White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1871-02-23
Editorial Cerre~ponde.ce.
TorEkA. February 20. 1871

I0e LeRBiaturo uss B"uo 70 eOS8 ID
earnest. and 10 now inrning ont bills in
heavy srists. A great deal Of the work
Is local bills. the objects Of which could
be accomplished just as we'll under the
p provisions Of general laws now in sxis-
tauce: bnt there is . mania for bringing
everything before the L.gislaturs. consu-
ming time which ought to be dc voted to
matters Of general interest to the State.
A humber Of necessary bills Of great
Importance have not yet been introduced
Among these arc the Appor,ionmsns bill
10 the matter Of Apportionment. the two
lIoases have not sgreei npon tbs number
Of members. nor given the committee any
bssis to work upon. There will in oil
probability bs clasb;ng Of interests on
.shisl question. and there is great doeb'
whether bill can be agreei upon. unless
much time snd attention is given to it.
st the sacrifice Of cart load Of bills nov
10 ths mill. Bot little over . week Of
the session ye. rem aims. and it is NOT like
y that the members will remain many
days after their pay ceases.
The osusl number of concurrent reso-
lu,ions have been adopted. asking Con
errss for lands and money. and instruct
ing that distinsui shed body in lite duties
generally.
A resolution has been adopted. to in
vest,gste the sspsdisncy Of removing the
charitable institutions Of the State to
Topeks. This Is . move in tie right di.
rsction. These asylums ere now scattered
over the State. and cost annually On i'm.
nsnss sum to sustsiu them-much more
ibsn It would. il they were located to-
gsther. under the eyes ofths Legislsturs
snd the State Officers.
There is bill in. which will probably
become law. creating . new Judicisl
District in the North. West. 1t. takes
Msrshsll and Washington Counties from
the Second District. end includes . mum.
Der Of the new Counties farther west.
Several billie have been introduced pro-
viaipg herd laws for certsin Counties.
They are generally confined to the south
and west
A bill hss been passed. repealing the
bnunty on stone fences. and leaving the
question Of bonnty on hedges TO q vote Of
the people Of the d 'fIs'ent Counties This
is right. or as nearly right as the bill conld
be got through. There is no justice in
msking the public pay man premium
for boilding fence Aronnl 8 own farm.
or for benu,ify ing and enhancing the value
Of his own land.
Bills and resolutions regarding the
Price Raid claims and losses by lpdi"n
depredstions. are copionsly interspersed
through the calendars While many oi
these are right and just. yet it seems to
be Q practice ir Kansas. when citizens
meet with losses Of any kind. to at once
petition the Legislature or Congress to
reimburse them.
Among the bills that have passed the
Senate. is one providing that persons con-
vic,ed of capital offences. shall be con-
Coed in the Ptnatentisry. subject to ex-
ecatiou upon the orler of the Governor.
In fact. it throws oil tire responsibility
upon the Governor. 1t will then all de-
pend upon the views Of the Governor
relative to capital punishment. or his feel
ings or prejudices in particular cases.
A bill has passed both Houses. to pre-,
vent prize 6sh.ing. II provides for the
punishment not only oftbe principals and
their seconds, bot also Of spectators. and
newspaper reporters who report the pro
ceedings. Another bill has passed one OF
the Houses. providing that when drunk
en- msn commits crime. the liquor seller
aud the person who owns the building in
which il is sold. are Leld responsible for
the dsmsge. There is . possibility Of
running this morsl Legislation to extremes,
The Senate hes under discussion bill
regulating the ssseesment Of railroads..
1t progidea that this shall be done be
BY commissioners appointed BY the
Governor. This looks like . strong in
duosueot for Railroad Companies TO in
tsrisrs 10 hspolisics ofths State. Ifthey
can manage to secure Governor in
their iaterest. the commissioners appoint
Cd will be men Who will assess railroads
% the Companies dictate. There is also
Q provision that the assessment per mile
shsll uot bs greater than the gross receipts
psr mile Of the roads. So that IL Q rail.
road makes nothing. they will not be
taxed. On the came principle. if man
hs. $4,000 farm. aud he makes but
$1,000. upon It. the farm ought to be as.
sssssa ct bat $1,000. The bill will
hardly pass in that shape.
A correspondent in last weeks Chief
stated that it required two thirds vote to
carry the school bonds. IIewas mistaken
There ~as special law on the sutject.
and . bass n.jnrity was sufficient. But
- tbs proposition failed even to secur.
thaf, there j. no nsei to argne the case.