The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-19
Conditions May Make a Special
Session Necessary.
Nothing Yet to Warrant Calling
One, However.
WANTS GOOD SHOWING
Require Strong Reasons Before
Calling Legislature.
Has Nothing to Say About Two
Cent Fare.

| Conditions may arise which will
make it advisable to call special ses-
sion of the legislature said Governor
! Hoch this morning. Then he added:
But SO far nothing has been pre-
sented to me which seems to warrant
such action"
However, the attitude of the COVER
nor toward the special session talk
two years ago when there was talk of
a special session,
Two years ago. said Governor
Hoch. Il refused to call a special ses-
there was anything which justified such
action. I am still of the opinion that
there should be very strong show
ing made to warrant special session.
asking for special session. but so far
have not seen sufficient cause to make
it advisable to take action
Governor Hoch was asked concern
Ing the two cent railway rate contro-
versy.
II have been away" said the COVER
nor, 'and have not kept thoroughly
posted on the situation. I don't know
what has been going on
On the whole it seems unlikely that
there will be a special session of the
legislature called. There has thus far
developed 10 movement which seems
like a general demand for a special
session. A few statesmen and others
think that it would be a good thing,
and various reasons are alleged. Some
think that the principal object of the
session would be the enactment of
primary election law; others think that
the two cent fare law is the principal
thing. State Auditor James Nation be-
lieves that one of the most important
things for a special session of the leg
islature to consider will be the limita-
ton of tax levies to correspond with
the new assessment law.
THE spirit of the new tax law pass
Il ~, loo loo iCIo 10 a
valuation be returned" said Mr.. Ma
ton today. 1T noticed an interview the
other day by the mayor of Topeka
that next year the city would have
taxes. That is just what fear. Under
the old custom the valuations We're
from one-tenth to one-half. usually
about one-third or .one-fourth. That
means that the valuations returned
under the new law will be from three
to four times as large as under the old
custom.
What I think should be done is to
make an amendment to the tax law.
declaring that no county or city shall
levy more than 10 per cent additional
tax over it's levy of the previous year.
Attorney General Fred Jackson
thinks that a special session for the
2-cent fare law is entirely unneces-
sary and many of the members of the
legislature agree with him. Mr. jack
son thinks it is up to the board of rail-
ROAD commissioners W IdhC 61SbAOAA O1
this matter.
Nothing would be accomplished by
a special session. said General Jack
SON. "It would entail a big expense,
and the legislature would be apt to be
here all winter considering the mat
ter The only thing to do is for some
one to file formal complaint before
the board. The commissioners would
then have to take testimony. That
would bring the thing right down to
focus. The question is not one for
the legislature to- settle, but for the
board 1t is a question of facts, pure
and simple, to find out If a 2-cent fare
is a paying proposition or is conf1sca-
tory"
1t is not believed likely that Gov
ernor Hoch would call a special ses-
sion to pass a primary election law,
because the governor was strongly in
favor of the compromise primary law
which was turned down by the house
of representatives. The governor used
all his personal and political influence
to pass that bill. and failing, he held
w. R. Stubs and the Stubs crowd
responsible.