The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1908-01-24


which was convened at 4 O'Clock
Thursday afternoon In it he urges
the lawmakers to frame a bank de-
positors' guaranty measure, pri-
mary election law and two-cent pas
senger law. He also recommends a
revision of the tax. commission and
prohibitory laws in order that they
may be more effective.
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
The work of a special session OF
the legislature is in some states con-
fined to the matters specified in the
executive CALL but no such limitation
is put upon the powers of a legisla-
ture in this state. Nevertheless, |
feel sure you will see the propriety
and wisdom of confirming yourselves
closely as possible to the speclhc
things You have been called together
to consider. | desire also, at the
threshold of your labors, to express
the Il ne that all appropriations, not
absolutely necessary, be refused, ana
that all useless employees be dis
pensed with, and that the expenses
of this extra session be reduced TO
the lowest possible limit. The propo-
sitions you will be asked to consider
are not new propositions. New con-
ditions give them new prominence
but they are questions with when
you are familiar and upon which you
are already prepared to register your
votes intelligently. l am sincerely
hoping that the session may not con-
sumo more than one-half of the re-
munerative days allotted ~ law to
an extraordinary session.
Primary Election.
recommend the enactment OF
primary election law statewide in It's
character. to include every state, dis
trict and county officer to be voted
for in this state this year, also an
expression of popular choice for Uni
ted States senator, and to be opera
tive in the selection of this years
candidates by every political party.
Less than this at this time will not
satisfy the people.
Whether Kansas shall be kept
abreast of the progressive movement
for good government national in its
character: whether the new civil SER
vice policy in preference to the ola
factional spoils system shall con-
tinue to be operative in the public
service of this state; whether corpo-
rate greed shall be controlled or per
mitted to forage at will upon the peo-
mel, is largely matter of executive
determination. and all the people
should have ample opportunity TO
pass upon these questions in the con-
sideration of candidates. for govern
or this year. Then again, the legis-
lature. both senate and house, is to
be selected this year. The senate
will hold for four years and remain
in Office through two biennial SEES
sions. The legislature selected this
year will elect next winter United
States senator who will represent
this state for the next six years in
the upper branch of congress. The
right to select a candidate is as sac
red as the right to elect an officer.
Tax Commission Law.
The new tax comm ssion law is
my Judgment one of the best enact
ments ever put upon the statute
books of Kansas. 1t will prove of
immense benefit to the state when it
is once in successful operation. 1t
will simplify taxation, quadruple the
property statistics of the state and
ultimately greatly reduce the average
taxation. This is not, as many sup
pose, a new law. 1t is in most of its
features Me old law given new VI
tality by needed amendments, but it
still needs one important amend
ment and perhaps many of minor i'm
uortance. 1t provides for the assess
ment of all property at its actual
value. and for the enforcement OF
this provision, which indeed is not
n new one but which under the old
system resulted in the assessment of
property at not more than onefourth
it's value. This new law. which thus
proyides for so great an increase in
valuations, unfortunately failed to
provide for a proportionate decrease
in possible levy. May | suggest that
the new tax commission. composed
of men of undoubted character and
ability. who have given much thought
to this law, who have studied it in all
it's phases, who have sought counsel
from taxpayers in every part of the
state. should be freely consulted by
Won in reference to any proposed |
amendments or changes in this new.
and as yet untrled, system of taxa.
ton?
Depositors Guaranty Fund.
The events of the last few months I
throughout the entire country have |
emphasized the need of some bank
ing legislation that in times like I
these shall inspire increased conf
dence in depositors and 'prevent the
unnecessary boarding of money by
the banker and people alike The so
called panic which has disturbed bust
ness conditions in every state in the
Union has been a bankers panic
more than a peoples panic. Appar-
entity they have had less confidence ]