The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-03-11
Prohibits Meetings of All Kinds
in Public Places.
may RENT EXECUTIVE MANSION
State Disposed to Give Up Idea
of Building a Home Here.
House Kills Travis $4,000 In.
Surance Probe Measure.

ana DISCUSSIONS would De prompted In
all buildings, parks and public and
terms of a bill introduced in the house
today by the educational committee.
The bill applies to schools. as well as
buildings, parks and grounds under
control of county, city, township and
school district officers.
The bill today is one of the most
far-reaching efforts to block foreign
language speaking that has been Of
fered before a legislature in this coun-
try. The bill makes illegal the rent
ing or giving of privileges for foreign
language meetings in any of the places
defined in the bill. The responsible
ity is placed on the shoulders of the
persons having control of all public
and semi public buildings, rooms, halls
and parks in this state. A fine of s25
to $50 would be imposed on all per-
sons permitting the use of the places
for foreign language meetings of any
character.
While religious meetings and
churches are not included in the terms
specifically defined by the bill. it
might be possible to include them in
the list All foreign language meet
ings attended by three or more per-
sons come under the scope of the bill.
Meetings, addresses, discussion and
debates of all character are covered by
the bill. Under the terms of the pro-
posed law speaking of foreign Ian
guage would probably be permitted
only in private residences. The meas
ure does not seek to curb the use OF
foreign language by persons in private
conversation. But its terms speci-
fically apply to all meetings of public
or semi-public character.
May Rent q Mansion.
The legislature may decide to ap-
propriate $4,000 a year for rental and
upkeep of a governors mansion fol
Governor Henry J. Allen and his fam
! ily- Unable to dispose of the presen
alleged executive mansion at Eighth
avenue and Buchanan street. mem
| bers of q special committee today ad
vised house members of their action
It was recommended that the stats
executive council order an appraise
ment of the present property. Powel
| TO sell the property and place tn,
money in special fund in the stat,
| treasury is given the executive coun
Gil. The legislature of 1921 nigh
| then apply this money in the purchas'
| or construction of a new governor
mansion.
i at Eleventh and Topeka avenue nigh
be rented at $1,000 year, the com
mittee reported. 1t found that an ad
ditional $1,000 Q year would be needed
for fuel, light, water and upkeep. Al
appropriation of $4,000 a year wa
asked for the next two years. TIL,
committee stated that $4,000 woulc
be needed to properly repair tht
Buchanan street property. No recon
| mendation for such action was made
The committee report was referred
| to the house ways and means com
mittee, which may originate a bill
| covering the expense of renting Sen
| ator Capper's home, whore Governo
| Allen and his family now live.
Tne senate, without debate, adopted
the resolution, going on record as ia
vorable to the rental of the Cappe1
mansion as recommended in the con
current report, and letting the mex
legislature worry about details of {
permanent mansion
Steps on Travis Fund.
+, After a red hot debate on the floo
| today, the house deft1y removed tn
| enacting clause from an $4,000 ap
preparation bill of state insurance de
partment for the next two years. In
1 cluded in the bill urged for Frank I
! Travis, state superintendent, was al
item of $780, a year for fire ratinj
supervision and for travelling ex
penses.
The bill also sought to increase tn,
salary of the state superintendent t.
/ $4,000 year and the salary of tn,
assistant state superintendent to 81,
600 a year. A special assistant wa
| provided at salary of $4,000 a year
an attorney at $4,000 and salary of tn,
actuary at $500 a year. Numerous
other persons employed in the depart
ment were given healthy salary in
| creases.
1t was the failure of the precedin;
department head to advise the legisla
ture as to the expenditure and benefit
from the fund of $4,000. which con
tributed to the defeat of the bill. Tw,
years ago, after much lobby work. tn
state insurance department was al
lowed $4,000 for investigating rate
and rate making. That appropriation
has since ranked in the minds of leg
islators and action of the house in kill
ing the Travis appropriation bill. wa
largely due to the failure of the forme
administration to make an accountin;
as to results achieved by use of tn
1917 appropriation. Most of the ap
preparation of two years ago has beel
spent, X is asserted