The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-06
The LOAN SHARKS
Blakeiy of Shawnee Aims a
Bill at Them.
If Passed Would Put Them Out
of Business.
PR0vIDENT LOAN ASSOCIATION
Created to Loan Money on
Human Terms.
That Would Solve Problem.
Says BIakely.
PROvIDENT LOAN ASSOCIATION

| BIakley, of Shawnee, would put the
Kansas loan sharks out of business by
the terms of bill offered in the house
today providing for the creation of
provident loan associa tions to assist
/ the down and outs. His bill provides
that provident associations. such as
the Topeka institution. or similar or
CARNATIONS, may lend money to pc
cuniary needy in sums of not more
than $500 and at an interest rate not
exceeding two per cent month.
1t is to safeguard the working man
and day laborer from the clutches of
the short term loan shark that Blak-
ley's bill has been introduced in the
house. The passage of the law would
enable the worthy man or woman to
make assignments of wages or give
mortgage notes on personal property
covering short time loans and at an
+ interest rate which would not be OPP
pressive
Under the terms of the BILL a provi-
dent loan association might loan a per-
son not to exceed 5000, accepting either
wage assignments or first mortgage
notes covering personal property. The
! interest rate in no event could exceed
two per cent a month for the first
two months and could be no higher
than one and a half per cent for each
additional month. The class of peop%
who would be benefited under the
passage of the Blakley bill are the per-
sons who have been subject to the OPP
Grafton of Kansas loan sharks, who
have charged on many occasions as
high as ten or even % per cent a month
for short term loans. Blakley's meas
ure however, would put this class of
money merchants out of business in this
state.
County attorneys would be compelled
to investigate all claims against the
county commissioners If bill by
Spiker, of Lyon county, became a law
The Lyon county member would pro-
vide that when claim against the
county is presented to the county
board, that it should be investigated
by the county attorney before receiv-'
ing the approval of the county board
Representative Topping today intro
duced a bill compelling the telegraph
and telephone companies to cut the
weeds along the right of wav and
providing a fine of 500 for failure to
observe the provisions of the proposed
law The measure would prescribe that
a telephone company operating rural
lines must keep clear of weeds the
highway along which the -sompany's
lines extends. ~
FOcht. or NTTeenNOOO. lOody
duced bill providing for a compul-
sorry annual audit of the records in
all counties with population OF less
than $1,000. The bill provides that the
expense of the audit shall not exceed
$500 and that the cost of such adult
shall be paid from the general revenue
funds of the county.
Now that Kansas women nave the
right to vote, Mahurin, of Corey coun-
ty. would provide that their right 10
transfer Or assign property interests
be limited to the age of Il years IN
stead of IS years as under the present
law But Mahurin's measure puts no
ban on the right of a woman to con-
sent to marriage at Is years.
The bill which Mahurin sent to the
reading clerk in the house today does
not allow d woman to sign deed or
mortgage, Or to vote or enter into any
legal business transaction until she
has attained a majority OF Il Summers
This bill was recommended for passage
by the Good Government club, but that
organization made no provision for
changing the. age OF consent TO mar
riage law.
In everything except the marriage
VOW Kansas men and women would be
on an equal basis. Before a man can
marry a woman in Kansas, however,
he must have attained the age of q
consent of his parents or guardian to
the marriage. A woman, however. still
has the right to marry at is years as
under the old and existing law.
Whether the Mahurin bill will be
amended to cover the marriage con-
tract as we'll as the right to assign
property and to vote, is a matter to
be determined only when the bill comes
up for discussion on the floor of the
house. 1t is rumored that a separate
bill covering the marriage clause may
be introduced later in the session.
Representative Hines today intro
duced in the house bill allowing the
grain inspection department to fix
rates for inspection of all grain in
Kansas and providing that no grain
shall be transferred, sold shipped
to any warehouse without proper Of
fetal inspection.
The Hines bill was recommended by /
the grain inspection department 1t
provides that fees for inspection shall |
be regulated by orders from the de-
partment, based on the production
within the state Only sufficient in |
claimed, to make the department self |
sustaining Thus in a heavy crop
season the inspection fees would be |
com paratively low, while in an off
season they would be higher. A bill |
similar to the one by Hines was Of |
fered in the senate today by Senator |
sutton.
The house concurred in an adverse
committee report on house bill No. ! |
by Mahurin. That measure repealed |
the 1909 law requiring teachers in |
rural schools to have completed a four |
year high school term. Mahurin APP