The Globe-republican., 1906-03-29
\ HocH SAYS KANSAS CAN WAIT
: A FEW MONTHS.
FORMAL STATEMENT IS ISSUED }
The Announcement Was Made In An
swer to a Petition Coming From,
Y Different Parts Of the State - No
- tr5 NJ

Topeka, March 27.--Tn statement
Issued Governor Hoch announced
that he would not call an extra SEES
sion Of the legislature. The announce
ment was made, in answer to the Pc
tition coming from different parts Of
the state. Just who inspired the Pc
tition Is somewhat of a mystery. Jas.
A. Trontman, leading spirit in the
Kansas Civic League, denies that the
league Is behind the movement. H.
H. Tucker, president OF the Uncle
Sam refinery at Cherryvale, sent the
blank petition out, along with cir
cular letter urging great haste in hav-
ing them signed up and mailed to the
governor. But Tucker is not regard
ed as the moving spirit.
Governor Hoch's statement fol-
lows:
Petitions are coming to me re-
questing to convene the legislature in
extraordinary session for the purpose
/ OF considering, first, an anti-pass' law,
second, primary election law, third,
a new ballot law, fourth, a public SER
vice corporation law.
Section 107 of the state constitu.
ton provides that the governor may
on extraordinary occasions convene
the legislature by proclamation in
special session. The supreme court
has decided that the governor is the
judge as to whether any occasion is
extraordinary or not, but a governor
should exercise this discretion only
for the gravest reasons, | recall but
five extra sessions of the legislature
convened in this state during my
third Of century's residence in 1t.
"In 1874, the grasshopper year, the
legislature was called in extra SEES
sion to furnish farmers seed and the
people other relief. A large sum of
money was appropriated for this pur-
pose, but the act was declared uncon-
stitutional and the expense Of the oc-
casion was incurred without practical
result.
in 1884 the legislature was conven
ed in live stock interests to stamp
out, If possible, the foot and mouth
disease, and this session yielded lit
tie, If any, practical results.
'In 1886 the legislature was con-
yened for Legislative apportionment
purposes. lafj i.n
IN 1898 the legislature was con-
yened after the general election in
anticipation of political change in
legislative membership. NV
in 1903 the legislature was con-
vened to give relief to the flood suf
ferers, but this is a matter Of such
recent history that | need not more
than recall it.. .s,r
"All these occasions, with one ex-
'ception, will be generally considered |
as coming within the constitutional
provision of extraordinary session,
and yet they yielded no results com
mensurate with the seeming import
ance of the occasions and are not
therefore inspiring guides In these
matters
II recognize the right of the people |
freely to petition the executive in a
case of this kind, but with all due re-
spect to these petitioners | cannot see
in any one or in all of these four al
legged reasons sufficient basis for the
exercise Of this executive function.
All these conditions which are set |
forth in these four proposed meas
ures are of long standing. Other leg
islatures have had ample opportunity
to legislate upon these subjects and
within the next nine months another
legislature will have an opportunity to
correct whatever wrongs may exist in
reference to these matters. AS the
servant OF the people | should not put
the state to useless expense, and as
the representative of the dominant
part I must be permitted to believe
that the Republican party has in the
past year done more to entitle 1t to I
the respect and confidence Of the peo-
pie of the state than has ever before
been done in similar period Of time. |
The last legislature was a most admir-
able body and reflected great credit |
upon the state. I believe more Of Its
members will be returned to the next |
house than ever before in the history
Of Kansas and think the state can
with the utmost confidence trust the
next legislature to give careful con-
sideration to, these four subjects,
which are not new but are old, and
which the people, having endured for
Years, can certainly endure for few
months longer" " 4nglo
Emperor Joseph Not III.
Vienna March 26.--It was again an.