Editorials Back 'conscience' law
When California recently assumed responsibility for providing financial aid to victims of violent crimes and to families of murdered bread winners, the nation sat up and took notice.
This law, in principle, closely resembles the "Good Samaritan" statutes which provide compensation for personal property damage suffered while trying to prevent crimes or capture criminals.
Kansas pioneered in the movement toward this type of legal action by passing the "mob" law in 1958. This law holds incorporated cities and towns liable for damage that may occur in consequence of the actions of mobs inside the corporate limits. The mob must consist of five or more persons and must do damage to person or property.
A MOVEMENT TO REPEAL this law began in 1964 when $171,000 was awarded to three persons injured by youths in a Rosedale baseball park in Kansas City, Kan.
Some members of the legislature argued that the law was enacted when border raids along the Missouri-Kansas line were a common thing. They felt the law to be outdated. The 1965 legislature failed to repeal the bill, but the proposition will be resubmitted next session.
If this law is repealed, Kansas will leave its progressive role in "conscience" legislation and move backward.
The idea of legal compensation for personal and property damage is not new. It began several thousand years before Christ in the ancient civilizations of Babylonia, Greece, Israel and
Rome. At that time, the criminal himself had to pay restitution. . .
In 1900, King Hammurabi of Babylonia declared it the duty of the government to pay the compensation when the criminal had no money or property.
COMPENSATION PRACTICES reached their greatest height in the seventh and eighth centuries of England. King Ethelbert, reigning in Kent, aided and stunted the cause. His laws specified certain payments for each crime. But, by embracing Christianity and its concept of sin and penance, he indirectly hailed the end of the principle of compensation in England.
Today's concept of fines that revert to the state is an extension of these previous systems.
There are several loopholes in California's new law. For example, the law follows the payment scale of the welfare programs. The welfare scale is designed to keep those on relief locking for jobs. Therefore, the payments are quite low, in many cases below subsistence level. Rates must be higher to have any noticeable effect.
Kansas not only needs to retain the "mob" law, but it also needs to further the compensation principle in its statutes. When California works cut all the kinks, her new law will be a truly good example for other states. After all, the state has the responsibility for protecting its citizens, and when it fails in this duty, it must bear the responsibility for compensating the unwary victims. Kansas must follow this example.
Janet Hamilton
University forum
Noble ten strike out
Hooray for the noble ten. They went to Washington and "showed by their presence that Kansans care about the war." They "acquainted the people that a problem exists." (UDK, Nov. 29) I invite Mr. Hill and the other naughty nine to go into the home of a family that has lost a son or a brother in Viet Nam. Tell them, Mr. Hill, how much you care and tell them also about the problem that exists. I am sure they would like to hear about it.
But pay these families no attention Mr. Hill. Wrap the security of group membership around yourself and your group. But, how do you decide which ram to follow, or do you simply start your own flock? We all know there are enough of them, all having fancy titles and championing "great" causes. You even have groups and unions to help you out if you get too close to that line.
THAT LINE TO WHICH I REFER is *reason. Mr. Hill. A very strong word, isn't it? Well, mister, the appearance of North Vietnamese flags outside our capital is a very strong action. And you were a part of it. Where were you and your people in 1942? I would like to have seen somebody carry a Nazi flag around then. And did a group of "Americans" send supplies and
plasma to the Germans? And what about 1950? Did you see any North Korean flags fluttering about? That would have been called treason, I'm sure. Is it so much different now? Perhaps not, the people just might not be aware that a problem exists.
How fortunate for you, Mr. Hill, that you are in your prime today and fortunate too that this is not 1942 or 1950. The public has become so accustomed to demonstrations and groups supporting everything from peanut prices to the complete range of the political spectrum that it is no wonder we have become apathetic. We just overlook treasonous actions and call them free speech. Even your own groups, unions and societies have lost some of their effectiveness simply because there are so many of them. More groups, more apathy and back again. Nice little merry-go-round is it not? Do you suppose the people are aware that this problem exists?
IT MIGHT COMFORT YOU TO know, then again it might not, that I, too, am opposed to the current U.S. policy in Viet Nam. I wonder why the U.S. is not fighting to win this war.
Dale Reinecker Wellington senior
The People Say...
EVERYONE SHOULD make his own evaluation of American policy in Viet Nam—something which is, indeed, becoming increasingly difficult. In doing so, however, one cannot
Dear Editor:
The editors welcome letters of opinion from all Kansan readers. We reserve the right to edit all letters for style, content and unreasonable length. All letters must be signed. Opinions expressed in letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors.
2 Daily Kansan Thursday, December 2, 1965
fail to give consideration to the fact that the chief exponent of the Administration's position has been a man of the demonstrated intellectual capacity of General Maxwell Taylor. This quality, and the penetrating common sense of so many of his public statements since the time he was appointed Army Chief of Staff in 1955 make one sit up and take notice.
intendent of the Military Academy, instituted a program to upgrade the educational level of non-commissioned officers and enlisted men, served as president of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and helped to rebuild a devastated Korean nation. He has received honorary doctorates, not only in law, but in engineering as well.
This is not just another general, nor merely another officer with a notable combat record, but a man who has long shown outstanding judgment and an unusual breadth of interests. Graduated from West Point in the top tenth of his class, General Taylor has taught in the humanities and been Super-
None of this means he must be right, but it certainly suggests that members of the university community should make it a point to hear him when he addresses the convoation on Monday morning in Hoch Auditorium.
Hugh H. Schwartz Dept. of Economics
"Anyone Else Want To Step Into The Concensus Room?"
On the side
Crab apples forever
Tuesday, Nov. 16, will live forever as a momentous day in the history of Daisy Hill, and for that matter Mount Oread. That was the day the crab apple trees came to flank Irving Hill Road. Just think of all the new traditions that will spring up with the growth of the trees.
Fraternity pledges will have a new prank from which points can be collected. By dusting off George Washington's hatchet, they can march off to the orchard and collect five whole points per tree. By axing half the orchard they can collect more points than pouring dye in the Chi Omega fountain or pushing over Jimmy Green.
IN A FEW YEARS Irving Hill Road will become a more spectacular sight. To sequel the Spring Fling will come the Fall Call. The main event will be an apple flinging contest between the Elsworth Ellies and the McCollum Mob with the Hashinger Hacks meeting the Templin Toddies.
The losing women can pick up the unused ammunition and supply the winners with food and drink, apple pie and cider. Can you imagine what would happen if Fall Call came a little late one year—rotten apples.
So KU's nursery better get busy and raise some crab apple seedlings. They may have started a great tradition.
Robert Stevens
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