The Topeka state journal., 1908-01-09
THE SPECIAL SESSION.

Although the State Journal was
opposed to special session of the
legislature, and can still see no real
emergency in existence that war;
ranted the calling of one, it is the
hope of this newspaper, and likewise
of all well intentioned people in the
state, that the legislators who have
been called to extraordinary conclave
by Governor Hoch, will enact such
legislation On the few subjects that
some folks think are demanding of
immediate attention as Will rebound
to their credit and be of benefit to
the voters, taxpayers and the people
in general throughout the entire
commonwealth.
1t Is the governors idea that an
emergency exists for the enactment
Of a law which will guarantee the de-
posits in the banks of the state Such
addition to the statutes of Kansas if
one can be framed which will do full
justice to the varied interests fnvolv-
ed in the issue. There is a great diff
ference of opinion among bankers
and business men as to just what
form this law should take and while
the legislature should be urged to use
all dispatch in the transaction of the
business before 1t, this question is not
one for hasty or ill-advised action It
should receive most careful consider
alton. OF the many plans along this
line which have been suggested, one
comes from the conservative bankers
that the law should be so constructed
as to enable groups Of bankers to join
together and insure the deposits in
each others institutions. Such a plan
would go a great ways to prevent
loose methods by wild cat bankers
This is the chief argument against a
bank guaranty law that would make
1t compulsory for all the banks in the
state to join in one fund for the pro-
lection of the deposits in all of them.
Primary legislation is another
question which will undoubtedly at
tract considerable attention during
the extra session. Governor Hoch de-
clares he has received information
from a majority of the senators that
they will support a direct state pri-
mary measure. This is certainly the
only kind of a one that should be
placed on the statute books. It's the
kind the people want and there is
no room for compromise on the ques-
ton. If a majority Of the senators
are now in favor of this sort of prim-
ary legislation a good many of them
have experienced a wonderful change
of heart within the past year. But
there are probably enough of them
opposed to it to put up a vigorous
| fight for a hybrid sort of a primary
| legislation which was the only kind
acceptable to Senator Sam Fitzpat-
rick and his colleagues in the rail-
road lodge" during the last session.
An amendment to the new tax law
| fixing a reasonable limit to the levy
that may be made by the taxing
bodies in the state under the greatly
increased assessed valuation of prop
erty which will prevail under the new
law will also be in order. This is one
piece of legislation that should cause
no trouble
/ OF course the legislators are moi
limited to the scope of the legislation
they may consider at the special ses.
sion, but there is no reason on the
face of the earth why they should
take up a whole lot Of matters a.
they probably will. They should linn.
1t their attentions to the three thing.
manned, or possibly to some other lit.