The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-01-14
Towns VIII Stand Behind
Measures to Their Interest.
OPPOSE. UTILITIES. THROTTLE
State Wants Absolute Control
Over All Corporations.
Three Constitutional Amend.
mentS Included in List.


Of the state which ought to make the
legislature sit up and take notice has
been mapped out by the League Of
Kansas Municipalities which has been
making special studies of municipal
problems. The League has drafted no
less than 26 bills and three constitu-
tional amendments for the considera-
ton of the present legislature and will
stand behind them for enactment in
the form submitted. 1t Is urged In their
favor that hey are not the product OF
any individuals conception but have
been worked out on the experience OF
cities all over the United States and
embody the most modern and pract1cai
ideas on city government.
Even with such an endorsement some
OF the bills are startlingly new. NOT
only has the league drawn the bills II
wants but has instructed its legislative
committee as to the character OF meas
ures to which it is unalterably opposed.
In this class of legislation will be en-
hraced measures tending to deprive
municipalities of power to regulate or
control privately or publicly owned
public utilities within the limits of mu
inequalities, as we'll as measures which
would take away from the cities the
power to market their own securities or
transferring that power to a state COM
mission.
LlSt Oh N1e1aSurcS.
Following is list of the measures
which will be presented to the legis-
lature with the endorsement of the
League Of Kansas Municipalities:
A constitutional amendment granting
to cities the right to frame and amend
their charters of local government. SUBJ
ject to the constitution and the GRIM
inal laws of the state.
A bill authorizing an election board
of two judges and one clerk in speciai
city elections.
A bill providing for the establish
accounting.
A bill providing that all bonds here
after issued by a city shall be paid
serially. in not to exceed twenty annual
installments.
bill giving cities a place on the
board of equalization for city property.
A bill providing for the elimination Of
national party designations in all mu-
nicipal elections.
A bill providing for the opening and
use Of school houses for social and civic
center meetings.
A bill to make delinouent water and
light bills of municipality owned plants
a lien upon the property receiving the
service. nF' ~
A bill authorizing cities to assess the
cost OF water mains against the bene-
fitted property.
A Constitutional Amendment reserv-
ing to the people of the state the power
to initiate and refer laws and consti-
tutional amendments to a vote of the
people, and reserving the powers of the
Initiative and referendum as to local
legislation to localities.
A bill reserving to the voters Of all
municipalities the right to initiate and
refer to the voters measures Of local
legislation.
A bill authorizing cities to condemn
land outside the city for drainage pur-
poses. ....t
A bill permitting cities to establish
municipal ice plants.
A bill repeating the law requiring a
fee to be paid for the registration of
municipal bonds.
A bill permitting cities to levy up to
q fair maximum percentage of total
assessed valuation. and removing lin
1tations upon levies for special funds or
purposes except insofar as limited by
the total levy.
A bill providing that the expense of
general elections be paid out Of funds
collected in the county, and not from
any fund contributed by the city.
A Constitutional Amendment provid-