor taxation
one year after its rendition, shall become
dormant and cease to operate as a lieI
on the estate of the judgment debtor.
SEC. 4-For the purpose of carrying
out the provisions of this act it shall b.
the duty of the county clerk on or before
the 10Th day of June to certify to the CLERK
of the court in which the judgment il
rendered, list of all judgments which
have been listed for taxation prior to the
first day of June, and all judgment!
which have been rendered one year anC
not appearing on the list, shall be by the
clerk of the court marked dormant and
they shall thereafter cease to operate as
a lien on the estate of the judgmen
until revived according to the provisions
of this act
''SEC. Amy person desiring to re
vive judgment which has become dor
mant under the provisions of this &C
must list it with the county clerk, whC
shall list the same for taxation each yea
since its rendition, and shall add fifteel
per cent per annum from said date, as
penalty, to the amount levied upon sait
judgment, and shall certify the tax an(
penalty to the county treasurer. and saiS
amounts shall be placed upon the ia,
rolls against the judgment creditor. Upoi
its payment to the county treasurer. b
shall issue to the judgment creditor du
plicate receipts showing the amount
paid and the years for which they wer
paid, and If they show that the take
have been paid for each year since tn
rendition of the judgment, he shall fl
one of said receipts with the clerk of tn
court, and the said clerk shall mark sal
judgment revived which said judgmen
shall then become lien upon the estat
OF said judgment debtor, subject to tn
rights any other person may have Oh
tanned while said judgment was dorman
This act is not intended to repeal sec
lions 4537, 4542 and 1866 of the geners
statutes of 1889; and subject to the re
strlctions contained herein, the sal
sections are hereby declared to be i
full force and effect"
A COUNTY PRINTING CoNTENTro,
A Proposed Reduction of Fees Resiste
by Printers in the House.
County printing, which has bean tb
all-absorb ing question all over the stst
the past month, crept into the hons
committee of the whole yesterday an
stirred up more practical printers WI
had twenty five years sxperienca tn a
1t would take to run big daily. Tn
discussion was all provoked nv Mr. Zi1