The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-12

llic highways and the county supervisor.
/ Sixth-That 70 per cent Of all money
collected from each road district shall
be used to improve the roads within the
said district.
The law relating to road districts, re-
Gently repealed, SHOULD be re-enacted.
The Tax Law
/ urge your careful consideration of
the recommendations of the state tax
commission, and also recommend the
FOLLOWING amendments to the state tax
law;
That the state tax commission be
/, elected by popular vote
| That the term of office of the state
tax commission be for a period of two
years.
The county assessors office should
! be abolished in counties having less
than 10000 population and the county
clerks perform all duties of county as
SCISSORS in said counties.
| The assessors in cities and more popu-
lous counties should be elected by pop
ular vote
The tax levies should be limited by
law and decreased to the full extent
that the valuation of property has been
| increased under the new tax law in
, county, city, township and school dis
tricts.
The new tax law provides for the as
sessment of all property at its true
value and the purpose of this law is
to compel all personal and real prop
erty to bear it's equal burden of the
tax. With the state tax commission,
county commissioners, and assessors in
the cities and counties all directly re-
sponsible to the voters and tax payers
for their nomination and election, the
administration of the tax law should
become more and more equitable and
efficient.
Banking Laws.
The present banking law is one of
the very best state laws in the Union
and the state banks of Kansas are
worthy of the confidence of the people.
Prompted by the suggestions of ex-
perience. however, and to further
strengthen the banking law and the
state banking system recommend the
enactment of a savings bank law
which shall provide for the creation
OF banks for savings deposits only,
prohibiting the transaction of COM
mercial business and limiting the in
vestment of its funds to such securi-
ties as are usually dealt in by savings
banks.
recommend an amendment to The
banking law providing that no bank
shall receive deposits in excess of ten
times the amount of its capital stock
and surplus. The law should also pro-
vide that no bank or trust company
shall make any loans in excess of $500
directly or indirectly to its president,
vice president, cashier, assistant CASH
Ter, secretary, treasurer or majority
stakeholder, or to any corporation,
nrm or partnership IN which THESE Oh
ficers are financially interested and
prescribe appropriate penalties for its
violation.
A director or officer of a bank
from pledge OF hypothecation. and the
sale or incumbrance of such stock
should of itself terminate his official
connection with the bank as fully as
if his resignation had been rendered
and accepted, and any further inter-
meddling with the banks affairs as an
officer. or director, by him should be
a misdemeanor under a severe penalty.
Every stakeholder should be requir-
ed to make under oath an annual
statement for publication showing
whether or not he has sufficient prop
perty free of exemptions and incum- /
ORANGES to make good his double liza |
biIty as a stakeholder III case his bank |
should fail.
Any commissioner, assistant COM |
missioner, or deputy, who shall permit
the Violation of any of tie banking
laws of this state for period Of 80 |
days by any bank doing business ~
der such laws. shall be guilty of mis- |
demeanor and be punished by file and
imprisonment.
Bank directors should be compelled |
by law to give personal attention to
the duties of their office with proper
penalties prescribed for neglect or
violation thereof.
Corporation Law.
The present corporation law seems
to provide that when corporation
abuses its power a receiver shall be
appointed for the purpose Of winding
up it's affairs and disposing of the cor
porate property. This is often too
drastic. The law should be amended
so as to provide for receivers to cor
rect corporate abuses and when cor
rected to hand back the corporate
property, without dissoiving the cor
poration, into the hands of its owners
and managers, subject to the super
should be supplementary to the pres
ent law so that either judgment may
be pronounced at the discretion of the
court.
City Commission Government.
The present enabling act authoriz-
ing cities of the first and second class
to adopt the commission form of gov
eminent should be amended in a few
material particulars to make the plan
when adopted more efficient in opera |
ton. I recommend the following
amendments:
First-That the law provide that
women be given the right of suffrage |
on the question of the adoption of the |
plan.
Second-It should also provide for
the compulsory referendum of fran |
chise ordinances.
Third-It should also provide for !
the initiative and referendum in the |
passage of ordinances and the recall
of the commissioners by petition.
Fourth-It should also provide that |
after a trial of more than six years |
a proposition to abolish the commits /
sion plan could be submitted to the |
voters by petition.
Fifth-It should provide for the |
non partisan nomination and election |
of commissioners.
Those who have observed the sue |
cessful operation of the plan believe !
also the city schools should be brought |
under the commission.
These amendments have already
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