The Smoky Hill and Republican union. [volume] (Junction City, Kan.) 1861-1864, 1864-01-30
TIE LEGISLATURE.

tions in another column, -. 1er rnil9s1' r.. -
THE LEGISLATURE. ,..c; .,-r.r..
This body of men, gathered from all portions
Of the State, is perhaps quite equal in talent to
ary Of its predecessors. With commendable
and general correct good sense, they disposed of
the Senatorial question, and enacted some whole
some laws, remoddled others, and have thrown
from them resolutions that were not only hurtful
but calculated to ,etard proper legislation. ,.r,a
They have commenced system CT curtail
ment Of expenditure which isce,tainly commend
able, and if they have the wisdom to perceive
and the decision 70 put forth their power. the
people of Kansas viii have cause OF gnteful
remembrance. But we dare not hope that body
composed mainly Of young members will in ore
session be able to either perceive the necessities
of the people, or the condition Of the State, in
reference TOT change Of County policy, demanded
by more than four ffths Of the Counties CT the
State. While all our new and sparseiy settled
Counties are feeling the weight Of a system of
County organization entirely unsuited to the
number of the people, and the amount Of their
taxable property, we dare not hope for radical
change till this burden become absolutely insup
portable. It is very rare that legislative bodies
lively anticipate coming eYils. and prepare for
them and especially so when the change needed
in legislation is one in which quite portion OF
the State have but little interest.
To secure attention, the evil must be one Of
gigantic proportions. Indeed, it cannot be .ex-
pected that new members will become at once SO
organized and skilled in legislation as TO be able
to draft and press to consummation Questions
Of radical policy. Hence, the people must con-
t;nue to groan till some event occurs which
makes need Of change ofpolicy apparent to all
It is in vain to cnrtail the excesses of bad
eystem. Some good may he done to retrench,
bit while the system remains evil must follow.
The recent report Of the State Canvassers show
that in the thirty three Counties of the State
there were east at the late election 12.945 votes
that 2O2S of these votes were cas-. in fifteen
Counties, making an average of l35 voters to
each County, That twelve ont Of the remaining
eighteen Counties gave . vote Of 43l9, making
an average of $50 voters to each. The aggregate
vote of Leavenwcrth, Douiphan, Atchison, Doug.
les, Jefferson and Shawnee, is 6590, being PSI
votes more than all the other Counties Of the
State put together. .r.'tt. .1s sI4a-
These figures cannot fail to convince the most
careless observer that more that ve-sixths Of the
Counties of the State are but very sparsely set-
tied Half the Counties have less than $50
voters, and all but six of the remaining half but
500 each. The figures show that in twenty-seven
Of the thirty three Counties of the State the
average vote is 235 and that these voters have
to sustain a complex County organization, which
requires on an average at least 1000 per annum.
The burden OF this County tax has to be paid 10y
n minority Of The voters in each County Quite
onethird of the people of County pay almost
no tax. while one-third pay but small sum,
leaving the burden to fall mainly on the remain
ing one third. Hence this $4,000 County tax is
paid by about IS voters, making on an average
over $50 to each person. True, the amount will
not quite reach this sum when the tax is all col
lected, but when We remember that an quite bali
the Counties of the State tise actual number ol
voters is under l69 the sum Faid will quite
average the amount set. And in many Counties
it will exceed that sum-. ,uall v1s,ais i3'.a.
q This is the result Of the law creating too many
District Courts and too many County officers
The system is entirely unsuited to the people
1t requires too many officers and too much ex
pendi,ure. In the six more populous Counties il
may do but in a large portion Of the remainder
it is fast grinding the life out Of the people.
The Constitution of the State places the entirs
question, in the hands Of the Legislature. and te
them the people must look for better sy'tem
Will the Legislature be equal to the necessity
This is Legitimate subject for legislation, and
one that will reward the effort. We. shall sex
the result. One Of two results must follow
Either radical change Of the system. vastly
cmtailing the Comfy burden. must be secured
or else the people of the State must prepare t
pay one of the most burdensotne taxes ever i'm
posed on a free people. ehave not mentioned
either United States or State tax. but these com
biped must vastly swell the sum. and increas'
the demand for prompt and careful legislation,
o'' JuN.
~ PsT STATE ITRNS. 13Is Ea.
The Governor has appointed and the Senat,
confirmed Rev. R. Cordley, of Lawrence, as .
L. a -.