The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-04
TODAY IN HOUSE
Gov. Hodges May Use Veto ON
Garnishment Bill.
Small Debtors Court Created
for Protection.

oOferHor fdOOSeS may use his first
veto on the Frey garnishment bin. He
admits that he proposes to send the
measure back to the legislature for re-
pairs. In event changes suggested by
the governor are not made in the BILL
u is then probable that Hodges will
sign the measure.
The bill which has passed both
branches of the legislature and has
been in the governors hands since
Monday morning. was introduced by
Mike Frey, member of the house from
dorsement of the mercantile and retail
associations, but created a lively row
when 1t was considered on the floor of
the house. In the senate the bill met
with less opposition, was passed and
sent to the governor to sign.
Now Hodges has baked. He believes
that the measure in it's present form is
unjust and unfair to the laboring man
and does not hesitate to say so. The
bill as it passed the two houses pro-
vides that the head of family shall
be subject to garnishment for necessi-
ties of life in an amount equal to %
per cent of his wages and does not
provide for the entrance of judgment
against the person against whom the
garnishment is filed.
So Governor Hodges will send the bill
back to the legislature with the recon-
mendation that the amount of garnish-
instead of 25 per cent and to further
provide that judgment must be entered
against a defendant in some court of
record before any garnishment order
can lie. It is the belief of the governor
that a % per cent garnishment is too
high in view of the present high cost of
living. He does not desire to shield the
debtor from the payment of his just
obligations but does believe that he is
entitled to some recognition and the
provisions of a law that will not work
an undue hardship.
In event the legislature declines to |
accept the amendments suggested by |
the governor, it is then probable that |
the right of veto will be exercised.
One of the most important measures |
to be offered in the present session of
the legislature went through the house /
today when that body voted 81 to 16
for the creation of a small debtors
court for the protection of the rights of
persons unable to employ counsel and
prosecute suits for civil judgment in (
the courts. The bill provides that the
city or county commissioners may or
der the establishment of the small
debtors court. that the judge shall
serve without pay. that no oral testi
rnony of witnesses other than the plain
tiff and defendant shall be taken and
that no attorneys serving for COM
shall be recognized.
The house ways AMI means commit
tee has for week had under consid-
Grafton the attorney generals con-
tingent fund. Earlier in the session
the committee had voted to reduce
the contingent fund of the attorney
general from $4,000 to $1,000 a year.
although Governor Hodges had rec
commended in his message to the legls-
lature that no reduction be made.
Now the committee has reconsidered
their actions and have voted, it is
claimed, to increase the amount of the
fund to $4,000 a year. or
$4,000 for the years 1914-15.
There will be no commission ap
pointed by the Kansas legislature to
recodify the statutes. A bill intro
duced at this session, seeking the APP
pointment of such a commission, has
met unfavorable consideration at the
hands of the house ways and means
The bill called for an ap-
preparation of $4,000, in the face OF
Democratic party promises to reduce ]
committee looked first at the bill and
then the party pledge. 1t decided to
obey the platform and killed the bill
today killed the Boyd bill, providing
for the establishment of a branch of ,
the state printing plant in the new .
Memorial building, where Boyd would !
have published the school text books
Boyd's bill came in for some real live
" criticism and was hammered both
by administration and minority mem
bers On a roll call, following mo-
ton to strike out the enacting clause,
only seven members voted for the
BOYD measure. Members who support
ed the Republic county member in his
fight were Armstrong of Cherokee,
Ashcroft, Boyd. Davis of Edwards,
Drew, McColIum and Miller of Chero-
Ikee. Mahurin spoke in favor of
Boyd's bill. but voted to remove the
clause.
A bill by Wilson of Greeley to pro- .
vide for more legal holidays in Kan
sas, met with sudden death in the
house The bill provided that New