The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-22
Amos of Shawnee Introduces
City Ownership Measure.
Allows Towns To Operate Many
Lines of Business.
FROM ICE PLANTS TO ST. CARS
Nothing Is Overlooked in the
Municipal Possibilities.
Hughes of Lyon in Appeal for
"Pure Nails" in Kansas.

Kansas cities will be permitted to
own and operate public utilities and
to engage in many lines of business
endeavor under terms of a bill in the
house today by Representative Amos.
of Shawnee. The measure is one of
the most far reaching municipal pol
icies ever suggested to the state leg
islature. 1t provides for bond issues
for municipal ownership of street
railways, telephones, gas, water. light,
heat, ice, cold storage, market houses,
packing plants, flour mills and other
utilities and business projects
Passage of the bill in its present
form practically releases to cities of
the state the right to engage in almost
any line of endeavor. 1t carries the
proposal for home rule beyond the
limits of ownership and operation of
mere public utilities as generally de-
fined and permits municipal owner
ship and operation of any line of bust
ness activity which provides service
or output of general public demand.
There is very little in the line OF
common, competitive endeavor that
isn't hit by the terms and trend of
the Amos measure. The measure
legalizes elections for the voting of
bonds for the ownership Of the above
specific enterprises and is probab bly,
sufficiently broad to include any in
dustry which supplies a public de-
mand. 1t provides that the mayor
and city commission or council of a
city may direct the calling of an cleo
ton to vote upon the project to buy
or install any of the various industries
under the terms of the bill. Bonds
would be 1egalized by the affirmative
vote of a majority of the persons
voting on such proposition.
before the state legislature in recent
years. In a ajority of the cases the
measures sidestepped the constitu-
tional provision against the state en-
gaging in works OF internal improve
ment AS consequence, the mea sures
sought to extend the power and au-
thority of cities to engage in various
activities-especially the taking over
of public utilities. None of the bills,
however, sought to cover the ground
of the Amos bin, which probably
tands as the last word in proposals
I for home rule and municipal owner
ship before a Kansas legislature.
Another bill by Amos today pro-
vides that townships adjoining cities
| of the first class may provide for the
construction of sidewalks and install
| highway systems.
A Job for the Hunisies.
Shideler of Crawford county wants
| a state law providing for the employ
ment of interpreters in district and
| probate courts. In a bill before the
| house today, the Crawford county
| member sought a mandatory law for
/ employment of such interpreters in
| the probate and district courts of the
state.
Here's Another Commission.
Speaker Lambertson introduced his
| first bill of the present session today
when he proposed a soldiers and sail
| ors' memorial tree commission. Lam
| bertson would provide that trees may
| be purchased and planted along high
| ways as a memorial to the soldier.
and sailors of the state. A commits
! sion composed of the governor. state
forester and president of the State
! Federation of Womens Clubs woulC
+, compose the commission. Member:
/ would receive actual expenses. Loca
. organizations might be formed undel
direction of the state commission Ar
| appropriation of 81, 500 year is asked
| for the work of the proposed new
commission
Limit Bank Loans.
| Representative Hawk introduced
bill today providing that loans O
! banks and trust compa nies to an,
| corporation. firm or association o
persons be limited to fifteen per cen
of the capital stock and surplus o
the bdIh. ne Dlli Will pIODdplS X
! assigned to the house banking com
| mlttee.
Now It's pure Nails
! Hughes, of Lyon county, has brough
the latest reform before the Kansa
legislature. For a time il looked a
tho the passing of the common drink
ing cup, the anti-spitting regulations
the individual towel and the nine-foo
sheet might protect the lives of an,
thoughtless Kansans who couldn't dis
| tinguish a germ without a field glass
But Hughes has the latest model o
purity. He wants law providinI
that the sales of nails which hay
been contaminated with any gooe,
substance and might occasion infec
ton, shall be a crime punishable b.
heavy fine.