The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-18

situations. His bill provides that banks
in towns of less than 5000 population
shall keep 20 per cent of their de-
posts on hand at all times; and that
in cities of more than 5000 popula-
ton, the banks must maintain a re-
serve equal to 25 per cent of the de-
posits. A portion of this reserve may
consist of deposits of solvent banks.
Failure of banks to comply with this
act within thirty days notice of the
bank commissioner, would deem the
institutions insolvent and subject to
being closed by the bank commission
er and his assistants.
H. w. Avery, the senator from Clay
county, will in a few days revive the
bill requiring registration of real eS-
tate mortgages. The bill was in the
hopper two years ago, but Governor
Stubs vetoed it. Since the act was
killed by the chief executive, Avery
has made several changes in the meas
ure. He has changed the period COW
ering which mortgages should be re-
corded. He would establish a fee of
so cents for each 500 principal of the
mortgage and would turn this fee into
the county treaSurer'S office to be dis
tributed as taxes on the property in
that particular district. Avery will
make a strong effort to crowd his bill
through at this session and to secure
enough votes to shove it over the gov
of the very few bills that fell under
the executive axe in 1909.
Travis affinity bill went to the
mill in the senate this morning and in
a few days will undergo the usual
struggle in the committee room. The
Travis measure is generally conceded
to be meritorious piece of legislation.
Two years ago the senate voted for
the bill. In the last days of the ses-
sion it went to the house. Here the
members of the committee overlooked
law and the bill died.
It is with great anguish that the
Allen county senator hears his favorite
measure called an affinity bill. The
problem-the nonsupport of wife by
husband, or of children by either
parent-and includes features which
many legislators believe should be
moulded into law. Therefore when
two years ago the newspapers of Kan
sas referred to the desertion act as
merely an affinity bill, Travis felt that
the serious side of his theory was be-
ing overlooked. This year he has can
didly asked the newspapers and gem
eral public not to refer to the measure
in sighting language.
Senator Travis would declare viola
tors of his bill guilty of a felony and
would send them to the penitentiary
for a period not to exceed two years.
Husbands who desert their wives, pa
rents who do ont provide for the care
and proper support of their children
are aimed at in the measure. The act
is in accordance with a bill prepared
by the national bar association and
will probably be enacted into law at
this session.
Both the administration and minority
bills looking to the adoption of the in
itiative and referendum and the mi
nority measure for the recall of public
officials derelict in the performance of
their duty, were reported favorably this
morning by the committee on cleo
lions: and the fight on the adoption of
these measures will be open and above
board.
When the elections committee report
ed the measures for passage, it left
optional with the senate to choose from
the two bills the one which best suited
its liking. 1t recommended the placing
of these bills on third reading subject
to amendment and debate and the
printing of 1000 copies of each bill for
distribution. The minority members
are enthusiastic over their chances for
they have more than an even chance to
| beat the Stubs enthusiasts in the
| passage of platform measures.
| The Democratic measure bears a few
| minor changes over the administration
bill Several members have declared
they will not support the bill offered
| by the Jackson county senator but t
! does not necessarily mean that they
! will support a Democratic bill. AS a
| consequence it will be necessary for the
| four minority members to do some live
| ly organizing if their resolution passes
the upper house.
| In the meeting of the elections COM
mittee. held late yesterday afternoon,
| there was a division over the favor
able report of either measure to the
exclusion of the other. 1t was agreed
| that both resolutions should be report
| ed for passage. leaving the selection of
a favorite to the senate as a body and
destroying the opportunity of later
statements that the committee smoth-