The Kanzas news., 1859-03-05
What the Legislature Did.


tive Assembly of Kansas Territory-so
they say at least-ths FIRST having been
held at Shawnee Mission, the second at lie.
compton in January 1857. the third at lie.
compton in December 1857. the fourth al
Lawrence, January 1858. and the 6fth al
: Lawrence. 1859. The first two were com
posed of Pro;slavery men. the third and
fourth of Free State men, and the ffth of q
msiori.y of Republicans.
OF the doings of the 6rst four sessions
ths people have already had an opportunity
70 speak. and their judgment is upon rec
ord. The acts Of the. last or fifth session
must now be submitted to the scrutiny of
"a impartial and discerning public. We
propose briefly 70 review their doings, that
praise and blame may be awarded according
TO desert. We must concede to them then
the merit of having been an industrious
hard working body of Legislators, for we
presume there is no other case on record in
the whole legislative history of the nation.
where so vast an amount of legislation has
bsen done in the space Of forty days as has
been accomplished by the late Assembly.
They worked night and day. and if the
truth could be elected We fear it would have
10 be added that they worked on Sunday
too. Let as consider what they have done
that the people may profit BY:
!. They have passed very good elec-
ton laW-abolishing the viua voce system
aud substituting the republican system of
voting by ballot. The election law also in
cludes registration law. thereby effectual-
ly guarding against fraudulent votes in fu-
ture. The main fault of this act is its great
length. It is too prolix.
e. The road law, which provides that
each township may assess tax for the i'm
provement of its roads. A poll tax oi
four dollars, and tax upon property not
exceeding thirty mills to the dollar of the
assessed value. Tax to be worked out al
the rate of four dollars per dag for each man,
plow, wagon, yoke of oxen OF span of hors-
es. But non-resideats to poS in CASH
They cannot employ substitute to work il
for them unless he be tenant living upor
che land. This provision was designed t
touch the pockets of those nonresident spec
ulators who make their money by holding
on ts land until it is doubled and trebled il
value by the labor and Improvements of ths
adjoining owners. A righteous bin ]
;. An act to provide for the erection
and maintenance Of Penitsntiary. This
act provides in brief for the purchase of I
suitable tract of land with stone quarry or
it. which is to be enclosed with strong fence
and the conyicts are there to be employed
under suitable guards in erecting perma,
nsnt buildings and in preparing stone fol
market. We think this will prove to be .
rise and an economical Law.
f.. The Territorial road bill. This bill
prosidss for elsven trunk roads. CONNECTING
ths principal points ia the Territory. -Four
of thess routes are important to this region,
Wig: The road from Fort Scott to salina
on. Smoky Hill Fork. by way of Burling
.oa. ottumws and Emporia- This is . roas
of great importance 70 the whole valley 0
the Neosho. and viii doubtless be one o
she greatest thoroughfares IN Kansas lead
ing IS It does from The borders Of Nilsson
ri. Arksasss and the Cherokee territory &
The Gold Region, through one of the bes
tinbered. most fertile and thickly settlet
valleys Of the Great West DR.. J. q. Wat
son. Of Emporia. ]. A. Elliott and w. r
Griffith ere the Commissioners for this road
They siil meet ssrly in shis month to b,
ons ths road. which paust be opened during
ths present summer. Ths expense Of l.y'
ing 'oat is borne By the Territory. Th'
Land damages are 70 bs paid by the COUNTIES
through which the roads pass,