The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1864-01-02


In few days oar legislature meets.
The House. We think, will be organiz-
ed BY tho election of Kellogg as Speak
k-r. Certainly this is desirable,as Mr..
E.'s experience in the chair will faci!i-
tate the business Of the session.
Before that body will be some i'm
portant measures = the question. ..o'
amendment to the constitution SO al. TO
permit. volunteers 10 vote-the railroad
and other interests of the State-the
encouragement of emigration; and pro-
bably-out Of time and place-the
election of Q U. S. Senator.
This last question has no business to
BE- brought up At this Time. and will
not be unless demagoguery prevails to
The detriment OF the best. interests Of
the State. Certainly there is no single
man in the State who 10 of eOamuch
importance that his individual affairs
and aspirations shall absorb the linn Of
our legislators. To the neglect of what
should be their duty. We know Of no
man in Kansas whose personal ambi.
tion should have feathers weight iu
The balance withs the interests OF the
State; and he who seeks his own ends
at the cost Of the State. is unworthy
of the confidence of the people. 1t is
unsafe to trust the public interests to
his keeping. Indeed. the men who are
forever stretching after power who look
only TO personal ends. who are forever
a.king Office. are the very ones who
should bs set aside-the whole brood
Of them are demagogaes. or will be-
come such. When Rome vas 10 dan
ser she called npon Cincinnatus. who
was found. in his field following the
plow. which he left in the furrow to
serve bis country. The dsmagogue,
who. clamorei! in the. forum for Con-
sulla,es. were found unfit for.s:.he occa
sion. snd.. we're put aside. Such should
be',he fate Of the clamoreu in the forum
Al the present time. When the people
fully awake'to their interests. and select
men To Office who are not seeking fol
piace-when the unexpected summocs
comes TO the man whose hands a.s
upon lis. plow handles. his plane. il
his countins-roo or Office. 70 sew,
his country, and all the greedy VAN
pires who are feedening and fa.tenin:
on the "spoils Of public plundsr" ar
sci aside: then, and not I'LL then. maj
We hope for better times.
But from this digression 10 tie rea
business Of the legislature.
We should have the number of legiS
lsio,s reduced 1t least one-half twt
thirds would be better. By this reform
We should save expense and have bet
ter lsws-ihs members.swoul max
tars and not .poxs ell the time. BIZ th,
TINS on. hundred members have .venii
Atsd. .sheir gas-p;pes. the session is pre-
~ well through. and the scork must thel
be rushed. to completion. II there wer,
but one-shird Is many member. two.
thirds Of the time wasted would b,
saved.
Ano her thing is badly needed.
system Of checks in the administration
of county. affairs. As matters nov
staod there il. practically. NO checs
upon County Treasurers. We never
knew q country vhere things we're al
loose ends ~ they are here. A coun
" Auditor-who shall be Co. Clerk, ca
esao- is needed above every thing else
Our County Clerks are said TO be audi
tors. but practically they are NOT: and
there is next to.no auditing done. Our
Legislature should see 10 this wi,hou,
fail.