The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-28
House FavOrS Pair of COnStitu-
tiOnaI Resolutions Today.
First SOlace and Comfort to Ad-
ministratiOn Leaders.
FOR TAXATION and HIGHWAYS
Sixty Million Dollar Good
Road Fund Is Provided.
for the Increase of
Amendments Up Next.

House members today gave Gov
ernor Allen the first solace and COM
fort which has come to the admins
tration during the present legislative
session. BY overwhelming votes the
house this morning passed the resolu-
tions proposing changes in the state
constitution providing for classifica-
ton of property for taxation and the
highway building measure Both were
administration policies, tho far. from
equal Importance to the constitutional
convention and farm tenantry pro-
poSalS.
Amended and patched until it's best
friends were scarcely able to recog-
nize it, the highway improvement
| measure went thru the lower legisla-
i tive body by a vote of los to G. The
measure providing for the classifica-
| ton of property for taxation purposes
! passed by a vote of 107 to .. Both
resolutions must pass the senate be-
| fore they can be submitted to the
voters for ratification in 1920.
After holding the administration
! forces away from it's chief demands
| for constitutional convention and for
a provision permitting the state to
loan money for the purchase of lands,
| the house approved the two minor
resolutions. 1t is now apparent that
the house may pass several additional
resolutions before the end of the ses-
sion. 1t will then be up to the two
|
amendments shall go to the voters
Meaning of Resolutions.
I The good roads amendment provides
| for S60,000.000 good roads fund.
part of which will be obtained from
motor licenses; it specifies state aid
| of 25 per cent on a county's contract,
and not TO exceed $4,000 a mile with
a maximum of 100 miles in any one
county. The original provision in the
resolution of Wilson of Hodgeman
! county, that the amount of highway
any one county could build with state
aid would be lone and one-fifth times
the combined length and breadth of
| the county" was eliminated from the
resolution.
| The highway resolution was strictly
compromise measure. In its amend
/ ed form, number of members op-
posed the measure. but voted for it on
! final roll call hoping that the objee-
tionable features might later be over
\ come 1t is known that a number of
| house members will seek relief from
some of the present provisions thru
action of the senate. Frank L. Martin
of Reno voted for the amendment but
asserted that he did so hoping the SEN
ate would remove the jokers Other
mem bers explained their votes and
said they were not in accord with the
existing provisions.
There was practically no objection
to the tax amendment. This measure
pTONiueS LOT d cnanSe IN the state con-
Stltutlon enabling the state to classify
property for taxation purposes. Under
its provisions the legislature might
provide for a graduated land tax de-
termined by the occupancy of the land
owner. Stocks securities and physical
| property of public service corporations
might also be given special classifica-
| tiOns as might bank, building and loan
and private corporation investments.
While the two measures passed by
the house were approved by the gov
ernor in his message, they were not
originated by him but have been is
sued before the state legislature for
several years. They are listed, how
ever, as administration resolutions.
Short of Balm Yet.
While there is reason for joy in ad-
ministration camps over the passage
of the two resolutions which today
found their way thru the house, the
house action falls far short of balm
for the wounds already inflicted on
Governor Aliens forces. Because of
the general demand for the taxation
reform and for some constitutional
provision ena bling the state to engage
in works of internal improvement so
far as highway and bridge building is
concerned, the house passed the two
proposed amendments with but slight
opposition. 1t is probable the highway
resolution would have passed unani-
mouSly had the house been able to eX-
tract the jokers which clutter the
: measure.
Six members who opposed the high
way resolution on final roll call were:
Baird, Cox. Geddes, Iddfngs, Lambert
, son and Railsback. Campbell and
Hegler of Sedgwick and Endres OF
Leavenworth also voted against the
resolution but changed their votes
Just two members opposed the tax
alton resolution when the roll was
! called They were Ca 1dwel1 of Otfa wa
, | and Neiswender of Shawnee county.
. Resolutions providing for an in
crease in the number of amendments
, which may be submitted to the voters
at a single election and provision in
} creasing the pay of legislators to $500
; for g two year term. are under consid-
grafton today in the house committee
, of the whole