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

anty law, to take effect In rev
weeks, jeopardizing the deposits OF
many of our border banks and in
deed many of our interior banks.
Some plausible and sincere objec.
lions are urged to this proposed law
but | must be pardoned for believing
that none of them will stand the test
of careful analysis. The chief con-
tention is that guaranteeing deposits
will put poor bankers and good bank
ers upon a common level and make
the good responsible for the bad;
that it will multiply wildcat bankers
and contribute to loose banking meth
DDS. think it would do the very re-
verse of this. The good bankers Of
ten know when bad methods are be-
ing employed by other banks, and
would see to it that these practices
were stopped by promptly informing
the comptroller or bank commits
sioner.
This new attitude Of the bankers
themselves, which would be brought
about by the law, would in itself be
a strong safeguard against any wild
cat banking But, in addition to this,
further safeguard has been sug-
gested, which seems to me eminent
ly. wise by providing in the law that
all deposits drawing over three per
cent interest-or any other fixed per
cent which you may think wise
should not be protected by this guar
anty fund. This limitation would
prevent the wildcat banker from TAX
ing interest-bearing deposits away
from his competitor by offering
higher rate of interest than his con-
sentative competitor would give.
The urgent demand. for this law
and for the calling of this special
session to enact it has come to me
from every part of the state and rep
resents every business interest
The people want this law, and to
fail to pass it at this time is by no
means to settle the subject 1t
would only prolong the controversy.
| beg you to pass this law for the
benefit of depositors, bankers and all
forms of business alike.
The Railroad Problem.
Perhaps no state in the Union has
put upon it's statute books in the last
three years as many laws in the in
terest of the people in their relation
to transportation companies as has
the state of Kansas The enactment
of the anti-pass law by the last legis-
; lature. the material strengthening OF
the railroad law by that body, the en-
largement of the powers of the board
of railroad commissioners, the liberal
appropriation made for the enforce
ment of it's mandates, the putting in
to effect of a two-cent passenger rate
since the adjournment of the legisla-
ture and the preparation by the board
,, of railroad commissioners of care
fully considered freight rate sche-
dule seems to have satisfied the peo-
pie that the administration means to
do everything possible to protect
them against corporate injustice and
greed. The Importance of this freight
rate subject cannot be overestimated.
The elaborate schedule of freight
rates prepared with the air of experts
is now ready for the judicial hearing
contemplated by law and this hear.
ing is soon to occur. The new board
of railroad commissioners has rapid
ly grown in popular favor. | doubt
the wisdom of projecting this matter
requiring time and great care for
equitable consideration - into the
hasty councils of an extra session of
the legislature.
The schedule of freight rates refer
board with great care, and yet even
the board is not sure that it is abso-
lutely just in all of its items. All
these matters must be heard and de-
cided by the board before the sche-
dule is complete, and all this intensi-
fies my belief that 1t is not practi-
cable to attempt to pass upon all
these questions at this brief special
session, when these other and more
pressing matters demand attention.
Since the adjournment of the regu-
lar session a two-cent passenger fare
has been secured upon all the rail
roads in this state. Counsel for the
corporations contend that the board
of railroad commissioners had no le-
gal right to change statutory pas
senger rate and this proposition will
no doubt be seriously argued by them
in the courts. This question should
be settled upon its merits and not
upon a technicality. While | have
no doubt myself of the legality of the
order of the board, nevertheless |
recommend that you remove this
phase of the question from contra
versy by the enactment of straight
two-cent passenger fare law and in
cidentally the repeal of the mileage
book law.
Law enforcement.
Prohibition of the liquor traffic,
which has been the policy of this
state for twenty-seven years, grows
in favor not only here but every
where.
Experience, however, has demon
strated the need of few additional
provisions of law on the subject, and
these will be submitted to you in
bill carefully prepared by the legal |
department of the state
Conclusion.
have been urged to recommend |