The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-01-18
Four Bills Introduced in Senate
to Curtail Them. -
Passage of All Would Put
Them Out of Business.
PREVENT USURIOUS RATES
Excessive Interest to Invalidate
Mortgages, One Bill Provides.
All Garry Heavy Penalties for
Violating Provisions.

The loan shark gets it in the neck
in today's batch of senate bills. Four
bills introduced by Senator Coleman
of Johnson are aimed at him. Taken
individually each would make him
squirm and collectively--if passed
they would put him out of business.
One of the bills makes it unlawful
for a money loaner to charge more
than per cent a month as interest
upon loan. More than that would
subject him to the penalty of fine
of from 500 to $500 or Jail sentence
of from thirty to ninety days. or both
fine and Jail sentence.
Another provides that proof of
usury shall be defense in civil cases.
If loan shark loans money at a
usurious rate. the borrower defaults
in payment on the principal and the
loaner brings suit, the proof that he
agreed to pay more than the legal rate
shall serve as his defense.
Invalidate Mortgages
A third bill provides that a mort
gage on personal property given to Sc
cure loan upon which a usurious
rate of interest has been charged shall
be invalid. The holder of the mort
gage cannot foreclose If the borrower
pioNeS III court tnat the lender
charged him more than the legal rate
of interest
The fourth and last of the loan
shark bills makes it misdemeanor
for any one knowingly to transfer any
negotiable paper or contract in which
a usurious rate of interest is charged.
Such an act is made punishable by a
fine of from 500 to $500 or by a iail
sentence of from thirty to ninety days
or by both fine and imprisonment
one or more bills or this character
nave been in the Legislature in years
gone by and have failed of passage.
There is always stiff fight over them
and many times the argument has
been made that such laws would shut
the needy borrower of small amounts
off from ready money.
Two white lights ahead of Won in
the road on dark night will mean
you are to meet an automobile: one
white light ahead will mean a buggy.
cart, lumber wagon. a spring wag-
on. hearse, or wheelbarrow. but
you won't know whether it's coming or
going. if bill introduced by Senator
Gulfck of Republic becomes a law.
Under the provisions of the bill all ye-
h1cles not included in the automobile
law must carry a light. 1t is to be
one white light set on the left side of
the vehicle and visible for 100 feet
IN front or behind the vehicle. The
hght must be burning half an hour
after sunset and until half an hour be-
fore sunrise. and that means a Ia
almanac.
Terrell of Chautauqua introduced a
Dill in the senate creating county
courts in counties having a population
of 10000 or less
Another highway commission hin
was introduced in the senate-this one
by Milligan of Anderson 1t gives the
secretary of state authority to organize
the department with the approval of
the governor. He is authorized 10 an
point state engineer. an assistant en-.
glneer and stenographer all with the
approval of the governor.
All probate judges must have b.a
one years experience in actual prac-
tice before the bar If bill introdueed
in the senate by Terrell of Chautauo,
becomes a law.
Hospitals in second class cities.
open to anyone and everyone, will be
possible if a bill introduced by Senator
Paulen of Wilson becomes a law II
provides that upon petition OF rs per
cent OF the taxpayers a tax not exceed
ing one mill may be levied for the
purpose of purchasing ground. erect
ing building and equipping a hos
pita1. After it is completed. under the
terms of the bill. it shall be open to
everyone, rich and poor alike.
Senator Anspaugh of Coffey intro
duced bill requiring land owners to
keep clear the channels of creeks and
rivers running thru their property. It
also prohibits land owners from Telling
trees and leaving logs or brush within
seventy-five feet of the channels Of
the streams.
The senate convened at 10 O'Clock
today and was in session until near II,
when it recessed until this after
noon That has become the regular
program and will continue until the
committees have turned out a sufff-
cient number of bills to make 1t worth
while to go into COMMITTEE of the
whole" for the consideration of bills.
The law creating the Memorial hail
commission provides that a member
of the senate shall he member of
the commission. That place was va
cant and on the motion of Senator
Panlen of Wilson. Senator Huffman
of Cherokee. president FRO TEN of the
senate. was elected as a member of
the commission TODAY