The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-01-21
Editorial Correspondence.
FROM TOPEKA.

ToPEKA, Jan. 10, 1870.
We have never seen so much work
done in six days by a legislative assem-
bly,, as has been accomplished by the
one now in session at this place. The
number of bills introduced has reached
one hundred and nine. Eighty of them
have gone to committees, and forty-one
ofthem have been reported upon, while
several have passed the House.
The Fifteenth Amendment has again
been ratified. This was necessary, as
its ratification last winter was in some
respects of doubtful legality. Several
of our leading and more progressive
democrats voted in favor of its ratifica-
ton, including Judge J. A. Halderman
and Hon. Byron Sherry, of Leaven-
worth, and Hon. b. J. Lane, of Wyan-
dotte. 1t passed the House by a vote
of74 for to II against.
The usual postage stamp and news
paper resolutions have been discussed.
The House voted itself five dollars
tion, but the Senate killed the measure
because its clerks and other officers
were cleft out in the cold" The Senate
has a warm side for its officials. We
are each to have 20 newspapers, the
Record and Commonwealth having made
some sort of compromise that inclu-
died. both in the resolution.
There are many propositions before
the legislature for changes of county
likes, among these one from Lyon
county. II is being engineered by Col.
f. ii. Sanford, of the flourishing village
of Eskridge. Whether it will pass or
not is matter ofdOubt. lie only asks
of the county. Ibelieve Messrs Drake
and Hunter will oppose the measure,
in which case it will be difficult to pass
it. There is disposition to oppose all
county line changes.
A bill has been introduced to repeal
the law giving bounty for hedge and
stone fences ;and also the law to encour-
age the growth of forest trees. The
former bill is attracting much attention,
and there are many members, some OF
whom are farmers, in favor of its re-
peal.
A bill has passed both houses giving
TO the city of Lawrence the authority
TO issue 100000 in city bonds to aid the
State University. Lawrence deserves
much credit for her attempts TO place
this institution OH firm financial basis
Her citizens are determined to make i
second to no institution in the West.
The railroad fight of last winter is to
be renewed. A bill is already in tho
hands of the railroad committee to reg
ulate the rates of fare and freight OF
railroads. Most of these measures art
aimed at the Kansas Pacific road, ant
grow out OF the exhorbitant prices
charged by it, and out of the refusal o.
this company heretofore to pay its taxes
in the counties through which it runs
i believe this company is now paying
its taxes and reducing its fare. There
are several considerations which mem
hers should take account of in the
premises. They should remember that
our roads all have to be built by the
aid of foreign capital, and without this
aid wo would have no roads in Kansas
1t is necessary I'm order to induce for
eign capital to take hold of our roads tC
offer some inducements. Another thing
is the light business which most of the
roads in Kansas will necessarily do fol
q few years. When there are compe'
ting lines and plenty of business these
roads will be compelled to reduce theil
taxes and submit TO the same treatment
under the law as private citizens, there
should be no factiOus fight upon then
now.
One of the features of the week wa!
the meeting of the Editors and Printer
Association, on Monday last, the ami
versary of Frnnklin's birthday, and TIT
banquet given the members by the edit
ors, printers and binders of Topeka il
the evening. Most of the editors Oft
State were present. The annual addres
was delivered by r. b. Taylor, Esq, lat
of the Wyandotte Gazette. 1t consist
ell of a sketch of the history of each pa
per and its publishers. 1t was rePlet
with interest. He is to make com
plete history of the newspapers of Kan
sas. 1t will form an important link il
the history of Kansas, and will make
book of several hundred pages. Ate
the business of the Association, tn
members, in company with many mem
bers of the legislature and other guests
assembled ut the hall and partook of
line supper furnished by the craft of III
capitol city. In response to toast
speeches were made by Web Wilder, {
the Conservative; Kalloch, OF the Law
renee Journal; Davis, of the Common
1ceGlth; Governor Harvey and Lieutei
ant Governor Eskridge. After supp'
I adanee was enjoyed by that portion
the company which took part Alt
q gether it was an occasion long to
remembered by the craft Our TOpel
breathren deserved and received d
unanimous thanks of their editori
breathren for the entertainment.
Our new State House receives favo
abls comments from everybody. 1t
she general opinion that the State h
81 Il an honest job, and that the Coz